Guide to Katamachi, Kanazawa|Enjoying lunch to deep into the night in this gastronomic town
Located in the center of Kanazawa, the Katamachi area is one of the largest downtown areas in Hokuriku with more than several thousand restaurants. Despite its compact size, the area is full of good restaurants that will make you want to return again and again, including cafes that are close to your daily life, popular restaurants with long lines, and restaurants and Properties where you can experience traditional crafts and art. In this article, we will introduce some of the recommended spots in the Katamachi area, which is becoming more and more bustling, including long-established famous stores and new stores that are popping up one after another.
Kanazawa is a treasure house of gourmet food. From lunch to deep-dive drinking on the side streets.
- 1 Lunch Place Takasaki
- 2Indian Restaurant Ashirward
- 3 CRAFEAT produced by Taya Lacquerware Store
- 4 Il Mare
- 5 DUB
- 6 SHEEPs HEAD
- 7 NOMA
- 8 Kanazawa Obanzai RIKA Rice
A place to experience traditional crafts and art. Sightseeing and strolling spots in the Katamachi area.
Take a break from strolling. Recommended spots for sweets and nighttime cafes.
Kanazawa is a treasure house of gourmet food. From lunch to deep-dive drinking on the side streets.
1Lunch Place Takasaki
Enjoy fresh "Live Crab" from noon!
This is the second branch of Kanazawa's popular kappo restaurant Ajidokoro Takasaki, located inside Classo Place Korinbo. In addition to the popular menu of "Ajidokoro Takasaki," the restaurant is popular for its authentic crab dishes that can be enjoyed from noon during the season. You can order Kano-gani, a male snow crab from Ishikawa Prefecture, from November 9 to April 8, when the crab fishing season in Ishikawa Prefecture opens and the crabs are available in the market. This is a rare place where you can eat a whole Kanou crab during the daytime.
Known as one of the rare restaurants where you can enjoy live crab, Kano Crab is freshly caught from the restaurant's cage after ordering and served as sashimi or grilled crab. The "Kano-gani sashimi" is one of the best. Only freshly caught crabs can be enjoyed as if they are in full bloom. Reservations are recommended due to the restaurant's popularity.
- Lunch place Takasaki
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G-Floor, Claso Place Korinbo, 2-1-1 Korinbo, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Korinbo, and walk about 2 minutes.
11:00-17:00 (L.O.16:30) *Last entry at 15:30
Wednesdays, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
076-224-7055
None
Reservations recommended
2Indian Restaurant Ashirward
Authentic Indian cuisine that is delicious no matter who you are!
This Indian/Nepalese Restaurant is located in a corner of Seseragi-dori Street, which runs along the Kurazuki Waterway. It offers authentic Indian and Nepalese cuisine prepared by a Japanese-Nepalese couple and an Indian chef trained in India. The dishes have an authentic taste that even Indian people recognize, but Japanese people are also comfortable eating them, and many repeat customers keep coming back. The chef carefully prepares fresh ingredients and skillfully manipulates Indian spices to create a wonderful flavor.
The most recommended lunch menu item is the "Chicken Biryani and Small Curry Set," which includes biryani and curry. Biryani, a cooked rice dish richly flavored with spices, goes perfectly with homemade raita (yogurt salad). Of course, sets with a choice of naan or rice are also available. For dinner, there is a wide variety, with more than 30 types of curry to choose from.
- Indian Restaurant Ashirward
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1-4-59, Kanazawa-Chayomachi, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Korinbo" and walk 3 minutes.
11:30 - 14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 18:00 - 22:00 (last entry 21:00)
Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
076-262-2170
None
3CRAFEAT produced by Taya Lacquerware Store
Taste the best of traditional craftsmanship with your eyes and taste buds.
A Restaurant with Experience of Traditional Crafts produced by the 10th generation Wajima-nuri master. The first floor is a counter where you can casually enjoy a la carte meals and drinks, mainly Japanese dishes such as evolved oden, while the second floor offers contemporary Japanese cuisine courses by reservation only.
On the second floor, a visitor's course is available, and the first time you visit, you do not have to be a member to enjoy the casual atmosphere. The luxurious use of Wajima-nuri tea bowls, which sometimes cost hundreds of thousands of yen, is enchanting. The real pleasure is to be able to taste the essence of traditional craftsmanship, which can only be discovered by actually using it. Sharpening your senses and tasting food in a new world with texture and touch will surely be a memorable part of your trip. There is also a craft store on the premises, so please check it out as well.
- CRAFEAT produced by Taya Lacquerware Store
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5-2 Kikura-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Korinbo and walk about 4 minutes.
