Located within 15-minutes walk of Kanazawa Station, Omicho Fish Market boasts around 200 shops and vendors selling some of Japan’s best seafood. The history of this market goes back to the aftermath of a famous fire that saw the creation of the market in 1721. Over time the numbers of shops increased and by the end of the Edo almost all of the fish sellers in Kanazawa were concentrated here. During the modern period the fortunes of the market came and went as it experience booms and devastating fires until it was finally built in the form you can see today. While market doesn’t exclusively sell seafood – with other produce and items on sale – it is without doubt, freshly caught fish and everything else from the nearby Sea of Japan which draws visitors from all over the world.

The market is quite large and has a variety of different foods throughout the market. Some of the traditional recommendations have to be eating some of the raw seafood. There are a number of vendors where you can eat giant raw clams, shrimp and sea urchin. It is most common to add soy sauce to it before eating. Another famous food in the market is crab. You can buy it at many of the stores and the best season to eat it is winter, specifically November and December. The seafood bowls, pictured below, can also be found all over. They have many varieties of different raw seafood so if one restaurant doesn’t have anything interests you, try a different one! There is of course the usual sushi restaurants with their high quality and fresh sushi. But one of the reasons that Japanese people come to Kanazawa for is the oden or food boiled in a kelp broth. It is definitely an interesting experience where you can choose what you want to eat and have it served on the spot. In oden you can have boiled eggs, crab head, daikon radish or even tofu. Finally, if seafood isn’t your thing there is the local specialty of Kanazawa in two separate shops as well as a burger shop and an onigiri shop.

The market is open daily, individual shops will take days off with the greatest number of vendors shutting on Sundays, Wednesdays or public holidays. Some restaurants are open at night however daytime hours – between 09:00 to 17:30 – see the greatest number of vendors selling to the public. Seafood can be purchased, packed and take with you or eaten right there, at one of the markets many vendors and restaurants – the more popular of which will have long queues outside around lunchtime. So plan to get here early for lunch if you don’t want to wait!

Kanazawa is quite friendly for those who are walking around the city and there are many sites that are within a 5-20 minute walk of Omicho Market. It is near Oyama Shrine and Kanazawa Castle, which then directly adjoins Kenrokuen Park at its entrance. The daimyo villa of Seisonkaku and Ishiura shrine, famous for its pond and tunnel of torii gates, are both excellent places to visit. The Higashichaya Teahouse District, Oyama Shrine, DT Suzuki Museum, 21st Century Museum, Nagamachi Samurai District, Nishichaya Teahouse District and Kazuemachi Geisha District are all also within a nice walk and help you dive even deeper into this fascinating city.

Are you interested in a guided tour around this beautiful city? See the Omicho Market and many of the other sites mentioned above and all in one day!

KANAZAWA MAIN SIGHTS TOUR / all year round

1 Day Tour

1-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 – 17:30
Meeting Place	Kanazawa Station
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

This tour has you walk in the same streets as those from times past. Walk the streets the samurai of the Kaga clan and see a warriors house from the Edo period. Relax and enjoy maccha in a tea house overlooking a beautiful garden next to the impressive castle walls. Stroll through the Kenroku-en garden like the daimyos of the Edo period and admire the artistry of the landscaping of not just the land but of the trees as well. Finally, walk through Higashi Chayamachi, the old geisha district, where you can shop, snack and take a tour of a former tea house that was used by actual geisha in the past.