Kanazawa's best sweets, from Japanese sweets to Western-style confections
Kanazawa is where the culture of chanoyu (tea ceremony) lives and breathes. Japanese confectionaries, which have developed along with the tea ceremony, as well as Western confectionaries, are constantly attracting attention from the sweets world for their high quality and substantial offerings.
Here are some of our recommendations, ranging from famous sweets from long-established stores that make great souvenirs to modern sweets.
1Kintsuba Nakataya Higashiyama Chaya-gai
Famous store for "Kintsuba", a typical Japanese confectionery
Kintsuba is the first name that comes to mind when one mentions "kintsuba" in Kanazawa, a Japanese confectionery established in 1934. The famous kintsuba is made from the highest quality Hokkaido Dainagon azuki beans, cooked and hardened with Tanba agar, then cut into pieces, coated with a thin batter, and carefully baked. When split in half by hand, the azuki beans appear as a beautifully colored grain. The azuki beans are delicately cooked so as not to lose their shape, and the amount of salt used to enhance the refined sweetness is the work of a master craftsman.
Depending on the season, kintsuba with flavors such as "Sakura," "Uguisu (Japanese nightingale)," and "Igaguri (chestnut)" are also available. Many fans look forward to these limited-time offerings.
Enjoy sweets made from Noto Dainagon azuki beans at "Wami" sweet shop
The Higashiyama Chayamachi store, located in a renovated machiya (townhouse), has a sweet shop called "Wami" on the second floor. Visitors can enjoy sweets made from large Noto Dainagon azuki beans while gazing out the lattice windows at the elegant Higashi Chaya-gai scenery.
We recommend the matcha green tea tart topped with Noto Dainagon azuki beans, tiger beans, chickpeas, green peas, and walnuts. This is a unique product of Nakataya, which is well versed in the characteristics of various beans. Other elaborate Japanese and Western sweets such as "Noto Dainagon Kintsuba" and "Roll Cake" are also available.
- Kintsuba Nakadaya Higashiyama Chaya-gai Store
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1-5-9 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (clockwise route) around Kanazawa Castle Town, and get off at Hashiba-cho (Higashi/Sukkeicho Chaya-gai), 2 min. walk from the bus stop.
9:00-18:00 (varies according to the season), "Wami" - 16:30 (L.O. 16:00)
No holidays
076-254-1200
None
2Le Pont de Chocolat Saint Nicolas Korinbo
Bean to Bar" chocolate of the highest quality
The owner has a background of being invited as an opening Staff/staff member of the main store of "Pierre Marcolini" in Belgium. He has earned a high reputation as a "bean to bar" chocolatier/pastry that handles the entire process from purchasing cacao beans to processing.
The "bonbon chocolates," of which there are always about 20 varieties on hand, are a collection of unique flavors that explore the combination of chocolate and foodstuffs. The "Nicorons," which are macarons coated with chocolate, are made with ingredients from Ishikawa Prefecture. The "tablets" made from cacao beans from a single country of origin are also noteworthy.
Enchanting cakes to brighten up your tea time
The main store is located in Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The Korinbo store is located on Seseragi-dori Street in Kanazawa's central district of Korinbo, and has a café space with 18 seats.
Among the more than 20 types of cakes available, the "Ruffalo," with its impressive glossy coating, is renowned as a masterpiece. The smooth mousse chocolate, the sourness of the orange crème brûlée, and the crunchy texture of the base are exquisite. The millefeuille is decorated with seasonal fruits. Baked goods such as cookies and confiture are ideal as gifts.
- Le Pont de Chocolat Saint Nicolas Korinbo store
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- 2-12-24 Korinbo, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Kanazawa Circular Bus "Left Turn Route"), approx. 9 min. ride, approx. 3 min. walk from Korinbo Bus Stop.
- 11:00-19:00, Tuesdays ~18:00 (L.O. at the cafe is 1 hour before closing)
- Wednesday, 3rd Tue.
- 076-264-8669
- Pay parking (30 minutes free parking in affiliated parking lot with purchase of 1,500 yen or more)
3Nodaya Tea Shop
Luxurious parfait created from "makanai
Since its establishment in 1859, this Japanese tea specialty store has a long history in the Tatemachi shopping street in Kanazawa City. The shop offers a variety of fine teas from all over Japan, including "Kaga Bocha," which is home-roasted stem tea (stick tea).
The most popular item at the "Japanese Cafe," an eat-in space with a view of the courtyard, is the "Makanai Parfait," a parfait with soft-serve ice cream topped with white beans, fruit, corn flakes, agar agar, coffee jelly, and more. The parfait originated from a parfait that part-time workers used to eat during their breaks by adding whatever they wanted, and is accented with savory Kaga-bocha (sticky green tea) powder. The menu also includes a wide variety of other dishes using matcha green tea ground on the store's stone mill.
Cute packaged "Kaga Bocha" tea as a souvenir!
The owner himself visits production areas throughout Japan to carefully select and purchase the best tea leaves. Generally, hojicha is roasted from the second tea leaves onward, but in Kanazawa, the first tea leaves are mainly used. At Nodaya Tea Shop, the tender stems of the first tea leaves are roasted in two different roasting machines and blended to create a unique flavor rich in aroma and deliciousness. Kaga-bocha is sold in 100g bags, "little packs" for approximately two servings, and easy-to-use tea bags. If you bring your own water bottle or mug bottle, you can have freshly brewed tea made for you (130 yen and up, tax not included).
