Fukusaya is one of Nagasaki's oldest castella makers, tracing its recipe back to the Portuguese-influenced confectionery trade of the Edo period, when Dejima was Japan's only window to the West. The shop sells the dense, honey-sweetened sponge cake in wooden boxes, and the attached cafe lets you eat a slice with tea rather than just buying it to take home. The interior is plain and shop-like rather than a sit-down restaurant, built around the retail counter with a small tea-service area off to the side.
Fukusaya has made castella sponge cake in Nagasaki since 1624, making it one of the oldest confectionery houses in Japan and a direct link to the Portuguese-influenced sweets that entered the country through Nagasaki's port during the Edo period. The brand's downtown cafe location offers both retail boxes of the signature cake and a small seating area for enjoying a slice with tea on the spot. The original castella recipe uses just flour, eggs, sugar, and starch syrup, baked slowly to produce a moist, dense sponge with a distinctive layer of coarse sugar crystals baked into the bottom crust — a texture and flavor that has become the defining marker of authentic Nagasaki castella. Beyond the plain original, the cafe serves castella paired with matcha tea and offers mini castella pieces suited to casual snacking or gifting. The interior is understated and traditional, with dark wood fittings and a quiet, refined atmosphere more akin to a heritage confectionery shop than a casual cafe, though the pace remains relaxed and welcoming rather than formal. There is no dress code, and the shop is walk-in only, with no reservation system needed for what is fundamentally a bakery-cafe experience. Boxes of castella, priced from roughly ¥1,400 to ¥2,800 ($9-18), remain one of the most popular souvenirs purchased by visitors to Nagasaki, and the brand's four-century history is treated as a point of civic pride throughout the city.
| Price | $ |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00AM-6:00PM |
| Reservations | Walk-in only |
| Address | 3-1 Funai-machi, Nagasaki, 850-0032 |
Signature dishes
- Original castella cake (¥1,400-2,800/$9-18 per box)
- Castella with matcha tea
- Mini castella
Good to know
- Known for
- Nagasaki's most historic castella maker (1624); the gold-sugar-bottom crust castella is the city's defining souvenir
Location
3-1 Funai-machi, Nagasaki, 850-0032
32.7460, 129.8769 View on map
Highlights
- Nagasaki's oldest castella maker, founded in 1624
- Signature gold-sugar-bottom crust unique to authentic Nagasaki castella
- Castella paired with matcha tea available for on-site enjoyment
- Boxed castella is one of the city's most popular souvenirs
Tips for visiting
- Buy a box to take home — castella keeps well for several days
- Pair a slice with matcha tea for the classic combination
- Mini castella pieces make convenient gifts for multiple recipients
- Visit mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the busiest retail periods
Accessibility
The shop is at street level with a traditional storefront entrance suitable for most visitors, though the interior seating area is compact.
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Frequently asked questions
What is castella?
Castella is a moist Japanese sponge cake with Portuguese origins, made from flour, eggs, sugar, and starch syrup, and closely associated with Nagasaki.
Does Fukusaya offer seating, or is it takeaway only?
The downtown location offers a small cafe seating area alongside its retail counter.
How much does a box of castella cost?
Boxes range from roughly ¥1,400 to ¥2,800 ($9-18) depending on size.
Does the shop take reservations?
No, it operates on a walk-in retail and cafe basis.