Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
Local Guide
Treat yourself. 11 truly delicious souvenirs to choose from in Kanazawa

Kanazawa, where the culture of the tea ceremony is deeply rooted, is a treasure house of "delicious foods" with many Japanese confectionery stores that are indispensable for tea ceremonies. From traditional flavors preserved by long-established stores to modern sweets that make the most of local ingredients and gems filled with the fermentation wisdom that Hokuriku prides itself on, there is no end to the charms of these sweets. Here are some delicious souvenirs unique to Kanazawa that you will not only want to give as gifts to someone special, but also want to savor them yourself.

Enjoy the look of these sweets, which boast of their design.

A reward for yourself or a gift for someone special.

When in doubt, choose this one. A taste of Kanazawa preserved by a long-established shop

Traditional Kanazawa food that goes well with sake and rice

The elegant design of the bean box is also attractive. Chocolate soaked light Okaki

A blend of Japanese and Western sweets, in which black bean crackers and chocolate are harmoniously combined
A blend of Japanese and Western sweets, in which black bean crackers and chocolate are harmoniously combined

The shop produces bean confections made from organic soybeans and black beans grown in Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as glossy confections with gold leaf. Recommended as a quick souvenir is "Shimi," a new type of bean confectionery made with bite-sized black soybean crackers soaked in savory soybean flour-flavored chocolate. The crunchy and light texture is accented by the elegant sweetness and flavor of the black beans.
The cute bean-shaped paper box is also a must-have. The designs, including "Kaga Hachiman Kigaraki Dolls," "Kenrokuen Garden," a rabbit, and a dog, are hand-painted by Kutani Yaki artisans. At the main store, Korinbo Yamato store, and Kanazawa Mza store, you can choose your favorite bean box. In addition, they are also available at Kanazawa Hyakubangai in Kanazawa Station.

Shimimi: 8 pieces of yellow soybean flour chocolate, 1,080 yen and up each (varies depending on the design of the bean box)
Shelf life: Approximately 30 days from the date of manufacture

Mameya Kanazawa Bankyu, Main Store
  • Address 50-1 Ha, Iwade-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. walk from IR Ishikawa Railway Morimoto Stn.
  • Hours of operation 9:30-18:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 076-258-3366
  • Parking Free of charge

Salted caramel-flavored baum with a cute die-cut cat

Tiger,
Tiger," a cat that appears when the square baumkuchen mold is cut out

Since its release on Cat's Day (February 22) in 2018, this candy has gained popularity with its adorable cat silhouette. It has a story setting; the cat is named "Tora," born in Noto and raised in Kanazawa, and is nine years old. In reference to its age, nine flat layers of fluffy baum dough are layered on top of each other. A fun playful touch is that when the square baum is slowly unmolded, the shape of "Tora" appears. The bittersweet salted caramel flavor, made with Noto's "Wajima no Umishio" salt, which is rich in flavor, is superb.
Another popular item is "Nyanko no sable in Kanazawa," a sable in the shape of a "tiger. Both are also available at Kanazawa Hyakubangai in Kanazawa Station.

Nyanko baum in Kanazawa: 540 yen per piece
Shelf life: 63 days from the date of manufacture

Confectionery Workshop Grape Forest Main Store
  • Address 50-1 Ha, Iwade-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. walk from IR Ishikawa Railway Morimoto Stn.
  • Business Hours 9:30-18:00
    December 31 and January 2-3: 9:30-17:00
  • Closed New Year's Day
  • TEL 076-258-0236
  • Parking Free of charge

Colorful dried confections depicting the four seasons in Kanazawa

Kanazawa Meguri
Kanazawa Meguri" (contents change depending on the season), an assortment of uchiwa rice crackers, Kaga shikishi, seasonal rakugan geese, jelly, etc.