Restaurant: 17:00-23:00, Craft store: 13:00-23:00
Lunch: 11:30-13:00 (L.O. 13:00)
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
090-4740-4177
None
No charge
4Il Mare
An authentic Italian bar that can be enjoyed until late at night
This Italian restaurant is located in a corner of Xintiandi. It has two floors, which is rare in Xintiandi. The first floor has a stylish atmosphere with a counter, while the second floor has a quieter atmosphere with 14 table seats. The goal was to create a space where guests can enjoy food and drinks together. With the concept of "delicious, fun, and affordable," the restaurant offers seasonal Italian dishes that change daily.
The "Pasta with Ishikawa Crab", available only from November to December, is an excellent dish in which the crab is intertwined with the pasta, making it a perfect accompaniment to alcoholic beverages. The "Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes" and "Pasta with Salmon Roe and Sea Salmon Cream Sauce" are also popular and standard items. Of special note is the "Carpaccio" using seasonal seafood. Enjoy the one-of-a-kind taste of our original sauce.
- Il Mare
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2-5-11 Shintenchi, Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 3 minutes.
17:00 - 24:00 (Food L.O.23:30)
Thursdays
090-5171-3390
None
5DUB
Happiness of enjoying authentic Czech cuisine with Czech beer
The owner of this restaurant, who once served as a chef in the official residence, is one of the best Czech cuisine specialists in the country. The owner, who once served as a chef in the official residence, is one of the best chefs in Japan specializing in Czech cuisine. You can enjoy one dish at a time a la carte, but we recommend the omakase course, "light Czech cuisine". The "Assorted Appetizers," which includes marinated mackerel, vinegared sausage, confit gizzard, smoked pork tongue, etc., and "Hoveziegláš," paprika braised beef, the most famous and beloved Czech dish, are all authentic flavors that will make you drink more.
There are three different ways to drink beer, including "Mirko," a beer with only bubbles, which gives the beer a delicate sweetness.
6SHEEPs HEAD
Casual enjoyment of different types of gibier with sake
This meat bar is located on the second floor of Toriyanse. The menu is based on gibier cuisine. What is surprising is the lineup. Ostrich, crocodile, kangaroo, rabbit, and more are available, depending on the time of day.
The seasoning of all the game dishes is simple, and you can really feel the meat. Crocodile meat is white, odorless, and tastes like chicken. Kangaroo is lean but refreshing. In addition to meat, pasta, beef garlic rice, and appetizers are also available for a solid meal. The homemade sweets that go well with drinks are also popular, making it a good place to visit for the second or third time. Many people come here for a drink alone, as if it were a café, and the casual atmosphere is very appealing.
- SHEEPs HEAD
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2F, 2-23-6 Katamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
12 min. drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 3 minutes.
18:00-25:00 (Food L.O.23:30)
Sunday, Holidays
080-8695-6799
None
Charge 400 yen
7methenose
A bar where you want to toast to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter
This cozy bar with only six seats is tucked away in a side street, with a sign posted quietly on the wall. Passing through the curtain, you will surely feel as if you have been pulled into a different world. The interior, based on mortar and reminiscent of a tea-ceremony room, has a sophisticated and mature atmosphere.
The female Staff/staff members standing at the moody counter are all unique and will delight Guest/customers. Enjoy the conversation and the atmosphere of the restaurant and get intoxicated in the evening in Kanazawa.
- NOMA
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6-4 Kikura-cho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Korinbo bus stop and walk about 5 minutes.
Unsettled (check our Instagram Stories)
Closed irregularly (about twice a month. Must check on Instagram Stories)
None
Charge 1,000 yen
8Kanazawa Obanzai RIKA rice
The concept is "home. A restaurant that makes you want to come home.
This is the perfect place to knock on the door of Kanazawa Chuo Ajishoku-gai (Kanazawa Central Taste Food Street). The proprietress greets everyone who enters the restaurant by saying, "Welcome home. Her voice relaxes your shoulders and makes you want to say, "I'm home. The charm of this restaurant is that you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere as if you have returned to your parents' home.
The menu changes daily. You can enjoy the taste of home cooking that I have cultivated as a housewife for many years, little by little, for a reasonable price. The dishes using seasonal vegetables are also popular, with the hope that customers will "take in nutrition here, just like at home. The "Beef tongue stewed in red wine," which is prepared when there is time, is a superb dish, with the meat melting into a tender, tender mass. Advance reservations are recommended due to the restaurant's popularity.
- Kanazawa Obanzai RIKA Rice
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2-13-8 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
Approximately 8 minutes from JR Kanazawa Station by car
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 3 minutes.
