Known for its unique design, this modern museum is a popular destination for locals and tourists coming from all over Japan. The exterior of the museum is made of glass, making the space feel open and spacious while illuminating the art with natural light. This museum holds many galleries and temporary exhibitions along with a library, cafe, and other spaces to relax and enjoy. 
For a small fee, visitors can enter the building and view temporary exhibits that change throughout the year. Many come just to enjoy the space or view the permanent exhibits, which are completely free. Visitors even have the opportunity to interact with some of the art pieces. One of the most popular art installations is The Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich. A mesmerizing optical illusion, when you enter this pool, you don’t get wet! Other attractions include the tea houses at the south side, which are frequently used for tea ceremonies.

这座现代博物馆以其独特的设计而闻名，是当地人和来自日本各地游客的热门目的地。博物馆的外观由玻璃制成，使空间感觉开阔宽敞，同时自然光也照亮了艺术品。博物馆内有许多画廊和临时展览，还有图书馆、咖啡厅和其他休闲场所。 
游客只需支付少量费用，就可以进入馆内参观全年更换的临时展品。许多游客只是来享受这里的空间或欣赏永久展品，而永久展品是完全免费的。游客甚至还有机会与一些艺术作品进行互动。最受欢迎的艺术装置之一是莱安德罗-埃利希（Leandro Erlich）的《游泳池》。这是一个令人着迷的光学幻觉，当你进入这个游泳池时，你不会被弄湿！其他景点还包括南侧的茶馆，这里经常被用来举行茶道仪式。

参观金泽 21 世纪现代美术馆！在公园内欣赏现代设计和艺术作品，体验独特的美学定义。浏览金泽周边的美食体验和餐馆。

21 世纪艺术博物馆美食体验与餐厅 | byFood

21 世纪艺术博物馆 

21 世纪当代艺术博物馆（21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art）是美学的定义，其现代设计和艺术品遍布整个公园。 

Visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa ! Enjoy the definition of aesthetic with its modern designs and art displayed across the park for a unique experience.Browse food experiences and restaurants around Kanazawa.

21st Century Art Museum Food Experiences & Restaurants | byFood

21st Century Art Museum 

Rich in culture and history, Ishikawa Prefecture is better known by its capital city of Kanazawa, sometimes called “Little Kyoto,” for its castle, gardens, temples, and well-preserved old town districts. On the northern coast of Honshu Island, Ishikawa Prefecture looks to the Sea of Japan, with its northern tip of the Noto Peninsula extending 100 kilometers into the ocean. Rural and untouched, rice fields spread across the central part of Ishikawa Prefecture contrast the rugged cliffs above the sea along the Kongo Coastline, and in turn, they’re pitted against the solid mountains to the southeast, where Mount Haku dominates the beautiful alpine trails of Hakusan National Park. The power of natural scenes combined means that the Ishikawa Prefecture boasts gourmet food, as well as local arts and crafts, shopping, and regional museums. 

Although it’s a compact city, Kanazawa packs a punch with its many cultural offerings. Centered around Kanazawa Castle and the traditional garden of Kenrokuen (the “perfect garden” all year round), the city also has a number of old town districts from the Edo period days, for another dose of nostalgia. In particular, the Higashi Chaya District is notable for its well-preserved tea houses, now filled with quaint cafes and artisanal shop fronts selling gold leaf handicrafts. Like Kyoto, the city and the greater prefecture takes great care in its creations (such as local pickles) and production (including local sake), extending to pride in the refined craftsmanship of locally-sourced food. For example, the locally-grown Kaga vegetables from the rich soils around the onsen hot spring town of Kaga City are popular for their high-quality and delicious flavors, and are often used in colorful parfaits or unusual handmade wagashi Japanese sweets. With exquisite local food from its diverse landscape, the beautiful Ishikawa Prefecture offers some untouched natural gems found in this rural side of coastal Japan.

