Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
Local Guide
Five great sushi restaurants in Kanazawa that you must not miss!

Kanazawa is a gathering place for fresh seafood freshly caught from the Sea of Japan. In recent years, it has also attracted attention as one of the most competitive sushi districts in Japan. Among the many famous sushi restaurants, here are five recommended restaurants that you can choose from according to your taste and the TPO of your trip, including popular restaurants with reasonable prices, restaurants listed in the "Michelin Guide," and restaurants with the prestige and elegance typical of the ancient capital of Kanazawa.

The owner's spirit of service is evident in the plentiful bowls of seafood.

Kaisen donburi (seafood rice bowl): 1,320 yen
Kaisen donburi (seafood rice bowl): 1,320 yen

Tuna, sea bream, salmon, gando (a little before the size of yellowtail), swordfish, horse mackerel, crab, squid, sea urchin, salmon roe, and sweet shrimp. Since its establishment in 1951, this sushi restaurant has been in business for four generations and has deep connections with the fishmongers at the nearby Omemachi Market, which allows the restaurant to purchase the best fish at low prices. They are able to procure the best fish at a reasonable price. The secret behind their low prices is that they do not waste any fish by visiting the market two or three times a day to check their inventory.

A diverse menu of nigiri, chirashi and maki rolls.

Master's Whimsical Platter: 5 pieces, 660 yen
Master's Whimsical Platter: 5 pieces, 660 yen

Located just a minute or two walk from Omimachi Market, it is a convenient place to stop by before or after shopping. If you are hungry, you can order "Ichihan" (the first half of a nigiri sushi for one), or if you have enjoyed tasting the market, you can choose the "Master's Whimsical Platter, 5 pieces" (10 pieces also available), and the menu offers a variety of choices depending on your preference and hunger. You can also add nigiri in one-piece increments, and we recommend ordering while asking the friendly owner about the best items to eat.

Korin Sushi
  • Address 79 Hakuromachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town. 5 minutes walk from Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichiba Bus Stop.
  • Business Hours 11:30-13:30 (L.0.), 17:30-22:00 (L.O. 21:30) *Reservations required (Lunch only from 11:30; 85 minutes for dinner)
  • Closed Wed. and Sun.
  • TEL 076-231-5964
  • Parking Free of charge

Noto conger eel and oysters are blissfully delicious. Famous restaurant in front of Omimachi Market

The conger eel slowly seared to make it fluffy is exquisite!
The conger eel slowly seared to make it fluffy is exquisite!

He has been making sushi for more than 40 years, making the most of the fresh fish he purchases from the commercial fish store at the Omemachi Market. The owner is a polite and honest craftsman, and his sushi offers the best of Hokuriku's flavors. We recommend the conger eel from Wajima, Noto. The thick conger eel is seared over a long period of time and finished with a moderately sweet sauce that melds with the rice in the mouth. In winter, Noto oysters are only lightly cooked to give them a raw texture, making this nigirizushi a unique dish.

The course with fresh seafood is popular, and the price is the same for both lunch and dinner.

Enjoy a sushi chat with the mild-mannered owner. The restaurant has only 10 seats at the counter.
Enjoy a sushi chat with the mild-mannered owner. The restaurant has only 10 seats at the counter.

The owner recommends the " Seasonal Nigiri " (3,960 yen), which comes with 12 different types of nigirizushi, one each, and a hand-rolled sushi roll. The nigirizushi includes nigiri sushi with bluefin tuna and flatfish, while the hand-rolled sushi includes red snow crab meat and crab miso.
Although the restaurant is located about a 30-second walk from the Jitsukenmachi exit, one of the entrances to the Omimachi Market, it has a relaxed atmosphere without the hustle and bustle of the market.

Daikuni Sushi
  • Address 31 Yabunouchi-dori, Nishimachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Circular Bus "Left Turn Route") for 5 minutes, get off at "Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichiba" and walk for 3 minutes.
  • Business hours 11:00-13:30 (L.O. 13:00), 17:00-19:00 (L.O. 18:30)
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 076-222-6211
  • Parking None

Nigirizushi with fresh ingredients and delicate touches

Omakase Sushi Takumi
Omakase Sushi Takumi" 5,940 yen (tax not included). Lunch time includes miso soup.

Located near the Jitsukenmachi exit in Kanazawa's tourist attraction "Omimachi Market," you will be greeted by a bright and lively voice when you open the sliding door. The "Takumi" course, consisting of 11 pieces of nigirizushi and hand-rolled sushi, features seafood landed at Kanazawa Port and other ports with decorative knives, and kingfish with liver and leeks. Sushi is served with freshly caught seafood from the market, such as bai clam, cherry salmon, and gas shrimp. The hand-rolled sushi is nodoguro (Pacific bluefin tuna). The lightly seared aroma and the refined fat that melts in your mouth will make your trip to Kanazawa an unforgettable experience.

