When visiting Kyushu, besides ramen and mentaiko, Fukusaya’s Nagasaki castella is also a classic souvenir many travelers bring home. It may look simple, but each bite has details that keep you coming back for more.
When you open the package, you’re first greeted by a light honey and egg aroma. The cake is neatly precut into ten equal slices. Pick one up, and its soft, slightly moist texture builds anticipation before you even taste it. With a gentle bite, the dense, delicate cake slowly melts on your tongue as the sweet honey and rich egg flavors mingle. The sweetness is noticeable but not cloying, and as you chew, you can also feel the cake’s soft, springy texture.
The real surprise comes in the last bite.
The bottom of Fukusaya’s Nagasaki castella is lined with its famous coarse zarame sugar crystals. As you chew, tiny crunching sounds suddenly emerge from the soft cake. Sometimes the sugar is slightly loose, while other times it has a crisp, grainy texture. The sweetness also becomes more pronounced at this moment, taking the texture from soft and moist to a delicate crunch and creating a layered contrast. Fukusaya saves this surprise for the cake’s final bite.
Pair it with a cup of hot black tea, and the tea’s aroma slightly balances the cake’s sweetness. With coffee, a touch of bitterness complements the honey’s sweetness. Eat slowly and savor each bite, and you’ll find that it isn’t simply a “honey cake.” Its soft, moist, sweet, and slightly crunchy textures come together to create a distinctly Japanese delicacy.
There are different sizes and gift boxes to choose from, and both the original and chocolate flavors have their own character. The chocolate version doesn’t have coarse sugar on the bottom, but the top is generously covered with chopped walnuts and raisins. It’s equally suitable for enjoying yourself or giving as a souvenir.
If you’re planning to take it back to Taiwan, there’s no need to carry the castella around throughout your trip. You can wait and buy it at Fukuoka Airport, saving yourself the trouble of lugging it around while traveling. For travelers, that’s a practical little convenience--a delicious souvenir you can buy at the last minute instead of carrying it from the first day of your trip.
Fukusaya Nagasaki main store | Review by 周黛西
Other Reviews by 周黛西
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TENJIN CHIKAGAI
Tenjin area is located in Fukuoka City Chuo-ward, Kyushu’s largest downtown district. Going through the street is Watanabe Street, and to the north, Showa street. To the south is Tenjin Chikagai, an underground street, 600m in length running under Kokutai Street. There are 12 districts, with 150 shops such as apparel, gourmet food, sundries, and books.
Tenjin Chikagai is Kyushu's busiest shopping district, designed to resemble 19th-century European streets. The red-brick walkways, stone-paved streets, medieval European-style stained glass, and vintage clocks with Roman numerals make you feel like you're in an old European town. Who knew shopping could be so romantic? Not only can you shop comfortably here, sheltered from the wind and rain, but you can also go directly to major department stores like Mitsukoshi and Daimaru. On my last night in Fukuoka, I had such a great time shopping and went absolutely crazy buying things! I completely forgot to take pictures, and I didn't have a free hand to take any anyway. So the next morning, I just snapped a quick photo of the underground mall entrance. I'll have to come back and make up for the rest next time〜
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Bayside Place Hakata
A lively waterfront complex facing Hakata Pier, bringing together an open seaside atmosphere and a wide range of attractions. Inside the spacious, glass-walled buildings, you’ll find restaurants and cafés with ocean views, a market selling fresh seafood and local vegetables, and a variety of shops.
Hakata Port Tower is the only high-rise observation landmark on Fukuoka's Hakata Bay waterfront with ¥0 admission. Standing 70 meters tall, its observation deck features large floor-to-ceiling windows and unobstructed 360-degree views of the harbor and city. To the east, you can see the Hakata Port International Terminal; to the west, the Fukuoka city skyline; to the south, the streets and railways of Hakata Ward; and to the north, an uninterrupted view of Hakata Bay.
Hakata Port Tower and Tokyo Tower could be called “brothers” from the same lineage. Its red-and-white steel frame is its most distinctive visual feature, with colors that echo Japan's traditional auspicious red and white. There are unique restaurants nearby, as well as souvenir shops and the “Namiha no Yu” hot spring facility. In the evening, you can bring a camera to capture the beautiful sunset or the dazzling night view after dark. Overall, it's a good place to plan a half-day visit and enjoy a relaxing time. -
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Starbucks Coffee Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Store
Starbucks Coffee Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Store opened in 2011, right next to the torii gate facing the Omotesando Avenue of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. This is one of the "Regional Landmark Stores," originally designed by Starbucks in iconic locations throughout Japan to promote the attractive local culture to the rest of the world.
The Starbucks on the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine was designed by architect Kengo Kuma and stands out from the other shops along the street. The interwoven and arranged wooden beams give the otherwise rigid architectural structure a distinctive sense of space. Even if you don't go in for coffee, the unique architecture will draw you in and make you stop for a photo. This Starbucks has become one of the area's most prominent landmarks.
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