石川县拥有丰富的文化和历史，其首府金泽市因其城堡、花园、寺庙和保存完好的老城区而闻名，有时也被称为 "小京都"。石川县位于本州岛北部海岸，濒临日本海，能登半岛北端向大海延伸 100 公里。石川县中部的稻田淳朴无华，与金刚海岸线海面上崎岖的悬崖峭壁形成鲜明对比。自然景观的力量使石川县拥有美食、当地工艺品、购物场所和地区博物馆。 

金泽虽然是一座小巧的城市，但却拥有丰富多彩的文化活动。该市以金泽城和传统庭园兼六园（一年四季都是 "完美的庭园"）为中心，还有许多江户时代的老城区，让人倍感怀旧。尤其是东茶屋地区，这里的茶屋保存完好，如今到处都是古色古香的咖啡馆和出售金箔手工艺品的手工艺店面。与京都一样，该市和大都道府县也非常重视其创作（如本地腌菜）和生产（包括本地清酒），并为本地食品的精湛工艺感到自豪。例如，加贺市温泉镇周围土壤肥沃，当地种植的加贺蔬菜因品质优良、味道鲜美而备受欢迎，经常被用于制作五颜六色的冻糕或独特的手工和果子日式点心。美丽的石川县地貌多样，当地美食精美绝伦，是日本沿海农村地区一些未受开发的自然宝藏。

浏览以手工产品、传统茶馆、肥沃土地和美食而闻名的石川县的烹饪课程、品尝会、餐饮体验和美食之旅

发现石川 by美食 | 餐厅, 体验, 旅游攻略

石川

大米町市场的美食

日本餐桌礼仪

外出就餐的日语用语

石川县濒临日本海，从崎岖不平的海岸线到人迹罕至的高山背景，这里的景色千姿百态，可以品尝到最新鲜的海鲜和从农村地区收获的丰富多彩的当地特产。

Browse cooking classes, tastings, dining experiences, and food tours in Ishikawa, known for artisanal products, traditional teahouses, fertile land, and gourmet food

Discover Ishikawa byFood | Restaurants, Experiences, Travel Tips

Ishikawa

What to Eat in Omicho Market

Japanese Table Manners

Japanese Phrases for Dining Out

Stretching alongside the Sea of Japan, the coastal prefecture of Ishikawa boasts some dramatically diverse scenery ranging from rugged coastlines to untouched mountain backdrops, offering the freshest seafood and colorful locally-grown produce, harvested from rural areas.

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is the definition of aesthetic with its modern designs and art displayed across the park. 

Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Japanese fish markets, the unfamiliar seafood, and seemingly endless kitchen tool choices? While Omicho Market can be intimidating territory for even the most seasoned travelers, this tour with a multilingual guide removes the language barrier. The experienced tour guide is familiar with every corner of Omicho Market, so guests can feel at ease with her by their side. She can give advice about the best shops for kitchenware, seafood, and souvenirs, and show you how to select ingredients for the cooking class to follow. 

A piece of living history, Omicho Market features seafood and produce shops that have been in business for over 300 years. It is a monument to Kanazawa’s unique food culture, a place where visitors can learn about the bountiful sea and land of the region. The guide, a knowledgable cooking researcher, can introduce the variety of ingredients available, like the 15 Kaga vegetables which are famous in the area and have been a part of the regional diet for centuries. 

Once the class has chosen the ingredients for the day, the group will continue the Japanese cuisine lesson at a traditional Japanese home. The house features classic architecture but with state-of-the-art equipment and tools. With the cooking teacher’s instructions, guests will prepare the seafood and veggies they picked from Omicho Market, and learn to make ichijiu-sansai (which translates to “one soup, three dishes”), the quintessential Japanese meal layout. They will make a delicious umami dashi broth from bonito fish flakes, which forms the base of many Japanese dishes. The cooking instructor will also explain the different types of Japanese kitchen knives, and how to plate dishes using Japanese techniques. 

Think you’re already familiar with Japanese cuisine? Even after multiple visits to Japan, you can discover more about the array of regional Japanese food, like the cuisine of Kanazawa, during this Omicho Market food tour and cooking class. 