19:00-23:00
Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and national holidays *Confirmation required via Instagram Stories
080-4258-1221
None
500 yen for appetizers
A place to experience traditional crafts and art. Sightseeing and strolling spots in the Katamachi area.
9Kanazawa Craft Hirosaka
Discover sophisticated items nurtured by Kanazawa's history
A gallery and store featuring traditional Kanazawa crafts. A wide variety of crafts that fit in with modern lifestyles and are pleasant to receive are lined up here. From Kaga temari and local toys to flower pincushions and cute sewing sets, these items are sure to brighten up your daily life. Accessories such as mizuhiki, Kaga embroidery, and gold leaf earrings and pierced earrings are perfect for everyday wear and a great way to remember your trip.
Crafts are encounters. The first floor is a store, and the second floor regularly holds special exhibitions of artists associated with Ishikawa.
- Kanazawa Crafts Hirosaka
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1-2-25, Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Hirosaka/21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art" and walk about 2 minutes.
10:00-18:00
Mondays (closed the next day if Monday is a national vacation), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 30 - January 2)
076-265-3320
None
10Gallery Tonerico
Weave a rich time by incorporating the extraordinary into your daily life.
The gallery is located along the main street near the Saigawa River. A 90-year-old townhouse has been renovated into a place where visitors can experience art. The pure white walls are decorated with works by artists from all over Japan. The gallery is known for displaying only the works that move the owner's heart, without regard to artist or field.
The owner says, "I want people to come here casually and feel something extraordinary in their daily lives. One way to enjoy the artwork is to take your time while thinking about the intent and background of the work, and to find your own answer to the question. By taking your time to look at the art, you will feel a sense of satisfaction as if your heart has been recharged. The gallery is open twice a month for 9 days during the exhibition period only. Check the website for details.
- Gallery Tonerico
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3-30 Ikeda-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 3 minutes.
11:00-18:00 (Last day of the exhibition: ~17:00) Sundays from 12:30
Wednesdays during the exhibition (closed irregularly during preparation for the exhibition)
076-231-2678
None
No admission fee
Take a break from strolling. Recommended spots for sweets and nighttime cafes.
11Craft Gallery Coffee Wave
Japanese sweets and tea with a view of the tsuboniwa garden
This coffee shop is tucked away in a building in Katamachi. The coffee shop corner offers a view of the tsuboniwa garden, and you will be surprised at the Japanese-style space that you would not expect to find inside a building.
At the coffee shop, fresh confections from the Japanese confectionery shop "Yoshi Hashi," which offers fresh confections by reservation only, are popular. Seasonal Japanese sweets served in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere are a real treat. Fruit tea from "Haas & Haas," a prestigious tea company from Vienna, is enchanting with its aromatic flavor. Enjoy the berry flavor from the tea leaves filled with dried fruits such as raspberries and papaya to your heart's content.
Enjoy not only the café but also the handicrafts.
The gallery occupies one-third of the spacious store. The owner, who values his relationships with customers, has selected a wide range of artifacts from Japan and abroad. The lineup is wide, both domestic and international, and the owner says that she only handles crafts that she really likes.
He says, "I learn a lot from the makers," and his love for the makers and their crafts is evident. In the gallery, visitors can feel the comfort of the crafts and get hints on how to use them. The crafts on display change from time to time, so enjoy every encounter.
Local Guide
Supporters
Reservations are required by 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event, and the lunch menu, which serves only about 10 meals, is also a point of pride. The menu changes daily and is all homemade. The simple and warm home-style cooking, which is additive-free, will warm your heart. It is a relaxing space for adults that is perfect for solo diners.
- Craft Gallery Coffee Wave
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3F, Labrick 90, 1-3-13 Katamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Korinbo and walk about 4 minutes.
11:30-17:00
Wednesday (irregular holidays)
076-232-1173
None *Toll parking is available nearby (service ticket available for purchases over 1,000 yen)
12Chanoki Kanazawa
Health-friendly, additive-free handmade sweets
The café offers health-friendly, additive-free, handmade sweets centering on crepes. Once you try the crepes, you will become addicted to their chewy texture that is as chewy as they are thin. Try them with meringue pudding or bear cookie toppings.
The popular "A set" includes a crepe and a drink. The "Matcha Brownie" crepe, made with an abundance of Yame matcha green tea, is a must for matcha lovers. It is not too sweet, so you will not get tired of eating it until the end.
