7 recommended souvenirs in Kaga area (Yamashiro, Yamanaka hot spring area, Komatsu)

From Japanese sweets to Kaga stick tea, Kaga has many one-of-a-kind confections and local delicacies.
Here we introduce some of the best Kaga souvenirs that will please everyone from children to the elderly, such as hot spring eggs that take advantage of the bounty of the hot spring area and fish cakes made with luxurious seafood.

Lovely thin-skinned manju buns with the image of Kaga's daughters

 Nyaa Mantou, a specialty of Yamanaka Hot Spring
Nyaa Mantou, a specialty of Yamanaka Hot Spring

When you visit Yamanaka Hot Spring, you will see signs advertising "Nyaa Manju" all over the town. This manju, which has a striking appearance and sound, was invented by Yamanaka Ishikawaya, which was established in 1905 (Meiji 38), and is now well known as a famous confectionary representing Yamanaka Hot Spring. Nyaa nyaa" means "daughter" in the Kaga language. The elegant beauty of the Kaga beauties is expressed in the sweet red bean paste, which is made into an adorable koban shape. The red beans from Tokachi in Hokkaido are used for the red bean paste, and the thin crust with a hint of brown sugar and locally produced miso enhances the flavor of the red bean paste.
The "Musume Musume Soft" is very popular as a snack during a stroll. The more you mix it, the more it changes into a thick cream with a blend of Japanese and Western flavors, giving it a new and nostalgic taste.

486 yen for a pack of 3 (tax included)
Shelf life: 10 days from manufacture

Yamanaka Ishikawaya
  • Address 2-Na24 Honmachi, Yamanaka Hot Spring, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  •  Bus Direction From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Onsen Bus bound for Yamashiro Onsen/Yamanaka Onsen (about 35 minutes), and alight at Yamanaka Honmachi.
  •  Hours of Operation 8:00-19:00
  •  Regular holiday Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday)
  •  TEL 0761-78-0218
  •  Parking None

Dried confections with good luck that you want to give to your loved ones

 From the front,
From the front, "Fuku-Makiki" and "Fuku-Koruru".

This long-established Japanese sweets store has been in business for over 50 years in Yamanaka hot spring. Currently, the fourth generation and the daughter, the fifth generation, maintain the goodwill of the shop, carefully handcrafting beautiful dried and fresh confections that express the four seasons of Japan. Among the sweets, the most popular among women are the wagashi with dried confections inside monaka (a type of Japanese sweet). The "Fukuzeki," which is a "beckoning cat" shaped monaka with an aruheito (sugar candy) "chiyo-knot" and dried pine needles, is so adorable that it will bring a smile to the face of anyone who receives it. The "Fuku Kaoru" set, which includes a red and white monaka with the ume bowl crest, the family crest of the Maeda clan of Kaga, contains a fortune-telling card along with dried sweets, making it exciting to open the package. It is sure to be an exciting souvenir for family and friends, as well as for the workplace.

FUKUOKI, 235 yen per piece, best before date of expiration: 90 days after manufacture
860 yen for a pack of 2 "Fuku Kaoru" (best before date: 90 days after manufacture)

Sankaido confectionery shop
  • Address Ku-8 Yamanaka Onsen hot spring town, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  •  Bus Direction From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Onsen Bus bound for Yamashiro Onsen/Yamanaka Onsen, approximately 35 minutes, alight at Yamanaka Honmachi and walk 2 minutes.
  • Business Hours 9:00-16:00 (Thu-Sun-13:00)
  •  Closed Tuesdays
  •  TEL 0761-78-1188
  •  Parking Free of charge (3 cars)

The unadorned appearance and simple taste will make you smile.

 Sukezaka candy. The candy melts in your mouth and its simple sweetness spreads.
Sukezaka candy. The candy melts in your mouth and its simple sweetness spreads.