Accompanied by a multilingual tour guide, the hustle and bustle of the 300-year-old Omicho’s Market becomes a lot less intimidating. Browse the historic market and pick up ingredients, then head to the instructor’s house for a Japanese cooking class.

Join a guided tour of Omicho Market with a Japanese cooking expert, learning about Japanese food culture as you select ingredients and cook a classic Japanese meal.

Omicho Market Tour and Cooking Class | byFood

Food tour at a market (such as a fish market).

市场之旅

Market Tours

Omicho Market Tour and Cooking Class in Kanazawa’s Kitchen

纯素食

Vegan

素食

Vegetarian

Explore the mysterious world of geisha in Kanazawa! This guided walking tour will take you through two key geisha districts in Japan–Higashi Chaya and Kazue Machi. Throughout this experience, you’ll learn about Kanazawa’s history and culture from a locally trained tour guide, then venture to an atmospheric restaurant for a full-course Japanese meal and drinks. 

Kanazawa, located in Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Japan, is renowned for its Edo-period architecture, historic wooden teahouses, and geisha districts–particularly Higashi Chaya and Kazue Machi, both of which you’ll visit during this tour. 

Higashi Chaya is the most renowned geisha district in Kanazawa. This historic area is characterized by its Edo-period architecture, featuring traditional wooden teahouses where geisha entertain guests with performances, music, and dance. Lesser known but equally captivating, Kazue Machi is another geisha district in Kanazawa. Unlike the larger Higashi Chaya, Kazue Machi offers a more intimate experience, with fewer teahouses that maintain a sense of exclusivity.

You’ll explore both of these districts, hear tales of a bygone era, learn about the area's history, and beyond. After you’ve worked up a physical and mental appetite, stop at a local restaurant for a full-course Japanese meal and drinks.

Experience flow:
Meet your guide at the designated meeting point
Visit the Higashi Chaya geisha district
Visit the Kazue Machi geisha district
Head to a local restaurant for a full-course meal and drinks
Optional: Taxi dropoff back to your hotel or recommended night spots (upon request)

Mike and his team of trusty tour guides come from diverse backgrounds, are domestically trained, and share a deep love for Japanese culture. They’re committed to providing memorable experiences for keen adventurers, knowledge-seekers, the culturally curious, and beyond. 

Learn about the world of geisha in Kanazawa! This guided night tour will take you to Higashi Chaya & Kazue Machi geisha districts, where you’ll learn about geisha culture. End the night at a local restaurant with a full-course Japanese meal. 

Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of geisha in Kanazawa! This guided walking tour will take you to Higashi Chaya and Kazue Machi–the most famous geisha districts in Kanazawa–then to a local restaurant for a full-course Japanese meal.  

Kanazawa Geisha Tour: Higashi Chaya, Kazue Machi, & Dinner | byFood

Food tour of a particular area or neighborhood.

街区/区域游

Neighborhood/Area Tours

Kanazawa Geisha Tour: Higashi Chaya, Kazue Machi, & Dinner 

无障碍婴儿车

Stroller Accessible

家庭友好型

Family-friendly

宠物友好

Pet-friendly

Join a golden tour of Kanazawa, a region famed for its gold leaf production. Visit a gold leaf factory to witness the production process, explore the Higashi Chaya Geisha district, create your own set of gold leaf chopsticks alongside an artisan, and conclude with Kanazawa gold leaf takoyaki and ice cream. You’ll be guided by one of Mike's domestically trained guides, who share a passion for sharing Kanazawa-based experiences with visitors and tourists. Each member of this well-informed team uses storytelling and exceptional customer service to provide unique cultural experiences championing the local community. 

Itinerary:
Hotel pickup and travel to Higashi Chaya Geisha district
Gold leaf factory tour
Guided tour of the Higashi Chaya district
Create your own gold chopsticks with an artisan
Enjoy Kanazawa gold leaf takoyaki and ice cream
Tour conclusion and transfer back to the requested location 

Kanazawa boasts a centuries-old tradition of meticulously crafting gold leaf, using a painstaking process that involves hammering gold bars into incredibly thin sheets. This meticulous art form has solidified the city's status as a hub of the gold leaf industry, producing over 99% of Japan's gold leaf, which is used to adorn traditional crafts, temples, and even gourmet cuisine.