- Nodaya Tea Shop
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- 3 Tatemachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
Approximately 13 minutes from JR Kanazawa Station by car- Approx. 6 min. walk from Katamachi bus stop after taking the bus from JR Kanazawa Station.
- 9:30-18:30
- January 1 and 2
- 076-221-0982
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
4Isuzu Me Omimachi Ichiba store
Freshly pounded rice cakes for your taste buds!
Rokusei, an agricultural corporation in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, that produces, processes, and sells agricultural products, has a direct sales store for Japanese-style confections. The specialty, "Shiozufuku," is made by steaming glutinous rice grown by the company and then hand-rolling the mochi one by one.
The reason for using a larger percentage of mochi is to "let people know the deliciousness of freshly pounded mochi. The sweet bean paste and fluffy, salty black beans are perfectly balanced to accentuate the flavor of the mochi. The best-before date is the same day as the day of production. The best way to enjoy the taste is to eat it as soon as possible after purchase.
Hot, freshly baked rice cakes served with zenzai
The store is located in the Omimachi Market, where retailers of fresh fish and produce, as well as restaurants, gather. The shop has an eat-in space where you can enjoy "Shio-mame Daifuku," dango, warabimochi, rice crackers, and more.
Along with "Shio-mame Daifuku," the signature menu item is "Mame-mochi Zenzai," which is made by baking rice cakes to order. The mochi is pounded with a pestle and mixed with plenty of black soybeans, making the mochi firm and smooth, and it goes well with the Zenzai (sweet bean soup). The "Mame-mochi Zenzai" is only available for a limited time, and is sold from September to May each year. During the summer, a variety of shaved ice is available, including "Shiozuki Azuki (salted soybean paste with rice cake)" and "Kanazawa Yuzu & Lemon.
- Isuzu Me Omimachi Ichiba Store
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- 88 Aokusa-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa, Japan Omemachi Ichiba-kan 1F MAP
- 15 min. walk from East Exit of JR Kanazawa Sta.
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus), approx. 5 min. from Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichiba.
- 9:00-17:00
- Wednesday
- 076-282-9508
- Parking is charged (free for up to 30 minutes at the parking lot of Omi-machi Ichiba-kan).
5Enpachi Souvenir Shop Kanazawa
The one and only Ankoromochi that has been made since the Edo period
Ankoromochi" has a story behind it, as a tengu (a kind of long-nosed goblin) taught the shop how to make it when it was first established in 1737. The secret recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, and is loved as a famous confectionery representing Ishikawa Prefecture.
It may seem simple at first glance, but it takes three days to make koshi-an (sweet red bean paste). Generally, red bean paste is made by cooking azuki beans, but at "Enpachi", Hokkaido azuki beans are steamed and the lye is removed before adding honey. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth koshi-an is filled with fine rice cakes made from glutinous rice produced in Ishikawa Prefecture, and the aroma of the bamboo skin that wraps it enhances the flavor.
Freshly made and served three times a day
Ankoromochi" is sold at 10 stores in Ishikawa Prefecture, including the main store in Hakusan City, but it is convenient to purchase it at "Souvenir Shop Kanazawa" in the shopping mall "Kanazawa Hyakubangai Rinto" inside Kanazawa Station.
Ankoromochi arrives three times a day, usually around 8:20, 10:00, and 14:00, depending on weather and traffic conditions, and many people visit the store when they arrive. Due to their popularity, they are often sold out by the evening, so early purchase is recommended.
- Enpachi Souvenir Shop Kanazawa
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- Inside Rinto, Kanazawa Hyakubangai, 1-1 Kinoshinbocho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- JR Kanazawa Station
- 7:00-21:00
- No holidays
- 076-233-6088 (Kanazawa Souvenir Shop)
- Pay parking (Kanazawa Hyakubangai affiliated Parking, free for up to 1 hour with purchase of 2,160 yen or more)
6Nakatani Tofu
Mild soft ice cream with lots of soy milk
This tofu store is located in Nishi Chaya-gai, one of Kanazawa's three teahouses, . Tofu made from Hokuriku-grown Enrei soybeans and other carefully selected soybeans has long been a favorite of local people.
The "Soy Milk Soft Ice Cream" made by the famous tofu store uses soy milk for about 70% of the ingredients, and the sweetness is adjusted according to the season and weather. The flavor is rich yet moderately sweet, and the richness, flavor, and aroma of soybeans can be enjoyed. If you pour local Ono soy sauce, which is available at the store, the sweet and savory taste will give it a caramel-like flavor. Try it to your liking.
Delicious ice cream comes from delicious tofu
Tofu ice cream, made with handmade silken tofu, is also popular as a year-round sweet. It has a refreshing sweetness that does not spoil the flavor of the soybeans, and has a gelato-like mouthfeel. The ice cream can also be served with Ono soy sauce to enjoy the change in flavors.
The store's signature tofu and side dishes are also not to be missed. We recommend "Mukashi Tofu (Kinu Tofu)" made with Enrei soybeans from Hokuriku and natural bittern from Noto, as well as cotton tofu, Yose Tofu, Thick Fried Tofu, Okara-ni (bean curd stew), and more.
- Nakatani Tofu
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- 2-19-13 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Leftward Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town, about 15 minutes by bus.
- 10:00-18:00, winter season -17:30
- Sunday
- 076-241-3983
- None
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Fumino Matsuzaki Kaga's Charm Hunter