Sukezaka candy is said to have been made in Sukezaka Town, Kaga City, for about 380 years. Although there were nearly 30 candy makers in its heyday in the early Showa period (early 20th century), today there is only one candy maker, Taniguchi Seisakusho, which continues to preserve the traditional methods and taste of the candy. The local people have enjoyed this candy as a snack because it does not contain any sugar and has the natural sweetness of rice and barley. Sukezaka candy" is sold at many souvenir stores and supermarkets in the city. One such shop, Tannuriya, located near Yamashiro Onsen Koso-yu, sells "Sukezaka candy" as well as other delicious foods and sundries from Ishikawa Prefecture. Yamanaka lacquerware, Kutani ware and glass works by local artists are also available, making it a good place to find souvenirs for yourself.

Sukezaka candy: 378 yen (1 bag)
Shelf life: 180 days from manufacture

Tannuriya
  • Address Hazuchi Rakurakudo, 18-59-1, Yamashiroonsen, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  •  Bus Direction From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Onsen Bus bound for Yamashiro Onsen/Yamanaka Hot Spring (approx. 13 mins), alight at Yamashiro Onsen and walk for approx. 2 mins.
  •  Business hours 9:30-17:00
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 0761-77-8270(Hazuchi Raku-do)
  •  Parking Free of charge

A roasted stem tea with an aromatic aroma and clear taste.

 Enjoy the authentic taste at a reasonable price
Enjoy the authentic taste at a reasonable price

Maruhachi Tea House, known for its "Kaga stick tea," has been in business since 1863, and its high quality Japanese tea, nurtured by history and tradition, has fans not only in Ishikawa Prefecture but also throughout Japan. The main store, which is attached to the head office and factory, offers a wide variety of Japanese teas, including the standard "Kaga stick tea," as well as roasted teas and sencha teas available only for a limited time. For souvenirs, we recommend the teabag type of "Senjo Kaga Bocha," which is characterized by its fragrant aroma and clear taste. Even those who do not have a teapot can easily enjoy the authentic taste. On hot days, we also recommend "mizudashi" (water-drizzled) tea for a refreshing taste.
Next to the shop, there is a cafe "MISHO" where you can taste Japanese tea and sweets, and you can also take out drinks.

Kaga stick tea teabag 3g x 12g 756 yen
Shelf life: Approximately 90 days after production

Maruhachi Tea House Main Store
  • Address 1-8, Tadabashi-cho, Doubashi, Kaga, Ishikawa MAP
  •  Direction 15 minutes walk from JR Iburihashi Station
  • Business Hours Sales and gallery 10:00-17:00, MISHO and take-out 10:00-12:00 (L.O.11:30), 13:00-17:00 (L.O.16:00)
  •  Closed Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday, closed the following day)
  •  TEL 0120-42-4251
  •  Parking Free of charge

Colorful fish cakes that are pleasing to the eye

 Clockwise from the front:
Clockwise from the front: "Crab Umehana" 970 yen, "Akamaki" 450 yen, "Kuromame Noshi" 500 yen (each)

Haben" means fish cake in the Ishikawa dialect. Koide Sen, located in Yamanaka Hot spring ryokan, started making "haben" about 70 years ago as a wholesale product for ryokans. They are particular about the fish surimi, using three kinds of fish: Alaska pollack, guchi, and hamo. The fish paste is perfectly kneaded to give the product a crispy texture. The "akamaki", which looks like naruto, can be eaten as is, but the "akamaki" can be added to ramen noodles or udon noodles, and the "kimimaki", which is made with a back-sliced egg, can be added to salads or fried rice, turning it into a gorgeous dish just by adding it to ordinary dishes.
Hot spring eggs have also been famous for a long time, and their white and pink wrappers have a cute retro design. About 50 kinds of "haben" are available for New Year's Day. Orders are also popular.

Haben 450 yen and up
Shelf life: 60-90 days in refrigeration from production. 3 days after opening.

Kode Sen
  • Address 2-na-4 Honmachi, Yamanaka Onsen hot spring, Kaga, Ishikawa MAP
  •  Bus Direction From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Onsen Bus bound for Yamashiro Onsen/Yamanaka Onsen (about 35 minutes), and alight at Yamanaka Honmachi.
  •  Hours of Operation 8:00-19:00
  •  Closed January 1
  •  TEL 0761-78-1310
  •  Parking None

Yokan, a sweet bean jelly filled with chestnuts, is a delight!