Your golden journey begins at Kinpakuya gold leaf factory, where you’ll witness the production process, learn about the tools, and tour the factory. You’ll also have the opportunity to interact with a gold leaf artisan, who welcomes any questions you may have. 

From here, continue on to the Higashi Chaya district, renowned for its geisha culture and traditional wooden buildings, many of which date back to the Edo Period. After exploring the area with your guide, it’s time to roll your sleeves up for a hands-on activity: making your own set of gold chopsticks! Round off the day by enjoying some Kanazawa gold leaf treats (takoyaki and ice cream).

Explore Kanazawa, the largest producer of gold leaf (kinpaku) in Japan. Visit a gold leaf factory, explore the Higashi Chaya Geisha district, make a set of gold chopsticks, & enjoy Kanazawa gold leaf treats (takoyaki & ice cream).

Explore the Kanazawa gold leaf industry on a guided food & culture experience. Visit a gold leaf factory, tour the Higashi Chaya Geisha district, make a set of gold chopsticks with an artisan, & enjoy gold leaf takoyaki & ice cream.

Kanazawa Food Tour: Gold Leaf Ice Cream & Higashi Chaya District | byFood

Kanazawa Gold Leaf Tour: Higashi Chaya, Crafts & Food

鱼类

Pescetarian

带午餐

With lunch

Hop on a bike and cycle your way through Kanazawa’s sights on this fun Backstreets of Kanazawa Bike Tour with lunch included. Your guide will take you exploring the sights of Kanazawa’s historical and narrow streetscapes, cycling unique routes along rivers and on an urban mountain. 

This Kanazawa bike tour is open to all who love to ride bicycles and is recommended for travelers older than 12 because the pace corresponds to a leisurely adult rider, but, if parents/guardians feel like their child will be able to keep up, younger children are also welcome.

Lunch will take place at Shijimaya Honpo, a local cuisine store that was founded in 1875 and still serves Kanazawa delicacies. You can expect traditional Kanazawa fermented foods such as Kaburazushi, a style of sushi made with salted turnips, yellowtail, and koji. 

Sample itinerary (subject to change depending on availability, the weather, pick-up location if applicable, and food restrictions if any):

-Your host will pick you up from your hotel or meet you at Kanazawa Station, under Tsuzumi Gate, at 9:00
-Get bicycles
-Explore Kazue Machi and Higashiyama Geisha Districts
-Across to Sai River and Teramachi (district with concentration of temples)
-Enjoy a katana experience with a practitioner of Japanese martial arts and have a traditional Kanazawa fermented lunch at Shijimaya Honpo (venue subject to change depending on availability)
-After lunch, cycle Kodatsuno along Sai River: Visit Tentokuin, the temple and shrine complex over 400 years old created in honor of Princess Tamahime who saved Kanazawa from destruction, and explore Kanazawa’s urban mountain, Utatsuyama, via Asano River.
-Return bicycles near Kanazawa Station (end of tour).

Touring Kanazawa on a bike is a breeze! Cycle through historic landmarks, the geisha district, and scenic mountainside paths at a leisurely pace. Then, have a lunch of local Kanazawa fermented foods and learn about katanas.

Backstreets of Kanazawa Bike Tour with Lunch (Ishikawa) | byFood

Rather than a traditional walking food tour, this is a biking food tour.

这不是一次传统的徒步美食之旅，而是一次骑自行车的美食之旅。

自行车之旅

Bike Tours

Backstreets of Kanazawa Bike Tour with Lunch (Ishikawa)

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NOT SURE WHERE TO GO?

The archipelago of Japan consists of four main islands, eight regions of Japan, and a total of 47 prefectures between them, each with their own diverse traditions, culture, food, and history. Hokkaido is the main northern island, followed by Honshu (home to Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, and Chugoku), Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Okinawa islands to the southwest.