Kotobuki senbei, round dried sweets, are an indispensable part of celebrations in Kaga. Uchiwa Sembei" is an arrangement of Kotobuki Sembei in the shape of an uchiwa fan. Freshly pounded rice cakes are rolled out thin, placed in a mold, baked, and coated with white honey. The surface is then coated with white honey, and the seasonal scenery of Kanazawa is depicted with floating honey made from whipped egg whites and sugar. The crispy texture is like the skin of a monaka and melts in the mouth. You can enjoy the lingering taste of elegant sweetness.
The square-shaped "Kaga Shikishi," with designs of flowers, birds, wind, and the moon, is also a signature item. The name is a play on the words "four seasons" and "shikishi," which means "colored paper. Delicate pictures representing the seasons are painted by hand, one by one. In addition to the main store, it is also sold at the Ishikawa Prefecture Tourist Products Center near Kenrokuen Garden.

Kanazawa Meguri 1,198 yen
Shelf life: 50 days from the date of manufacture

Kouyou-do
  • Address 334-1 Naka-cho, Moroe-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Monday, Thursday
  • TEL 076-204-9413
  • Parking Free (1 car)

Modern amanatto (sweet bean paste) popular in "Nishi-chaya-gai" (Nishi-chaya district)

About 15 varieties of
About 15 varieties of "amanatto" (sweet soybeans), including white and black soybeans, and 2 to 4 varieties of "sugukako" (sugar flavored fruit), such as "iyokan" (sweet orange), depending on the season.

This amanatto store opened in 2001 in Nishi Chaya-gai, where many quaint townhouse buildings still remain. Geigi (geisha) used to give it to their regular customers as "Chaya-gai omotase" (gift from the teahouse district), which attracted a lot of attention, and now the shop offers about 15 kinds of amanatto (sweetened red bean paste). The ingredients are carefully selected from all over Japan, including black soybeans from Noto, Ishikawa, and white beans from Hokkaido. The beans are cooked in a large kettle in the workshop on the premises, using different methods for each bean. The fluffy and fragrant amanatto has a gentle sweetness and natural flavor.
The "Sugar Fruit Child" made with Iyokan (Iyokan citrus), bu yuzu (yuzu citrus) and other peels is refreshing and tasty whether eaten as is or with yogurt, tea, or ice cream.

Amanatto Shirohana Bijin 80g, Sugar Fruit Child Iyokan 30g, 410 yen each
Shelf life: 21 days from the date of manufacture if unopened, the next day after opening.

Amanatto Kawamura
  • Address 2-24-7 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji and walk 2 minutes.
  • Business hours 9:30-18:00, Sundays and holidays - 17:00
  • Closed 1st Tuesday of the month, December 31 - January 3
    Open on the 1st Tuesday of January, May, and December
  • TEL 076-282-7000
  • Parking Available

Walnut sweets made by one of Kanazawa's best Japanese confectionery stores

Walnut rice cakes
Walnut rice cakes" sometimes used at tea ceremonies, "Deco-deco" made of walnuts with brown sugar and covered with powdered green tea

Located in a residential area near the "Higashi Chaya-gai," this famous store has earned an exceptional reputation as Kanazawa's tea ceremony confectionery. Since its main products are fresh confections served at tea ceremonies and ryotei (traditional Japanese-style restaurants), they are only made to order. The third generation brothers launched the "Mamehan" brand in response to requests from customers who wanted to try the wagashi of the "Yoshi Hashi Confectionery". They offer about five kinds of wagashi, such as dorayaki and easy-to-eat sized yokans, that can last for a long time with no reservations required.
Among them, "Kurumi Mochi" has a chewy texture and the simple flavor of walnuts. The "Deko Deko," named for its lumpy appearance and texture, is a fragrant confection of roasted walnuts mixed with brown sugar from Amami Oshima Island and covered with matcha green tea, soybean flour, and cocoa.

Walnut rice cake 7 slices 1,080 yen, convex and convex 760 yen
Shelf life: 10 days from the date of manufacture for walnut rice cakes, 25 days from the date of manufacture for convex and convex convex.