 Chestnut Steamed Yokan
Chestnut Steamed Yokan "Tsukuyomi Yamaji

Founded in 1852 (Kaei 5). It is a Japanese confectionery with a long history of making chestnut steamed yokan since the Edo period. The signature product, chestnut steamed yokan "Tsukuyomi Yamaji," is a product with a story behind it, which the fifth generation faithfully reproduced and revived the recipe from the Edo period. It has many enthusiastic fans, and the secret to its popularity is the luxury of chestnuts, which make up the majority of the yokan. Everywhere you cut it, there are chestnuts, chestnuts, chestnuts, and chestnuts all the way to the edges. Kuzu is added to the bean paste and steamed, giving it an addictive, firm texture. The subtle aroma of the natural bamboo skin that surrounds the yokan further satisfies the senses.
Also available in limited quantities is "Tsukuyomi Yamaji Hime Walnut," which contains walnuts instead of chestnuts. It is often sold out, so come early to be sure.

Tsukiyomi Yamaji 840 yen
Shelf life: 10 days after production

Matsubaya
  • Address 69 Daimonji-cho, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa MAP
  •  Direction 7 min. walk from JR Komatsu Station
  •  Hours of Operation 9:00-18:00, Wednesdays, Sundays, and holidays - 16:00
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  TEL 0761-22-0120
  •  Parking Free of charge

Flavorful hot spring eggs containing hot spring ingredients

 Hot spring eggs are 110 yen for white and 120 yen for red. Onsen Tamago Soft
Hot spring eggs are 110 yen for white and 120 yen for red. Onsen Tamago Soft" also popular at 450 yen

Hot spring eggs are a well-known specialty of Yamashiro Onsen. You can buy them at the store attached to the public bathhouse "So-yu" and eat them in. So-yu's "hot spring eggs" are soft in the white and moderately hard in the yellow, and are characterized by their sticky, rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The richness of the egg is enhanced when poured over the special soup stock, making even a single egg very satisfying. The "hot egg soft serve," a soft serve ice cream topped with a hot spring egg, is also popular. When the vanilla soft serve and egg are mixed well, the soft serve turns into a nostalgic milkshake-like flavor, perfect for cooling down after a hot bath. Hot spring eggs last for a long time, so it is a good item to stock up on at home as well as for souvenirs.

Hot spring eggs: White eggs 110 yen, red eggs 120 yen
Shelf life: 2 weeks after production

Yamashiro Onsen Hot Spring So-yu Shop
  • Address 2-1 Banshoen-dori, Yamashiroonsen, Kaga City, Ishikawa MAP
  •  Bus Direction From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Onsen Bus bound for Yamashiro Onsen/Yamanaka Onsen (about 15 minutes). 3-minute walk from Yamashiro Onsen Bus Stop.
  •  Hours of Operation 7:00-22:00, open from 12:00 on the 4th Wed.
  •  Closed 6:00-12:00 on the 4th Wed.
  •  TEL 0761-76-0144
  •  Parking Free of charge

After enjoying sightseeing, please spend a relaxing time at a hot spring inn where you can enjoy the traditional culture of Kaga, such as Kaga Yuzen and Kaga Mizuhiki.

Immerse yourself in Kaga culture at a historic hot spring resort

 The traditional building and tea ceremony room are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan.
The traditional building and tea ceremony room are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan.

Located in Yamashiro-onsen, a hot spring ryokan with a 1,300-year history, about 30 minutes from Kanazawa by express train, this inn has inherited the history of the long-established Shiroganeya ryokan, which has welcomed many cultural figures since its establishment in 1624, while bringing new sensibilities to life. All Guest rooms are decorated with traditional Kaga crafts (Kaga yuzen, Kaga mizuhiki, Kutani ware, and Yamanaka lacquerware) to add elegance and color to your relaxing time. The cuisine is inspired by the ideas of Kitaoji Rosanjin, a gourmet, and the powerful Kaga Lion Dance will allow you to enjoy the culture of Kaga throughout your stay.

The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.