[Day 1] Enjoying Gourmet Food on a 2-Day Trip in Kanazawa, Where Old Townscapes Remain Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-date: May 16 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

[Day 1] Enjoying Gourmet Food on a 2-Day Trip in Kanazawa, Where Old Townscapes Remain

In Kanazawa, where many beautiful traditional townhouses remain, one can feel the history. It's a place bustling with both inbound and domestic tourists, drawing visitors from all over the world. However, in the January 2024 earthquake, Kanazawa also experienced significant shaking, resulting in both human and material losses, as well as a wave of cancellations in the tourism sector. Now, three months after the earthquake, visiting Kanazawa gives the impression that it is gradually recovering its former appearance, possibly due to the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line and the support measures for the Hokuriku region. we will introduce a two-day trip focusing on the current Kanazawa, highlighting its wonderful restaurants and tourist spots.

See full listings of Yakiniku restaurants found in and around Kanazawa and Ishikawa.

[Day 2] Enjoying Gourmet Food on a 2-Day Trip in Kanazawa, Where Old Townscapes Remain

Day 1

The Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended in March, so we boarded the "Kagayaki" bound for Tsuruga from Tokyo Station and headed to Kanazawa Station. We arrived in about 2 and a half hours, and we always feel surprised by how close Kanazawa is whenever we come here. After capturing a photo of the symbol "Kanazawa Station Gate," we immediately started moving.

The symbol of Kanazawa Station, the "Kanazawa Station Gate." Designed with the image of a drum used in Kanazawa's traditional performing art, "Noh theater." It's illuminated from sunset until midnight, so arriving at night might also be a good idea.

On the right-hand side, facing the Kanazawa Station Gate, there's a very large bus terminal. While taxis and cars are also convenient options, buses are relatively inexpensive and offer a wide range of routes and frequencies within Kanazawa.

Generally, transportation IC cards like Suica or PASMO cannot be used, so it's advisable to either prepare cash or get a day pass (800 yen/adult). Depending on the distance, if you plan to visit tourist spots, you'll often take rides within the 210 yen fare zone. If you'll be making four or more trips, including commuting to your hotel, the day pass is recommended. (It also comes with additional benefits like discounts at museums!)

Whether paying in cash or using a day pass, don't forget to take a boarding ticket when boarding the bus.

12:00 pm - Enjoy strolling through the Omicho Market and sampling fresh seafood.

"Omicho Market," bustling with crowds despite being a weekday. There are also many foreign tourists here.

About a 5-minute bus ride from Kanazawa Station, you can't miss indulging in a foodie adventure at the "Omicho Market." Here, you'll find a plethora of fresh seafood, Kaga vegetables, fruits, and numerous eateries ranging from sushi restaurants to retail shops. Some retail shops even have tables where you can enjoy your purchases right then and there, which adds to the charm of the experience.

This time, we decided to have botan shrimp, oysters, snow crab, and sea urchin.

Ordering whatever we liked from the dazzling array of fresh seafood right in front of us and experiencing it arrive at our table was truly exhilarating. The particularly imposing large oysters were, needless to say, thick and succulent...! The blue roe accompanying the sparkling botan shrimp was stunning every time we looked at it—almost too beautiful to eat. Though the snow crab season was later than usual, they were still available at the market. As expected, there were many foreign tourists here as well, and like the Japanese visitors, they were seen enjoying the seafood just as much.

The towering, glittering Kaga vegetables.

Beautifully arranged crabs inevitably draw our attention.

1:30 pm - Let's search for souvenirs in Higashi Chaya District.

With our stomachs satisfied and seafood souvenirs purchased, it's time to stroll around the Higashi Chaya District. It's about a 4-minute bus ride or a little over 10 minutes on foot from Omicho Market, so it's also recommended as a post-meal walk.

We observed the usual scene of Japanese tourists in kimonos and foreign tour groups led by guides holding tour flags.

While Higashi Chaya District is famous as a tourist destination, it was originally a bustling tea district. Now, it's preserved as an Important Traditional Building Preservation Area, with renovated tea houses housing souvenir shops, restaurants, and more.

You can enjoy the most famous sweet treat in Kanazawa, the "Gold Leaf Soft Cream," at Hanareichi; without exaggeration, it's one of the most renowned places in town.

Since the main shops are generally clustered in one area, it's a good idea to stroll around and pop into the ones that catch your eye. For post-meal sweets, you have options like the "Gold Leaf Soft Serve," Mont Blanc, pancakes, and traditional Japanese sweets shops. For souvenirs, you can find Kanazawa specialties like "Kintsuba" from Nakataya, renowned for its Kaga stick tea, Maruhachi Seichaen, as well as sake from Fukumasamune, and stores selling Yamanaka lacquerware, Wajima lacquerware, Kutani ware, and more. While there are plenty of souvenirs available at Kanazawa Station, exploring each shop in the machiya (traditional townhouse) atmosphere can also be a delightful experience.