Yoshihashi Confectionery Mamehan
  • Address 2-2-2 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus (clockwise route) around Kanazawa Castle Town, and get off at Hashiba-cho (Higashi/Sukkeicho Tea House Street).
  • Business hours 9:30-17:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 076-252-2634
  • Parking Free of charge (2 cars)

Bean to Bar" chocolate of the highest quality

The finest chocolates made by taking advantage of the characteristics of the cacao beans in different regions.
The finest chocolates made by taking advantage of the characteristics of the cacao beans in different regions.

The owner was invited as an opening Staff/staff member of Pierre Marcolini's main store 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," which are always available in about 20 varieties, are full of unique flavors that explore the combination of chocolate and foodstuffs. The "tablets" made from cacao beans from a single country of origin are also noteworthy.
The "Ruffalo" with its impressive glossy coating, renowned as a masterpiece among the more than 20 types of cakes available, is also an exquisite product. The smooth mousse chocolate, the sourness of the orange crème brûlée, and the crunchy texture of the base are exquisite.
We recommend using the café in addition to picking out souvenirs. At the café, you can enjoy "chocolat chaud" (hot chocolate) along with the cakes.

Bonbon chocolates: 313 yen and up, tablets (chocolate boards): 1,026 yen, raffaro: 670 yen
Shelf life: 10 days from the date of sale of bonbon chocolates

Le Pont de Chocolat Saint Nicolas Korinbo store
  • Address 2-12-24 Korinbo, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction 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.
  • Business hours 11:00-19:00, Tuesdays ~18:00 (L.O. at the cafe is 1 hour before closing)
  • Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • TEL 076-264-8669

Famous store for "Kintsuba", a typical Japanese confectionery

Kintsuba
Kintsuba" is available in individual packages or in boxes (from 5 pieces).

Kintsuba is the first name that comes to mind when talking about "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. These are limited-time-only items that many fans look forward to.
Also popular are "Yasotose," a dorayaki created to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the company's founding, and "Oshibafune," a ginger-flavored rice cracker that has been a representative confectionery of Kaga since it was presented to the third lord of the Kaga domain, Toshitsune. It is also sold at "Kanazawa Hyakubangai" in Kanazawa Station.

Kintsuba 1 piece 238 yen
Shelf life: about 10 days from the date of sale

Kintsuba Nakadaya Higashiyama Chaya-gai Store
  • Address 1-5-9 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus Direction 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.
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00 (varies according to the season), "Wami" - 16:30 (L.O. 16:00)
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 076-254-1200
  • Parking None

The one and only Ankoromochi that has been made since the Edo period

Ankoromochi
Ankoromochi" is consumed on the day of sale.

Ankoromochi" is said to have been made by a tengu (a kind of long-nosed goblin) who taught the recipe to the shop when it was founded 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 a fine rice cake made from glutinous rice produced in Ishikawa Prefecture, and the aroma of the wrapped bamboo skin enhances the flavor.
 Ankoromochi can be conveniently purchased at the Kanazawa Souvenir Shop in the Kanazawa Hyakubangai Rinto shopping mall inside Kanazawa Station. Since it is a popular item, it is often sold out in the evening, so early purchase is recommended.

Ankoromochi: Bamboo skin (9 pieces) 480 yen
Shelf life: On the day of sale

Enpachi Souvenir Shop Kanazawa
  • Address Inside Rinto, Kanazawa Hyakubangai, 1-1 Kinoshinbocho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction JR Kanazawa Station
  • Business hours 7:00-21:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 076-233-6088 (Kanazawa Souvenir Shop)
  • Parking Pay parking (Kanazawa Hyakubangai affiliated Parking, free for up to 1 hour with purchase of 2,160 yen or more)

Delicious rice cakes made by a farmer are a tasty and wholesome snack

The famous
The famous "salted soy bean daifuku" boasts a chewy texture.

Located in Omimachi Market This is a direct sales store of Japanese confectioneries operated by Rokusei, an agricultural corporation in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which produces, processes, and sells agricultural products. Their specialty, "Shiozudo Daifuku," 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.
 Also recommended as a souvenir is "Isuzu no Maruyaki," a round snack with the Isuzu mark imprinted on it. It is made of flour and rice cake flour, with black soybeans, sweet bean paste, and rice cake filling. You can enjoy the crispy outside and sticky inside.

