"I ate the best crab of my life at Omicho Market — standing at a counter at 9am, watching the vendor crack it open. It cost about $15. Kanazawa is the best place in Japan to eat seafood and almost nobody outside Japan knows it."
Why Omicho Is Special
Kanazawa faces the Sea of Japan — one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. The cold deep waters produce exceptional seafood: Echizen crab (the most prized in Japan), yellowtail (buri), snow crab, sweet shrimp (amaebi), and the region's famous natural oysters.
Omicho Market has been the city's central food market since the Edo period — 180 stalls selling seafood, vegetables, pickles, tofu, sake and prepared foods. It's a working market rather than a tourist attraction, which is precisely what makes it extraordinary.
The quality here is genuinely exceptional. Kanazawa chefs come here for their ingredients. The seafood is so fresh that sushi restaurants in Tokyo source from Kanazawa suppliers via overnight delivery.
What to Eat
Crab is the signature Kanazawa food. Echizen crab and snow crab (zuwaigani) are in season November through March — outside this season, ask what is local and fresh rather than ordering crab. A half crab at a market stall counter costs ¥1,500–3,000 and is worth every yen.
Amaebi (sweet shrimp) is available year-round and should not be missed — eaten raw, the translucent flesh has a sweetness unlike any cooked prawn. Several stalls serve it as sashimi at counters for ¥500–800.
Buri (yellowtail/amberjack) is another Kanazawa staple — large, fatty and exceptional when fresh. In winter, the cold Sea of Japan produces buri of outstanding quality.
For a sit-down meal, the kaisen-don restaurants on the upper floor of the market building serve seafood rice bowls from about ¥2,000 — fresh, good value and far better than anything similar in Tokyo at the same price.
What to Buy
Beyond eating, Omicho is excellent for food shopping. Kaga vegetables — the regional varieties of turnip, lotus root and sweet potato developed over centuries in the Kanazawa area — are available at vegetable stalls and make excellent souvenirs if you're cooking.
Local sake from the Ishikawa prefecture breweries is available at specialist stalls — ask for recommendations specific to the season. The pickles (tsukemono) from Kanazawa are among Japan's finest and last well for travel.
Getting There
Omicho is a 15-minute walk from Kenroku-en or a short bus ride from Kanazawa Station. The covered arcade entrance is on Musashigatsuji street. Most of the market is under cover, making it a good option in Kanazawa's frequent rain.
Planning a trip to Kanazawa?
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