Even the small alleyways are charming.

4:00 pm　Take a stroll through the ruins of the Hasebe Samurai Residence.

From beyond the earthen walls, you can sense the four seasons of Japan through the appearance of the trees in the samurai residence gardens.

Dinner was pre-booked, so spending time until 6:00 pm was perfect around the vicinity of the "Nagamachi Samurai Residence Ruins." This area retains the remains of residences where middle-class samurai of the Kaga Domain lived during the Edo period. Designated as a Traditional Environment Preservation Area and a Scenic District, you can enjoy the quaint scenery with earthen walls, stone-paved alleyways, and magnificent samurai residences that evoke the atmosphere of that time.

In this area, the "Kuragari Waterway" flows, and along its banks, you'll find eateries and sundry shops lined up, accompanied by the pleasant murmur of the water.

While strolling through the streets and feeling the atmosphere is nice, places like the "Nomura Samurai Residence" open their premises for public viewing, especially their magnificent gardens, which have earned a Michelin 2-star rating and are particularly popular among foreign tourists. Nearby, there's no shortage of stylish eateries, including the always bustling CAFE DUMBO, Cafe Ashito, where you can enjoy lovely music and natural wine from noon onwards, Ito Shoten, known for its charming atmosphere and natural wines, and Gelateria Little Tara, which offers more than 10 flavors of gelato at all times.

6:00 pm　Enjoy the Noto beef at "Yakiniku Daishogun."

Along the beautiful Sai River, lined with traditional townhouses, you can feel the distinctive atmosphere of Kanazawa.

For the eagerly anticipated dinner, we opted for yakiniku. "Yakiniku House Daishogun," which operates three stores in Toyama Prefecture, has also opened in Kanazawa. They've renovated a 170-year-old townhouse, incorporating large open spaces, exposed beams, and hidden doors in the walls leading to other rooms, creating an exciting setting reminiscent of a ninja mansion.

The "Yakiniku House Daishogun Kanazawa Branch," which opened in February 2024.

They offer not only table and private room seating but also dynamic counter seating. The attentive service provided regardless of the number of guests made me feel like this might be the pinnacle of solo yakiniku dining!

As soon as you take your seat, you're greeted by the imposing presence of the hearth. The restaurant offers carefully selected rice from all over Japan, cooked in a traditional iron pot to perfection, which heightens the anticipation for the on-the-rice dishes. While à la carte ordering is available, this time we opted for the "TOSHIIE Course" (7,700 JPY), with an upgrade to Noto beef (1,650 JPY).

Following the aperitif, chawanmushi, and Kaga vegetable namul came the "Sweet Shrimp Yukhoe" from Ishikawa Prefecture. We thoroughly enjoyed the rich sweetness and flavor of the tender sweet shrimp. Even at a yakiniku restaurant, it's always a delight to savor dishes that showcase the unique ingredients of Kanazawa.

Prompted by the staff, we quickly tried the "Gokumi Tan" on-the-rice dish, made from the tongue base, which is a rare cut that yields only 3-4 pieces per cow. Sliced to perfection, we fully enjoyed the exquisite thickness, texture, and density of the meat. Finished with a refreshing squeeze of lemon.

The specialty dish is the "Daishogun Signature Kuwabara-yaki." Made from Noto beef sirloin, it features only the rich, creamy yolk of the egg, free from any off-flavors. The unbelievably intense flavor of the meat, combined with the gentle, high-quality fat and velvety soft texture, is simply dreamy.

We watch as the meat is seared with a satisfying sizzle right before our eyes. This is the Noto beef Misuji, a cut with plenty of marbling, served refreshing with vegetable ponzu sauce. The acidity of the vinegar cuts through the richness of the fat, enhancing the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the meat.

We left the restaurant completely satisfied with the course menu that made ample use of Kaga vegetables, seafood from the Hokuriku region, and Noto beef. While undoubtedly popular among tourists, there was also a noticeable presence of locals, perhaps drawn by the reasonable pricing considering the quality of the offerings. It was truly an impressive night, leaving us in awe of how far Kanazawa's yakiniku scene has come!

Yakiniku House Daishogun Kanazawa Branch

Open: [Monday-Saturday, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY
Access: Take the Mattou bus line from Kanazawa Station Bus Terminal for five stops, then a 3-minute walk from the Katamachi stop after getting off.
Address: 2-31-36, Katamachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
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[Day 2] Enjoying Gourmet Food on a 2-Day Trip in Kanazawa, Where Old Townscapes Remain

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.