Cafe Terrace Camellia Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch (Sasebo, JAPAN) ★★☆☆☆

For our Christmas dinner, we decided to keep things simple and not stray too far for the celebration. Since we were spending the day at Huis Ten Bosch (豪斯登堡) and staying at Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch (JR 豪斯登堡大倉酒店), it made perfect sense to dine right in-house.

With four restaurants at the hotel, I knew we’d be choosing one of them. While teppanyaki sounded most interesting, Cafe Terrace Camellia (カフェテラスカメリア), the hotel’s all-day buffet restaurant, felt like the right choice, especially since mom and little nugget are both big fans of hotel buffets.

We didn’t really expect much from a buffet in Japan. From what we’ve experienced in the past, they can never match the variety in Hong Kong or Bangkok. And our initial assessment seemed to be accurate early on.

Not surprisingly, the selection for appetizers was somewhat underwhelming.

While a station dedicated to smoked salmon was drawing a small crowd, it didn’t really excite me. 

I had high hopes for the roasted beef found right next to the smoked salmon station. 

But unfortunately, the fillet lacked the flavor and succulence I was hoping for. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Dessert was perhaps the lone bright spot of the meal. Well, not quite. The variety was there but the quality really fell short.

I guess the real highlight of the evening was a couple hired by the hotel, delighting kids with twisted balloon creations including this festive Santa!

After taking a break from the action at Huis Ten Bosch since the late afternoon, it was time to head back into the theme park for their usual light show at 8:15 pm, followed by a special Christmas fireworks display at 8:45 pm.

Food Rating: 3.9/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch, 10 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3243, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)570-041-489

Opening Hours: 6:30am - 9:00pm daily

MK Restaurant Sasebo Daito 佐世堡大塔店 (Sasebo, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

We had the option of grabbing lunch at Huis Ten Bosch (豪斯登堡), but my adventurous side got the better of me, and we ultimately decided to spend our noon hours in Daito (大塔), a quaint little community just north of Sasebo (佐世堡).

MK Restaurant is a Japanese family dining chain I first encountered during my previous travels to Bangkok. For the longest time, I thought it was a Thailand-based Japanese-themed spot, but during my research for this Kyushu trip, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that its roots actually lie in Japan.

There wasn't much to see in Daito except a variety of shopping malls near Daito JR Station, and that’s where we were headed.

Just a stone’s throw from the station, MK Restaurant specializes in shabu shabu and sukiyaki, making it a perfect choice since both little nugget and mom are big fans of hotpot meals.

Their all-you-can-eat shabu shabu features different price tiers based on the quality of meat. Without hesitation, we went straight with the most expensive selection: prized Miyazaki beef (宮崎牛) (adult: 6,269 yen, child: 1,539 yen).

We started by choosing from seven broth options, ranging from a soothing soy milk broth to the ever-popular light kombu dashi. It wasn't easy to agree on one broth so we ended up settling on two instead.

Clear broth (dashi) and sukiyaki.

The set came with a standard vegetable platter.

But of course, the star of the meal was the Miyazaki beef fillet which came in two parts: thigh and rib. There were other meat including pork and chicken available but we didn't have the time to sample them all. Instead, we solely focused on our Miyazaki beef!

Thigh — Nicely marbled and full of flavors. A great choice for anyone looking for a tender and juicy beef experience.

Rib — Lean and meaty. Ideal for those who enjoy a bit of chew, with rich flavors that made the extra effort worthwhile. 

Octopus and shrimp ball — Some seafood? 😂😂

Like most family restaurants in Japan, all ordering was done through a tablet attached to the table, with menus available in several languages to make things easier for travelers. 

While this meal wasn't the usual fancy Christmas lunch we’ve enjoyed in the past, it turned out to be a hit with everyone. It was a refreshing change of pace from the wood-fired grill and skewers we’d had a ton of during the trip. Most importantly, little nugget and mom were happy campers as we prepared to set foot in the Dutch-inspired theme park.

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 18-16 Daitocho, Sasebo, Nagasaki, 857-1161, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)956-26-1411

Website: https://store.mkrestaurants.co.jp/b/mkrestaurants/info/70007/

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm (Mon - Fri), 10:30am - 11:00pm (Sat - Sun)

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)

SUMIKA 炭火 at OND Hotel (Takeo, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

We decided to keep things simple by dining at the hotel tonight. Located on the ground floor of OND Hotel, SUMIKA (炭火) specializes in sumiyaki (炭火焼), a traditional cooking technique that utilizes charcoal especially binchotan (備長炭) to create unique smoky notes in the charred dishes.