A relaxing restaurant that makes you forget you are in the market

Table seating is available for groups and families.
Table seating is available for groups and families.

The restaurant has 8 seats at the counter and 12 seats at tables. Despite its location in the market, you can enjoy sushi in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. In addition to "Takumi," there are three courses: "Kame" (11 pieces of nigirizushi including nodoguro), "Miyabi" (5 pieces of sashimi and 3 snacks, 10 pieces of nigirizushi, and even a hand roll (Kabako crab chirashi, snow crab, nodoguro, hairy crab, etc., ingredients vary depending on the season). A sister restaurant of the famous Sushi Mitsukawa in Higashi Chaya-gai, one of Kanazawa's most popular sightseeing spots, the Omemachi branch has a reputation for offering first-rate taste in a casual atmosphere.

Sushi Rekireki Omimachi
  • Address 27-1 Jumen-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus), approx. 5 min. from Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichiba.
  • Business Hours 11:30-14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 17:30-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
  • Closed Monday and Tuesday (open on national holidays)
  • TEL 076-254-5067
  • Parking None

A new style of sushi restaurant where you can enjoy authentic sushi with wine

Omakase Course
Omakase Course" with over 20 pieces of sushi and small dishes: 15,400 yen

Sushi, wine, and small dishes" are the three elements of this remarkable restaurant where you can taste Hokuriku seafood. The five or so small dishes served in between the main sushi dishes are prepared using French techniques, such as adding fresh cream, and are beautiful to the eye and appetizing to the chopsticks. The rice is a blend of Koshihikari rice from Noto and Nihonbaru rice from Kaga, with the addition of red vinegar for a rich aromatic flavor. The restaurant has earned a reputation among the locals for its unique flavor, which is created by the restaurant's innovative cooking methods and special ingredients.

Popular small dishes with a variety of seafood

A small dish. Marinated white shrimp, Spanish mackerel and water spinach with grilled eggplant purée (served with cream)
A small dish. Marinated white shrimp, Spanish mackerel and water spinach with grilled eggplant purée (served with cream)

Other small dishes include "washed sea bass" and "sashimi of torigai from Nanao," all of which can be eaten in one or two bites. They change depending on the season and availability, so you can enjoy a variety of flavors each time you visit. The wines are mainly whites carefully selected from France and other countries. The red vinegar rice and wine create a perfect balance, allowing you to discover a new way of tasting sushi.
The restaurant will move across the street in the spring of 2025. 2-month reservations are accepted and reservations are required, so we recommend planning well in advance.

Sushi Issei
  • Address 13-7 Yasue-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 10 min. walk from East Exit of JR Kanazawa Sta.
  • Business Hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 17:00 and 19:30
    Tuesday and Thursday from 18:00 *Open for lunch on Saturday only from 12:00
  • Closed Sundays (open on Sundays and closed on Mondays if Monday is a national holiday)
  • TEL 090-6104-7757
  • Parking None

Local customers are also impressed by the superb sushi, which is made with fresh ingredients purchased early in the morning.

Omakase Course
Omakase Course" with about 14-15 pieces of sushi, 33,000 yen

Located east of JR Kanazawa Station in a castle town-like corner, the restaurant is a hideaway. You can enjoy nigirizushi made with fresh ingredients purchased early in the morning from the port of Himi. The owner says, "A sushi restaurant is a place to enjoy delicious ingredients, so it is important not to overdo it. The delicate knife work that is applied to the ingredients in an instant enhances their appeal. The rice is made with rice from Noto and red vinegar cooked in a kettle, giving it a smooth and mild flavor. Each of the 14 to 15 types of nigirizushi, including shellfish, white fish, shrimp, and squid caught in Noto, shines.

The restaurant's interior is decorated with a single piece of cypress wood, which gives the restaurant a sense of dignity.

Enjoy a luxurious moment at the cypress counter while watching the chefs at work.
Enjoy a luxurious moment at the cypress counter while watching the chefs at work.

The owner originally worked for a fishmonger in Tsukiji, Tokyo, and honed his skills at a very famous sushi restaurant before returning to his hometown in Toyama Prefecture to run a catered sushi restaurant. While there are many local customers who patronize the restaurant, there are also many repeat customers from the Kanto and Kansai regions. For first-time customers, he asks about their preferences and the amount of food they can eat, and offers the best fish of the day accordingly. The restaurant also offers Kaga's famous sake, such as "Tengumai," "Kikuhime," and "Tedorigawa," so that customers can enjoy an excellent time while eating highly perfected sushi.

Sushi Kibatani
  • Address 1-8-26 Hikosan-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (clockwise route) around Kanazawa Castle Town. 10 min. ride, 4 min. walk from Hashiba-cho stop.
  • Business Hours 17:00- (last entry at 20:30) *Reservations required
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 076-256-1218
  • Parking None

MAP

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