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.

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.

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).

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 

Stroller Accessible

Family-friendly

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

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

osaka

Food

Drinks

Tableware

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

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.

CRAFEAT | Kaiseki Restaurant in Kanazawa | byFood

CRAFEAT

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.

Food Experiences

Restaurant Reservation

Gourmet Product

21st Century Art Museum

Takechiyo

Otome Sushi

CRAFEAT

Tempura Koizumi