Delicious souvenirs from Kyushu's Sugar Road, combining European and Japanese styles for over 100 years

*Prices include tax.

In 2020, the Nagasaki Kaido road that connects Dejima to Kitakyushu City was named the Japan Heritage "Sugar Road." On your journey along this road, you will notice delicious sweets being made everywhere. They are all slightly different in style from the so-called Japanese sweets. These sweets were brought over from Europe and have evolved in a unique way in Japan.

From familiar items to things you've never heard of. If you're passing by Sugar Road, don't forget to buy some souvenirs. They all have a historical background and will make great "souvenirs" to take home with you.

"Castella" from Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

Castella cake is a classic Nagasaki souvenir. Fukusaya is known as the original castella cake shop.

When talking about sweets from Nagasaki, many people would probably mention castella. Among them, Fukusaya is a long-established castella store that was founded in 1624 (the first year of the Kanei era) and has been making castella for about 400 years. Since its founding, it has continued to maintain its particular manufacturing method, which is handmade with great care.

Moist and soft, with a rich sweetness and the perfect texture of granulated sugar, it spreads in your mouth. You can almost picture the beaming faces of the Japanese people who tasted this fashionable sweet for the first time. This timeless classic is undoubtedly delicious, and still brings a smile to many people's faces today.

Available for purchase at Nagasaki main store, other stores in Nagasaki prefecture, and online store

"Zabonzuke" from Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

The traditional Chinese recipe is still used today. Slightly bitter, with a mature flavor.

Zabon, native to Southeast Asia, is cultivated in Japan in southern Kyushu, including Nagasaki, and is also called Buntan. Zabon-zuke, a local Nagasaki confectionery, is made by preserving the peel of this citrus fruit in sugar. It is carefully boiled down in sugar using the "honey pickling" technique that was introduced from China.

The subtle bitterness of this sophisticated flavor is addictive for adults. It is simple yet elegant, making it the perfect accompaniment to tea.

Available for purchase at Nagasaki Airport and other locations

"Ikkoko" from Ogi City, Saga Prefecture

Simple sweets made with carefully selected ingredients. Packed with craftsmanship and attention to detail

You might imagine it to have a moist texture, but it has a unique texture like a cookie, with a crisp exterior and a slightly soft interior. The wheat flavor and brown sugar bean paste are a perfect match.

These simple sweets are packed with care. The dough is made from wheat and malt syrup from Saga Prefecture, and the filling is made from pure brown sugar and ginger from Okinawa Prefecture. They are quickly baked at a high temperature of 460 degrees to finish. They are simple, but the skill of the craftsman shines through in their deliciousness.

Available at the main store in Ogi City and other locations

"Ogi Yokan" from Ogi City, Saga Prefecture

It has a crunchy texture and a moist inside. The traditional method of making it is a new discovery in traditional yokan.

Ogi Yokan has long been a Kyushu specialty. Made using traditional methods that have been passed down since the Edo period, this yokan has a slightly different flavor. The surface is coated with sugar, giving it a unique crunchy texture. The contrast with the moist, soft inside gives it a different flavor than regular yokan.

While it conveys traditional manufacturing methods to the present day, it is sure to bring fresh surprises to many people.

Available at the main store in Ogi City and other locations

"Hiyoko" confectionery from Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

"We want to make sweets that people will love." A famous confectionery that conveys the sentiment of 110 years

Many famous sweets that are well-known nationwide can be traced back to the Sugar Road. Chikuho Iizuka, which has been a town of confectionery since ancient times, was also a coal mining town. Sweets are one of the sources of energy for the people who work here.

Shigeru Ishizaka, the second-generation owner of Yoshinodo, which was founded in 1897, wanted to "make a sweet that would be loved even more," and in 1912 came up with the idea for Meika Hiyoko. The three-dimensional chick shape is said to have had a major impact on the sweet culture of the time, when most sweets were round or square. For 110 years since then, its adorable appearance and heart-warming flavor have made it a popular Kyushu souvenir.

Available at Iizuka Main Store and other locations in Fukuoka Prefecture

"Konpeito" from Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

A luxury sugar confectionery that captivated feudal lords during the Warring States period. Each piece holds a hidden history.

This classic sweet, which resembles a large sugar crystal, is said to have been brought over from Portugal in 1546. The word comes from the Portuguese word "comfeito," which means sugar candy. It is said to have captivated many famous feudal lords during the Sengoku period, including Oda Nobunaga.

Prized as a luxury item until the Meiji period, Irohaya's konpeito comes in a variety of colors and flavors. The one in the photo is an elegant treat with a subtle strawberry scent.

Available at Izutsuya Kokura store and other locations

These souvenirs have a long history, yet are a fresh surprise.

All of these items have a history of at least 100 years, and some even date back over 400 years. Despite their long history, you will be surprised by the fresh charm of these timeless souvenirs. Be sure to take them home as a memento of your trip along Sugar Road.

*Some content was revised on August 8, 2023.

Related article

A delicious, fun and educational journey to Kyushu's Japanese Heritage, Sugar Road

A unique food culture originating from sugar and foreign sweets remains in various places connecting Dejima in Nagasaki, which was a gateway for overseas trade in the Edo period, and Kokura in Fukuoka Prefecture, the gateway to Kyushu. This is the Nagasaki Kaido, a Japanese heritage site known as the "Sugar Road." About 200 km of the road that you can experience 400 years of long history through taste. We will guide you on a sweet and delicious journey of learning.

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