Instead of sitting at the bar, we were given a table at the corner (perhaps because of little nugget) to enjoy our meal.

Dinner started off with a small nibble, a Japanese rice cracker topped with pickled onion and mackerel. Unfortunately, the cracker was a little too hard for my liking.

Our first starter tonight was lightly cooked fatty tuna served with burdock tempura and burdock slaw, nicely complemented by a sauce that tasted very much like balsamic vinegar. Not bad. 

Next up, pan-fried foie gras, perfectly paired with Jerusalem artichoke chips and artichoke purée. It was incredibly succulent, although the portion could have been a little more generous.

Beef and shiitake mushrooms wrapped in layers of cabbage, were all tied together nicely with a flavorful vegetable gravy.

While I thought the beef could have been a touch more tender, the savory sauce made it a pretty solid dish.

The fish course was beautifully cooked herb-crusted Genkai yellowtail fish, paired with a zesty yuzu butter sauce. The buttery sauce and turnip did well to add wonderful textures to the dish.

And the moment we were all eagerly anticipating, the meat course — a duo of beef and duck from Saga. 

True to its reputation, the wagyu was perfectly chargrilled, brimming with deep flavors and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The grilled duck, stuffed with chopped liver, was slightly less impressive. In particular, I thought the flesh and skin could have benefited from a bit more char for a crispier finish.

A small pasta dish rounded out the savory portion of the meal. The penne pasta topped with bok choy, was unfortunately a little under-seasoned. 🥬

Dessert was matcha panna cotta and dried persimmon ice-cream that was creamy enough but tasted more like sweet potato to some of us. 🍠 

Well, it was a meal with its hits and misses but at the end of the day, who cares as long as we got to enjoy a cozy Christmas Eve dinner right in the comfort of our hotel!

Food Rating: 6.4/10

Price: ￥￥￥￥

Address: 18091 Nagashima, Takeocho Oaza Takeo, Takeo, Saga, 843-0021, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-27-8588

Website: https://www.ondhotel.jp/eat/

Opening Hours: 5:30pm - 9:45pm daily

Saga Hirakawaya Takeo Onsen Honten 佐嘉平川屋武雄溫泉本店 (Takeo, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

This one was never on my itinerary but sometimes the best finds are those unplanned ones. After arriving in Takeo (武雄) in the late afternoon, we dropped off our luggage at the hotel and stormed out to the Takeo Onsen Tower Gate (武雄温泉楼) for a few photos before sunset.

That’s when we stumbled upon Saga Hirakawaya Takeo Onsen Honten (佐嘉平川屋武雄溫泉本店), a strikingly modern structure that stood out amidst the traditional Japanese architecture around it.

The sleek, minimalist beverage bar was just as impressive as the exterior, drawing us in for a closer look.

To our surprise, Saga Hirakawaya turned out to be a well-known soybean food producer, offering a variety of products including tofu, dumplings, and other frozen goods. While a small corner of the space was dedicated to showcasing their packaged items, the spotlight was clearly on their soy-based beverages and desserts.

We decided to sit down and soak in the atmosphere while indulging in their soybean soft serve. That's when we discovered a mezzanine floor dining area hidden behind this designer wall.

And little nugget wasted no time racing up the stairs to check out his new found space.

A spacious dine-in area on the mezzanine floor, capable of accommodating 30–40 people and finished in the same contemporary style, was waiting in the wings.

Soy bean gelato with sesame and olive oil (790 yen) — The most expensive item here.

The incredibly smooth gelato delivered a rich, deep soybean flavor, while the olive oil and cornflakes added a lovely texture and complexity, but I thought the sesame panna cotta and red bean paste at the bottom was a bit of a mismatch with the rest of the ingredients.

Most cafés in Takeo opens and closes early. Last order here at 17:30. Something to keep in mind if you're planning a visit.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 7411 Takeocho Oaza Takeo, Takeo, Saga, 843-0022, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-27-8481

Website: https://saga-hirakawaya.jp/brand/shop/

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm daily

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)