Though there were no actual ninjas or assassins associated with Myoryuji Temple, it is an interesting place to visit for its complicated architecture. During the time it was built, the government declared that buildings could not be more than three stories high. Myoryuji Temple’s outside appearance is two stories, but in reality, it is four stories high with 23 rooms and 29 staircases. With its complicated layout, many used this temple as a hiding place. There is also a rumored underground tunnel that connects to Kanazawa Castle, which samurai could use to warn about upcoming attacks. 
Visitors can take a 45-minute tour through the temple and explore the different crevices and hiding places. Even though the tour is in Japanese, visitors are given pamphlets in various languages to guide them through. If you are planning to visit, book in advance as tours are limited to a certain number of people per day.

With intricate architecture and hidden passageways, Myoryuji Temple is quite an intriguing attraction, connected to Kanazawa Castle by hidden tunnels.                    

Myoryuji Temple Experiences & Restaurants | byFood

Myoryuji Temple

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.

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.

Behind the doors of Myoryuji Temple lie hidden rooms, complicated stairwells, and secret passageways, making it the perfect place to live your ninja dreams.

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).

Market Tours

Omicho Market Tour and Cooking Class in Kanazawa’s Kitchen

Vegan

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.

Neighborhood/Area Tours

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

Wheelchair Accessible

Stroller Accessible

Family-friendly

Noto Peninsula is a region known for its beautiful coastal scenery and delicious local cuisine. The tour starts with visiting the rice terraces of Senmaida. These rice terraces were registered as Japan’s first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). Here you can see the ingeniousness of locals who adapted plantations of rice to the uneven coastlines of Noto.

Next, you visit the Wajima Morning Market, one of Japan’s largest morning markets. It is known for its local produce and very friendly local merchants who may strike up a conversation with you!  You will then have full French course lunch featuring local ingredients at the One Michelin Star Restaurant L’Atelier de Noto. 

After lunch, you will visit the rocky coast of the Sea of Japan where you can enjoy one of its breathtaking wonders: the Ganmon Cave. Formed by water eroding the nearby rock, the sea cave has a unique photogenic shape. 

Lastly, you will visit one of the only three sand highways in the world in Chirihama Beach. If the timing is right you’ll enjoy a memorable sunset.

Have a beautiful adventure visiting Noto Peninsula! View the famous rice terraces of Senmaia, experience Wajima Morning Market, enjoy a Michelin Star Restaurant lunch then see the famous Ganmon Cave followed by a beautiful sunset at Chirihama Beach.

Coastal Adventure in Noto Peninsula with Michelin Meal

Pescetarian

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. Together, we’ll explore 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.  We travel at the pace of the most leisurely adult rider and if parents/guardians feel like their child will be able to keep up, we welcome younger children as well.

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

1/2 Day Bicycle Tour (9:00 to 13:30)
-Meet 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)
-View samurai swords and have lunch at Shijimaya Honpo (traditional Kanazawa fermented foods)
-Return Bicycles near Kanazawa Station (end of tour)

Full-Day Bicycle Tour (9:00 to 16:30) - Please contact info@byfood.com to arrange.
-After lunch to 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)

Half-day and full-day tours will ride along Sai and Asano Rivers depending on the route.

Touring Kanazawa is breeze on bike–cycle through historic landmarks, the geisha district, and scenic mountainside paths at a leisurely pace. Then, have a lunch of local Kanazawa delicacies, like a special style of fermented sushi with yellowtail.

Traverse unique cycling routes along historic alleys, scenic rivers, and an urban mountain, then treat yourself to a traditional Kanazawa lunch. Book now on byFood!

Backstreets of Kanazawa Bike Tour with Lunch | byFood

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

Bike Tours

Backstreets of Kanazawa Bike Tour with Lunch

ishikawa

Food

Drinks

Tableware

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.

Tempura Koizumi | Tempura Restaurant in Ishikawa | byFood

Tempura Koizumi

The transformation of common local ingredients into masterpieces of French cuisine is the specialty at Makinoncî. The fifteen-minute walk from Hokuriku Railroad Nomachi Station will instantly be forgotten as soon as you walk through the doors of this French restaurant.

Everything from the oil to the meat is sourced only from Kanazawa, as Chef Makino prides in the resources of his hometown. With these fresh components and his own craftsman-like style, Chef Makino created a fresh and unique take on classic French cuisine.

With attention to even the fine details like adding the traditional French blue color as trimming to the black and white interior space, chef Makino is set on making the restaurant as individualistic as it can be. The open-concept kitchen allows the guests to peek into the process of their dishes' preparation, combining local produce with intricate garnishes.

At every step of the process, you’ll be captivated by Makino's nouvelle cuisine, the “japonaise à la française.

The transformation of common local ingredients into masterpieces of French cuisine is the specialty at Makinoncî, a French restaurant in Kanazawa.

Makinoncî | French Restaurant in Kanazawa | byFood

Makinoncî

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

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.

Food Experiences

Restaurant Reservation

Gourmet Product

Myoryuji Temple

Tempura Koizumi

Makinoncî

Otome Sushi

Takechiyo