Salted Bean Daifuku: 150 yen per piece, Isuzu no Maruyaki: 180 yen per piece
Shelf life: Shio-mame Daifuku: within the day of manufacture, Isuzu no Maruyaki: within 1 day from the day of manufacture2 1 day from the day of manufacture

Isuzu Me Omimachi Ichiba Store
  • Address 88 Aokusa-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa, Japan Omemachi Ichiba-kan 1F MAP
  • Direction 15 min. walk from East Exit of JR Kanazawa Sta.
  • 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 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Closed on Wednesdays and Sundays
  • TEL 076-282-9508
  • Parking Pay parking (Omi-machi Ichiba-kan Parking)

Kanazawa's traditional fermented food full of flavor

Kinjo Kabura Sushi, which is aged yellowtail sandwiched between turnips and marinated in malt.
Kinjo Kabura Sushi, which is aged yellowtail sandwiched between turnips and marinated in malt.

Founded in 1875, this store is famous for kabura-zushi, a winter delicacy in Ishikawa Prefecture. The turnips used are "Hyakumangoku Aokubu Kabura" grown in the mountain villages near Kanazawa and Noto, which are exclusively used for Kabura-zushi. The turnip is pickled in salt, sandwiched between two pieces of domestic wild yellowtail that have been aged for about six months, and then marinated for about 10 days in a traditional special malt to extract the maximum amount of flavor. Its rich aroma and full flavor are unforgettable once you taste it.
In recent years, when it has become possible to control fermentation, kaburazushi can be made even in summer using "Hyakumangoku Aokubu Kabura" harvested from our own farms and contract farms from spring to summer. Kinjo Kaburazushi Summer Koji," made with aged Japanese wild yellowtail and malt for summer, offers a mildly sweet and refreshing taste.

Kinjyo kabura sushi (about 2 pieces, 250g in total) in a bag, 2,376 yen
Shelf life: about 10 days

Shimanya Honpo
  • Address 1-17-28 Yayoi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. on the Hokutetsu Bus bound for Hikarigaoka Residence via Izumino 3-chome from the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, approx. 3 min. walk from the Numatamachi stop.
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 076-241-4173
  • Parking Free of charge

Konka-zuke (pickled sardines and mackerel), a product of Kanazawa's climate

Fish marinated in an old-fashioned wooden bucket, then aged and fermented in a storage warehouse
Fish marinated in an old-fashioned wooden bucket, then aged and fermented in a storage warehouse

Pickled fish is a local delicacy called "konka-zuke" in Ishikawa Prefecture. The long-established Yasuyo Shoten, which has been in business for about 300 years, began making konka-zuke about 150 years ago, and now the seventh generation of the family continues to preserve the traditional taste.
Sardines are pickled in salted rice bran for about 10 days, and then placed in a large wooden vat with rice bran to ferment for 10 months to a year. The bran is not rinsed, but rather lightly scraped off and sliced thinly raw. Or, if you lightly sear the fish with the bran still on, it will add a savory and delicious flavor, making it a perfect accompaniment to rice.
Other popular items include cold mackerel, yellowtail, nodoguro (bluefin tuna), and puffer fish meat and ovaries in salted rice-bran paste or sake lees. Some of these products can also be purchased at the World Food Diamond, a grocery store in the Omimachi Market.

(2 pieces of salted sardines for 432 yen, pickled mackerel for 540 yen, salted puffer fish roe for 864 yen, etc.)
Shelf life: 90 days

Aburayo Shoten
  • Address 4-15 Kamiokoshimae-cho, Kanazawa City, Kanazawa MAP
  • Direction 15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Sunday, Holidays
  • TEL 076-267-0031
  • Parking Free of charge (2 cars)

MAP

Enjoy the look of these sweets, which boast of their design.
A reward for yourself or a gift for someone special.
When in doubt, choose this one. A taste of Kanazawa preserved by a long-established shop
Traditional Kanazawa food that goes well with sake and rice
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.