Discover the unique offerings of each region by checking out the Japan areas above, like the coastal prefecture of Shizuoka (home to hot springs, Mt. Fuji, and a booming agricultural industry) and Nara Prefecture (which boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites). While Japan might be perceived as a tiny country (the archipelago is smaller than the state of California), the nation is diverse in climate and culture. Each area of Japan has its own staple produce and regional Japanese cuisine.

Not only can you explore the popular destinations of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but there are also a variety of other areas in Japan ranging from adventurous spots for daredevils to super-rural areas where visitors can connect with the land and people. From climbing Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka to indulging in matcha tea in Uji to enjoying island life in Okinawa (considered to be Japan’s Hawaii), these Japan areas each offer diverse experiences and ample opportunity for exploration. To make your Japan travel planning a little easier, browse these area pages where you can discover Japan tourist attractions, Japanese food experiences, and more!

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Delve into Japanese food culture, discovering the distinctive and diverse range of Japanese dishes which are sometimes sophisticated, sometimes hearty and comforting, but always delicious. These Japanese foods offer a window into the world of “washoku” (Japanese cuisine), which made UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2013.	


There’s worldwide appreciation for Japanese food, with Tokyo boasting the world’s highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants for the 12th year in a row in 2019. Not only is Japan home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world, but the Japanese cuisine (“washoku”) is also celebrated as one of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritages. The main staples of Japanese food include rice (in various forms from steamed white rice to mochi), soy products (tofu, soy sauce, miso soup, natto), fish (sashimi, bonito flakes, grilled salmon), seaweed (kombu, nori, wakame), noodles (soba, udon, ramen), and tsukemono (Japanese pickles). Different regions of Japan also have their own specialty foods. Osaka, considered “The Nation’s Kitchen” is the birthplace of takoyaki, Kyoto is famous for tofu and yuba, and Okinawa is known for goya champuru (bittermelon stir fry). Many regions in Japan have their own special twists on dishes like Japanese ramen, nabe (hot pot), and ozoni (mochi soup eaten on New Year’s Day). Explore the Japanese foods above and learn about the diversity of Japanese cuisine, then perhaps you can join a food experience and learn to make Japanese food during a cooking class, become an expert on Japanese sake or tea during a tasting experience, or discover your new favorite type of ramen during a ramen tour. The landscape of Japanese food is evolving, so eating in Japan is always an adventure, with restaurants and chefs riffing on traditional and modern foods, Eastern and Western cooking styles and flavors, and creating inventive eats like chocolate ramen, matcha beer, or ridiculously pillowy Japanese pancakes. Discover your new favorite Japanese food here on byFood and delve deeper into Japanese food culture.

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Japanese Foods | Japanese Dishes | byFood

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ishikawa

Food

Drinks

Tableware

传统日式料理 / 怀石料理 / 嘉宝料理

Traditional Japanese / Kaiseki / Kappo

Near Kanazawa’s Museum of Contemporary Art is a hidden gem. Exceeding even the highest expectations, Takechiyo is run by a single person who puts on a fantastic show, creating excellent kaiseki dishes with panache.

From the intriguing tableware and interior decor to the detailed arrangements of the servings and the mild seasonings that highlight certain aspects of the dish, everything at Takechiyo has been precisely calculated to provide the utmost quality dining experience.

Ingredients have been carefully selected by the owner-chef, and all the homemade sauces are originally crafted by the master himself. Dishes include sesame tofu, steamed crab, roasted kelp and Gensuke radish — all of which embody the essence of Kanazawa.

With a wide collection of local sake to boot, there’s no other restaurant in town which is more in tune with the spirit of the city. Come to Takechiyo to experience the best that Kanazawa has to offer!

Exceeding even the highest expectations, Takechiyo is run by a single person who puts on a fantastic show, creating excellent kaiseki dishes with panache.

