Monange Sweets Takeo モンナンジュスイーツ武雄店 (Takeo, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Okay, I lie through my teeth when I said we’d be leaving Takeo (武雄) immediately for Daitō (大塔) (more on that later). The truth is, we had a rather important mission to complete on this quiet Christmas morning.

Our so-called mission? A stop at Monange Sweets Takeo (モンナンジュスイーツ武雄店), just a quick 10-minute drive from OND Hotel.

Even though I had the shop pinned on Google Maps, I didn’t realize it was located right off the highway. 

But once we arrived, we were greeted by a beautifully decorated pâtisserie specializing in one thing and one thing only — Basque cheesecakes in a variety of innovative flavors.

Time to make our pick.

Some of the cheesecakes were infused with tea. There was one featuring matcha and chestnut chunks nestled in the center that looked rather appealing. But I thought you can’t go wrong with the bestseller, right?

Basque cheesecake original (620 yen) — The shop’s signature and best-selling item. Light, airy, and not overly cheesy just the way many prefer it. Personally, I still like the one from The Café at One Fukuoka Hotel more for its glorious runny centre, but this was still a decent choice.

Black sesame Basque cheesecake (580 yen) — The menu promised a “rich black sesame flavor” and they certainly delivered. Deep, nutty, and aromatic, this was a bold twist. Still, when it comes to Basque cheesecakes, I’m a bit of a purist at heart.

With our sweet tooth satisfied, it was finally time to make our way toward Daitō, a small town just 10–15 minutes from Huis Ten Bosch (豪斯登堡). Since dining options near the famed Dutch-themed park are limited unless you’re actually inside, I decided to explore Daitō’s offerings before checking into our hotel.

Our lunch spot? MK Restaurant Sasebo (佐世堡大塔店), a name that might ring a bell for travelers familiar with Thailand. MK is a well-known family restaurant chain I’ve encountered many times during my travel to Bangkok, though I never eaten there myself.

Well, two decades later, I finally crossed it off the list — right here in Japan. Funny how things come full circle sometimes.

Food Rating: 5.5/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 9793 Higashikawanoboricho Oaza Hakamano, Takeo, Saga, 843-0234, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-27-7600

Website: https://www.instagram.com/monange_sweets_takeo?igsh=eGw3NTlidWlwdHFu

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 6:00pm (Wed - Mon)

Bunga Village Bakery Cafe (Saga, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

After a long lunch at Chateau Bunga, we decided to pop into Bunga Village Bakery café next door to check out what they had in store. Perhaps something that could serve as our breakfast for the next morning?

The bakery café offers a spacious dine-in area for a proper sit-down meal.

As soon as we stepped inside, we were immediately greeted by a long line of customers, all eager to bring home some baked goods for their Christmas Eve celebrations. We ended up waiting more than 10 minutes for our turn to be served.

But the wait wasn’t wasted at all. I used the opportunity to get a closer look at their selection of baked goods. One of our favorites from any Japanese bakery made an appearance: brioche filled with butter and red bean paste. Always a winner.

Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to check out their lineup of French-style pastries. They had a small but enticing selection including cheesecakes in different flavors, chocolate cake, tiramisu, Mont Blanc, and more.

Marron and Matcha (480 yen) — Made with matcha mousse, red bean paste, and marron sponge cake — was this inspired by a traditional Kyoto-style dessert? 

I loved the soft, airy texture, and the balance of flavors was absolutely spot on.

Cheesecake (310 yen) — Less successful was the cheese-shaped cheesecake. I thought little nugget would love it, especially since it looked just like his favorite cheesecake from Kyoto —but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations.

And with that, our time in Saga came to an end. Next stop: Takeo, which, luckily, was just a comfortable 30-minute ride away.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 2593-12 Yamatocho Oaza Kuchii, Saga, 840-0202 Japan

Tel: +81 (0)952-37-8376

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 9:00pm (Mon - Fri), 10:00am - 10:00pm (Sat - Sun)

Pâtisserie Mars Nabeshima パティスリーマルス 鍋島店 (Saga, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

After a much-needed short rest at the hotel, we hit the road again early next morning. It’s Christmas Eve, and just before our scheduled visit to Saga Castle (佐賀城跡), we figured it was the perfect time to start the day with something sweet.

I had done a bit of homework before the trip and bookmarked a local patisserie — Pâtisserie Mars Nabeshima (パティスリーマルス) — conveniently located a couple of blocks from our hotel.

Founded in 2002, this cozy little spot has earned a loyal following for its French-style pastries infused with subtle Japanese nuances. And with Christmas just one sleep away, it was no surprise to find the shop already buzzing with early-morning customers, all picking up celebration sweets for the evening ahead.

With Christmas just around the corner, it came with very little surprise that the shop was already buzzing with early-morning customers all picking up celebration sweets for the holidays.

But we were there for something a little less ceremonial — a sweet breakfast to kick off our holiday morning.

Mont Blanc (560 yen) — Silky smooth chestnut purée layered over a base of hazelnut praline cream and what was described as a sponge cake, but I thought the sponge tasted more like a crispy tart shell.

To start, the chestnut purée perhaps a little too smooth, was lacking that characteristic grainy texture associated with a good Mont Blanc. Still, the hazelnut praline cream added a lovely nutty depth, and the crisp pastry base brought a welcome contrast in texture. Not bad at all.

和栗 Mont Blanc (626 yen) — The second version of their Mont Blanc was made with Japanese chestnut from Kumamoto (熊本) and the quality showed. The purée was noticeably more refined and had a beautifully natural, mellow sweetness (without sweetener?). 

Unfortunately, the base this time was a brownie-like cake that felt a bit mismatched with the purée. 

While the selection at Pâtisserie Mars wasn’t extensive, it was more than enough for what we were looking for. On a festive morning when we were craving European-style sweets, they delivered just what we needed to satisfy our holiday cravings. A charming little shop well worth a visit if you’re ever in town.

After enjoying the sweets, we found time to squeeze in a quick visit to the Saga Prefectural Art Museum (佐賀県立美術館/博物館), just across the street from Saga Castle. And best of all? Little nugget got to meet one of his favorite dino — the perfect ending to a sweet Christmas Eve morning.

Food Rating: 5.8/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: G/F Shinsakae Mansion, 1351-2 Hachinohe, Nabeshima-ku, Saga, 840-0857 Japan

Closest Train Station: Saga

Tel: +81 (0)952-29-5546

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 6:30pm (Mon, Wed - Sat), 10:00am - 6:00pm (Sun)