Surprisingly, there aren’t that many great cafes in Saga, Kyushu.
But, here’s an underrated one that we found. Decent matcha, great vibes — almost felt like I was dining in someone’s living room. If you’re in Saga, we recommend checking out Cafe Koumori for your afternoon tea plans.
Driving from Fukuoka? You might want to spend a day in Tosu City while you’re on the way
Our honest review of Cafe Koumori
First impression: it was so hard to find. It’s nestled in a residential area, with no proper signage. But, a tip is that it’s located right beside the drain/river, and the front door is covered by foliage.
Once we step foot inside, we were greeted by a cute elderly Japanese couple. I’m honestly not surprised if we were simply dining in their house, as the seats were essentially one large dining table. We only saw four seats, so we were quite lucky to have visited during off-peak periods in Japan.
What’s on the menu?
On Cafe Koumori’s menu, look forward to a small variety of matcha drinks and desserts
They only serve Usucha (¥800), which is matcha with water; There is no matcha latte on the menu
The matcha itself was decent, but frankly, without the cosy ambience, was not really worth the price.
The Shira Tama-chan (¥900), which was usucha with rice balls and red beans, was alright — just a simple, comforting dessert.
Looking for other activities to do in Saga? We recommend the hot air balloon simulator at Saga Balloon Museum
The Cream Anmitsu Beans (¥900) was possibly more worth-it than the Shira Tama-Chan. The black beans added a nice depth to the dessert, and the black honey from okinawa gave it that rich, deep sweetness that you probably won’t be able to get from regular honey.
I’d recommend sharing this, because it could get a little too sweet after a few mouthfuls.
More than just a cafe
Cafe Koumori is also equipped with some Japanese books, and for the tourists — international board games. I had a great time playing Reversi with my family while we were there.
Location: 1 Chome-1-46 Matsubara, Saga, 840-0831
Opening hours: 10am-6pm
Planning a trip to Japan?
- Tokyo guide – 5-days itinerary for the best things to do in Tokyo
- 3 days Osaka itinerary – 31 best things to do in Osaka
- Kyushu Itinerary – Top 10 things to do In Kyushu, Japan
- Enoshima Island day-trip guide – How to make the most of your day
- Tokyo’s boring? 5 prefectures to visit for a day trip from Tokyo
- 4 lakes in Japan for the best Mount Fuji views