Takechiyo | Kaiseki Restaurant in Kanazawa | byFood

Takechiyo

寿司

Sushi

The Hokuriku region benefits from a diverse range of seafood, due to the mix of warm and cold waters which meet here. Otome Sushi’s owner-chef has his roots in these waters, as he comes from a family of fishermen.

Having gained a deep knowledge of seafood ingredients since a young age, he now serves up some of Kanazawa’s best sushi. As you walk through the small, elegant courtyard garden to the front door, then enter the historic interior, you’ll be drawn into an atmosphere nostalgic for days gone by.

Here, excellent nigiri is constructed using locally grown rice, which is itself cooked in local spring water. Expect a wide and unique range of fish including grouper, maguro, squid, black-throated sea perch, and sea urchin, all caught from the local area. The spirit of the region really flows through each piece of food served here.

The Hokuriku region benefits from a diverse range of seafood and Otome Sushi’s owner-chef, coming from a family of fishermen, draws from his roots.

Otome Sushi | Sushi Restaurant in Kanazawa | byFood

Otome Sushi

At CRAFEAT, every dish is a literal work of art. 

That’s not a sentence to be taken lightly, either. Every course at CRAFEAT is served on Wajima-nuri lacquerware, named for the Ishikawa city of the same name. A style of lacquerware that is particularly renowned for the beauty of its finish, Wajima-nuri is usually a striking shade of red or black, and often chased with delicate gold patterns.

With multiple layers of lacquer required, and exclusive use of a special diatomaceous earth that can only be found in Ishikawa Prefecture, the process of creating a single Wajima-nuri utensil is intensively time-consuming and complex, with over a hundred stages involved. But the end result is something unlike any other lacquerware in Japan, or even in the world. 

The same could be said of the cuisine at CRAFEAT, which is as beautiful as the tableware. The confluence of warm and cold currents in the Sea of Japan off the Ishikawa coast make it uniquely privy to a staggering variety of seafood. All year round, from mountains to lowlands, the fertile climate of Ishikawa yields a cornucopia of seasonal produce. All of this comes together in CRAFEAT’s kitchen to be deftly crafted into traditional kaiseki.

A kaiseki meal at CRAFEAT is the staff’s way of engaging in the act of “living preservation”, says the owner, who is a 10th-generation Wajima-nuri artisan. By partaking in a meal using Wajima-nuri lacquerware, guests help keep the tradition alive, by tangibly engaging with this historic art form.

Conceptualized by a team led by a 10th-generation Wajima-nuri lacquerware artisan, CRAFEAT highlights the beauty of Ishikawa Prefecture’s seafood and produce by serving up impeccable kaiseki-style courses on breathtaking traditional tableware.

Marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of the traditional Wajima-nuri lacquerware used at this Kanazawa restaurant, run by a 10th-generation artisan. Fresh local produce and seafood are beautifully prepared and presented kaiseki-style.

Reserve CRAFEAT | Kaiseki Restaurant in Kanazawa | byFood

CRAFEAT

天妇罗/油炸食品

Tempura / Fried Foods

A famous restaurant in Kanazawa presents the Japanese tempura craft in an original style. Tempura Koizumi incorporates kaiseki elements into its omakase menu so as to create a beautifully complementing series that balances and paces the flavors.

With meticulously selected ingredients bought the same day, the menu can differ slightly depending on the season or even the day. Its deconstructed dishes are what makes them stand out from the average tempura restaurants. The chef presents commonly used ingredients in an unconventional way to bring out more of the essence and aroma of the components.

Using light yet rich batter, the chef removes extra moisture by timing the frying of the tempura components impeccably. The firefly squid in early spring and the white shrimp are highly popular among customers, as well as the Toyama-grown rice and ten-bara.

Tempura Koizumi is one of the few tempura eateries that is open in the afternoon. While it is constantly in high demand in the evening, you can opt instead for a change of pace by dining in the afternoon with a glass of champagne in hand.

Tempura Koizumi’s deconstructed dishes are what makes them stand out from the average tempura restaurants, presenting common ingredients in an unconventional way.

21st Century Art Museum Travel Guide

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