Update-date: Aug 30 2024
Kanazawa is a city that is packed with sights to see and attractions to visit, from historical streets to museums and parks enveloped in lush nature. But more than anything, what is arguably one of the most noteworthy aspects of this place is its truly fresh and delicious seafood from the Sea of Japan. This article will showcase the town of Kanazawa and some of its must-try dishes.
What Kind of Place Is the Castle Town of Kanazawa?
From the late 16th century, Kanazawa prospered as a castle town for about 300 years under 14 generations of feudal lords. Having been spared from major disasters and damage from wars, it has managed to keep intact not just Kanazawa Castle and the feudal lord's garden Kenrokuen Garden, but also the streetscapes and historical buildings such as temples, the teahouse district, and the irrigation water network. Now, these attractions have been drawing visitors into this city.
A long line of feudal lords that ruled the town also focused on the promotion of handicrafts, so various traditional crafts continue to thrive until today, including Kaga Yuzen (kimono), Kutani-yaki (pottery), Kanazawa shikki (lacquerware), and gold leaf. Kanazawa is also known as a city of history and culture, where classical performing arts such as Noh, Kyogen, and dance, as well as traditional music using the "shamisen" (three-stringed lute) and "koto" (Japanese harp) have flourished.
Another appealing feature of Kanazawa is how accessible it is, being just about a 2.5-hour Shinkansen ride away from the three major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. So, after you're done visiting the three major cities, how about checking out Kanazawa?
A long line of feudal lords that ruled the town also focused on the promotion of handicrafts, so various traditional crafts continue to thrive until today, including Kaga Yuzen (kimono), Kutani-yaki (pottery), Kanazawa shikki (lacquerware), and gold leaf. Kanazawa is also known as a city of history and culture, where classical performing arts such as Noh, Kyogen, and dance, as well as traditional music using the "shamisen" (three-stringed lute) and "koto" (Japanese harp) have flourished.
Another appealing feature of Kanazawa is how accessible it is, being just about a 2.5-hour Shinkansen ride away from the three major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. So, after you're done visiting the three major cities, how about checking out Kanazawa?
Kanazawa is a compact city, so you can efficiently tour the major tourist attractions by simply getting on a shuttle bus or a fixed-route local bus.
When you visit, you shouldn't miss Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden, a feudal lord's garden, as well as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, which is decorated with a variety of unique contemporary art pieces both inside and outside the museum.
Meanwhile, the streets of the Higashi Chaya District, which has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Japan, are lined with wooden buildings that will give a glimpse into Japan's ancient landscape.
Another fun spot to check out is Omicho Market, more fondly called "Kanazawa's Kitchen" by locals, which houses around 170 stores selling fresh local vegetables, fruits, seafood, and other products. There are many eateries in this market where you can have fresh seafood bowls and sashimi, and numerous shops offering sashimi and grilled food at their storefronts. At Omicho Market, all kinds of tasty and fresh seafood Kanazawa has to offer are right there for you to enjoy.
When you visit, you shouldn't miss Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden, a feudal lord's garden, as well as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, which is decorated with a variety of unique contemporary art pieces both inside and outside the museum.
Meanwhile, the streets of the Higashi Chaya District, which has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Japan, are lined with wooden buildings that will give a glimpse into Japan's ancient landscape.
Another fun spot to check out is Omicho Market, more fondly called "Kanazawa's Kitchen" by locals, which houses around 170 stores selling fresh local vegetables, fruits, seafood, and other products. There are many eateries in this market where you can have fresh seafood bowls and sashimi, and numerous shops offering sashimi and grilled food at their storefronts. At Omicho Market, all kinds of tasty and fresh seafood Kanazawa has to offer are right there for you to enjoy.
Why Is Seafood in Kanazawa So Good?
Off the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, where Kanazawa is located, the warm Tsushima Current and the cold Liman Current meet, thereby filling the sea with a unique type of water called "Japan Sea Proper Water" that is clean and rich in nutrients. This particular kind of water is inhabitable both for warm-water and cold-water fish, so it is no wonder that a wide variety of fish and shellfish can be caught here.
Additionally, Ishikawa Prefecture gets a lot of rain and the sea is close to the mountains, so melted snow and rainwater with an abundance of nutrients from the mountains and countryside flow into the sea from the rivers. This then creates an environment where the population of small fish that become feed gets bigger, making it easier to breed delicious fish. As a matter of fact, it is one of the reasons why you can eat delicious seafood in Kanazawa.
Additionally, Ishikawa Prefecture gets a lot of rain and the sea is close to the mountains, so melted snow and rainwater with an abundance of nutrients from the mountains and countryside flow into the sea from the rivers. This then creates an environment where the population of small fish that become feed gets bigger, making it easier to breed delicious fish. As a matter of fact, it is one of the reasons why you can eat delicious seafood in Kanazawa.
You can enjoy a wide array of seafood throughout the year in Kanazawa. Late summer to fall is when sea bream, tilefish, red snow crab, and the high-end blackthroat seaperch are most delicious. Walk around Omicho Market and try asking the fishmongers what fish is in season. They just might let you in on a secret or give you information that only locals know.
Must-Visit Dining Spots for Delicious Seafood in Kanazawa!
Fresh fish tastes great no matter how you prepare or cook it. So, here are a couple of recommended restaurants offering Japanese and modern French cuisine where you can relish superb seafood. Which do you prefer?
tawara (Kanazawa / French Cuisine)
Tucked away in the Nagamachi Samurai District where earthen walls and cobblestone roads from ancient times remain and grand samurai houses line the streets, [tawara] is a private hideout where you can savor French dishes. Mr. Tawara, its chef who trained in both Japanese and French cuisines in Kanazawa, France, and Kyoto, carefully selects local ingredients to create dishes characterized by refined, delicate flavors. This restaurant offers courses that come with small servings of a variety of dishes with Japanese elements (7,000 JPY for a seven-dish lunch course, and 12,000 JPY for a ten-dish dinner course), so you will definitely get to taste many different flavors with whichever course you choose.
If you also order the [Wine Pairing] (4,500 JPY for lunch and 6,000 JPY for dinner) that will let you add natural wines, mainly French and Japanese wines, to complement the dishes, then it's bound to be an extraordinary gastronomic experience. They can even include local Japanese sake upon request!
If you also order the [Wine Pairing] (4,500 JPY for lunch and 6,000 JPY for dinner) that will let you add natural wines, mainly French and Japanese wines, to complement the dishes, then it's bound to be an extraordinary gastronomic experience. They can even include local Japanese sake upon request!
It may be located in the heart of Kanazawa, but one of this restaurant's charms is its mature and relaxing atmosphere. Here, you can enjoy seasonal modern French dishes in a space that fuses the beauty of the Japanese "wabi-sabi" aesthetic and Scandinavian design.
tawara
Open: [Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Reservations are required with a 12:00 pm start time) / [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Reservations are required for 6:00 or 7:00 pm start time)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 8,000 JPY
Access: 10-minute drive from the East Exit of Kanazawa Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line
Address: 1F, Royal Plaza Katamachi, 2-10-19, Katamachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 8,000 JPY
Access: 10-minute drive from the East Exit of Kanazawa Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line
Address: 1F, Royal Plaza Katamachi, 2-10-19, Katamachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
More Details Reservation
Ajiraku Yumeri (Kanazawa / Japanese Cuisine)
[Ajiraku Yumeri] serves dishes made with only the most delicious and freshest seafood procured by its owner, who is a native of Noto Town which is known for its flourishing fishing industry, through his own unique way. The rockfish, flounder, filefish, Japanese amberjack, whelk, mackerel, and other fish and seafood are all caught in the morning and then delivered to the restaurant in accordance with its service hours, so it goes without saying that they are extremely fresh.
The majority of the customers order the [9-Variety Sashimi Platter] (2,700 JPY for two servings) to enjoy the inherent, delicious taste of the fish. Now, if there's something that you have to order together with the fish in season, it would have to be local Japanese sake. So, enjoy the tasty dishes with Japanese sakes that have been sourced from five sake distilleries in the restaurant owner's hometown.
The majority of the customers order the [9-Variety Sashimi Platter] (2,700 JPY for two servings) to enjoy the inherent, delicious taste of the fish. Now, if there's something that you have to order together with the fish in season, it would have to be local Japanese sake. So, enjoy the tasty dishes with Japanese sakes that have been sourced from five sake distilleries in the restaurant owner's hometown.
Found in a renovated traditional Japanese house, this restaurant exudes a hideaway vibe. Its homey and relaxing atmosphere comes from the fact that it is run with the family at the center. The first floor has a counter and private rooms, while the second floor has seating on tatami floors, so you can choose where to dine depending on the occasion.
Ajiraku Yumeri
Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: From Kanazawa Station (JR Hokuriku Main Line), walk 5 minutes to the south side of the Rifare Building.
Address: 1-3-33 Hon-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: From Kanazawa Station (JR Hokuriku Main Line), walk 5 minutes to the south side of the Rifare Building.
Address: 1-3-33 Hon-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Map
More Details Reservation
Freshness is the most important quality of fish, so naturally, it tastes best when eaten at the place where it is caught. While delicious fish and seafood are available throughout Japan, it has to be noted that if you go to Kanazawa, you will not only get to enjoy beautiful sightseeing spots, but also sample delicious food. So, if you want to eat fresh and tasty seafood and go sightseeing at the same time, you have got to visit Kanazawa!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
