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Enjoy Kanazawa gourmet food at the vibrant Kanazawa’s kitchen.
This is Kanazawa’s kitchen, which has been known as “Omicho” for about 300 years. It is always busy and vibrant, with approximately 170 stores selling fresh seasonal seafood, vegetables, prepared foods, souvenirs, and other items lined up in a narrow arcade. Some of the stores prepare food right in front of their customers, while others have eat-in seating so you can enjoy the seasonal gourmet foods on the spot. It is best to go in the morning since popular items sell out before noon.
There are over 40 restaurants offering fresh seafood at reasonable prices, such as Kanazawa’s specialty “Nodoguro” (blackthroat seaperch), sweet shrimp, and snow crab, so you can enjoy them heartily. The most popular dish is the Kaisen-don, a rice bowl topped with a rich variety of seasonal seafood, and each restaurant offers its own unique version. Another attraction is Noto beef, a premium brand offered at a reasonable price through grilled skewers, seared sushi, and rice bowls. Business hours vary by store, but most of them open at around 7 a.m. Most restaurants have only a few seats at the counter, so it is recommended to avoid lunch time.
The market gets crowded with customers around 9 a.m.
Sweet shrimp, a winter delicacy, is sold at a reasonable price.
Take-out is also available.
The famous specialty crab, “Kobako-gani” (female snow crab), is available in winter.
Seasonal seafood is all lined up.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Omicho Market is well worth adding to your Kanazawa itinerary. The first floor is the liveliest part of the market, with fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, and various local Kanazawa products all concentrated there. The Omicho Ichibakan building also has a basement level and a second-floor dining area where you can buy daily necessities, eat, or take a short break.
If your main goal is to explore the market, I recommend coming in the morning. Although this isn't a traditional morning market that only operates early in the day, many fresh fish shops start packing up in the afternoon, so there will be far fewer options if you arrive too late. Some shops also have shorter hours on Sundays and national holidays, so if you want to see the entire market, it's best not to come too late.
The first floor isn't just seafood; there are also many fruit shops. It's great for travelers who can't conveniently buy a whole box of fruit, since you can choose a portion to eat on the spot. The seafood shops still retain much of the feel of a traditional market. Most products are intended to be taken home and cooked, but some large fish shops also offer freshly grilled seafood that you can eat in the seating areas they provide.
If you're traveling with seniors, children, or a larger group, I would recommend going straight to the second floor to find a restaurant. Seating at some of the popular seafood rice bowl places on the first floor can be cramped, while restaurants in the second-floor dining area usually have more space and make it easier to find seating for groups. They also offer a wider variety of dishes. For example, the restaurant where I ate on the second floor had a kids' meal, making it a more child-friendly option.
Overall, Omicho Market clearly retains the feeling of being “Kanazawa's kitchen.” Although it's also a famous local tourist destination, it still feels very local and not overly touristy. The fruit and vegetable shops, fresh fish shops, food shops, household goods, and other non-seafood products actually give the first-floor market even more character.
I made a point of visiting the seafood market on this trip to Kanazawa, and it was really worth it! The market is incredibly lively, with a dazzling variety of fresh seafood, sushi, scallops, crab, sea urchin, and local snacks. Just walking around and looking at everything works up an appetite. Although there are quite a few tourists, the market is clean and easy to navigate. Many stalls prepare food to order, so you can enjoy seafood at its freshest and sweetest. The vendors are also very friendly and will enthusiastically explain things even if there's a language barrier. The prices are a little high, but the freshness and quality are both very good. It's a must on any trip to Kanazawa!
Kanazawa is close to the Sea of Japan, so there's a great supply of seafood. Omicho Market is known as Kanazawa's kitchen, and trying the seafood here is a must.
I skipped the hotel breakfast and came to the market early just to have the seafood rice bowl here. Super fresh, delicious, and the prices are great.