A sweet treat time in a store with eye-catching dried flowers
The drinks using Kaga black tea and Kaga stick tea are also noteworthy. The Kaga Bocha Fruit Tea, made with Kaga Bocha tea from Nodaya Tea House, is a drink that is unmistakably Ishikawa. The lemon tea base is refreshing and has a slight aroma of stick tea. The warm atmosphere of the restaurant, with its wooden tables and dried flowers, will make you feel like staying for a long time. The restaurant is designed in a cozy, natural space with the hope that customers will take a break from their busy daily lives and spend some time relaxing and enjoying nature.
Local Guide
Supporters
There are also tables equipped with electrical outlets where you can charge your cell phone or work on your computer. There are also stylish mirrors and chairs that make you want to take pictures!
- Chanoki Kanazawa
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Miyashita Bldg. 1F, 101-1 Tatemachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk about 5 minutes.
Monday-Saturday 12:00-18:00, Sunday and national holidays 11:00-18:00 *Subject to change
Wednesday
076-255-6564
No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
13Kotomi
Enjoy Kanazawa, where tradition and modernity intersect at a leisurely pace
The cafe is located right across from the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. It is also a perfect place to take a break from your trip. Up the stairs, you will find a calm space with a sense of openness. The large windows overlook the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa's "Color Activity House," making it a great place to relax while enjoying the view. The restaurant is also attractive in that you can enjoy the four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snowy landscape in winter.
The popular cake set includes a choice of cake and drink. We recommend the "Seasonal Roll Cake" with its moist and fluffy texture, or the "Kanazawa Yuzu Fromage" with its cheese marriage. Aromatic Kaga-bocha tea is the perfect accompaniment to the cakes. The first floor is a sweets store where you can also purchase souvenirs.
- Kotomi
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1-2-27, Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Hirosaka/21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art" and walk about 2 minutes.
Store: Weekdays 12:00-17:30, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00-17:30
Cafe: Weekdays 12:00-17:30 (L.O. 17:00), Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays 11:00-17:30 (L.O. 17:00)
076-222-5103
None
14one one otta
A coffee stand you will want to drop in on a whim. A coffee stand that accompanies you in your daily life
A coffee stand with a small signboard along the main street near Saigawa River. The drip coffee made with roasted beans from Saito Coffee, a famous Sapporo coffee shop, is a cup with a rich and mellow aftertaste. The handmade baked goods are all mildly sweet and gentle in flavor, making them a perfect match for the coffee. Muffins and scones made with seasonal fruits are popular.
Alcoholic beverages are also available, and it is nice to be able to drink from midday. Heineken and Heartland beers are available, as well as cocktails such as "Bailey's Latte" and "Orange Chocolata. It is a place where you can casually drop in and take a break with a cup of coffee, or take out and enjoy a walk along the Saigawa River.
- one one otta
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3-29-3 Ikeda-cho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 3 minutes.
Monday-Friday 8:00-18:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-18:00
Wednesday
None
15National restaurant BAR & sweet shop Bago
A Japanese/Western bar and sweet shop where people who can drink and those who can't can toast together.
A bar where you can enjoy sweets and drinks is tucked away behind the main street of Kikura-machi. During the day, drink sets with sweet treats are available, and at night, you can enjoy drinks and sweet treats with a one-order system. It is a casual place to stop by, and since you take off your shoes and step up to the tatami room, you can relax as if you were at home.
The sake selection is centered on locally brewed sake from Ishikawa Prefecture, with no standard selection. Sake goes well with "Gokujo Honwarabi Mochi," a perfect body of warabimochi (strawbaked rice cake) imported from a famous Japanese confectionery store that has not changed its blending method for 30 years, and "Seared Dumpling Set. Don't miss the "Zinfandel" wine selected by the sommelier to go with the "Thick Chocolate Terrine. Soft drinks typical of Kanazawa, such as Maruhachi Tea's Kaga-bocha tea and 36 Coffee, which is popular at local coffee stands, are also available for those who cannot drink alcohol.
- Ozashiki BAR & sweet shop Kagome
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5-13 Kikura-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa MAP
Approximately 13 minutes from JR Kanazawa Station by car
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Korinbo and walk about 4 minutes.
11:30-16:30 (L.O.16:00), 20:00-2:00 (Sunday only 19:00-0:00)
Lunch: Tuesday-Thursday (irregular holidays) *Holidays may change during winter season; Dinner: Tuesday, irregular holidays
070-3275-2542
None
Night only charge 1,100 yen
Night only charge 1,000 yen
MAP
- Kanazawa is a treasure house of gourmet food. From lunch to deep-dive drinking on the side streets.
- A place to experience traditional crafts and art. Sightseeing and strolling spots in the Katamachi area.
- Take a break from strolling. Recommended spots for sweets and nighttime cafes.
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby

