Omicho Market

If you're visiting the market for the first time, be sure to check out the fish market street lined with fishmongers. Enter from "Emza-guchi" to reach the lively fish market street. This street, where you can feel the atmosphere of the market most acutely, has over 10 different fish shops of various sizes. The storefronts are filled with freshly caught local seafood, including many rare species that are hard to find in supermarkets. You can even have the seafood delivered to your home in its fresh state, so you can purchase it with confidence for personal use or as a souvenir. Since the market opens early in the morning and many shops close in the evening, it's best to go as early as possible.

When you think of Omicho Market, you often imagine freshly caught seafood, but the selection of agricultural products is just as impressive. On the Avenue of Vegetables and Fruits, you can find a wide variety of locally grown vegetables and fruits, which are often larger and fresher than those found in supermarkets and can be purchased at a great value. Tourists are particularly fond of the brand vegetables produced in Ishikawa, known as "Kaga Vegetables." Some of the popular ones include "Gorojima Kintoki," a sweet potato with a condensed sweetness, and "Kintoki-sou," a leafy vegetable with a red-purple back that is rich in nutrients. In addition, a wide variety of seasonal fruits are available, and you can enjoy cut fruits and 100% juice on the spot!

Many tourists come to try the voluminous seafood bowl that appears in guidebooks and elsewhere. Even on weekdays during lunchtime, popular shops often have long lines. There are many shops in the market that offer seafood bowls, so if you don't have much time, it may be better to use a shop that is available. Of course, there is attention to detail in the rice and sauce, but the key to a good seafood bowl is the ingredients. The freshness of the ingredients is similar in all shops, and they are all delicious!

Of course, it's nice to enjoy a delicious lunch at a restaurant, but it's also recommended to enjoy the unique "eat-in and walk around" experience at the market. You can eat fresh and plump raw oysters and creamy sea urchin as they are, or enjoy grilled skewers of crunchy turban shells and squid, attracted by their aroma. In the eat-in area, wasabi and soy sauce are available, making it easy to enjoy sushi as well. In the produce section, fresh seasonal cut fruits are sold ready to eat. The 100% orange juice, served in an orange peel instead of a cup, is also a popular item.

Within the Omicho Market, there are several famous sushi restaurants. Each restaurant boasts fresh ingredients caught at nearby fishing ports! There are also various rare items that can hardly be tasted in other prefectures. For those who want to enjoy a calm atmosphere and take their time, there are authentic sushi restaurants with private rooms and tatami mats. For those who want to enjoy delicious sushi quickly and easily, conveyor belt sushi is popular. You'll be surprised by the quality that doesn't seem like it's from a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

"Omi-cho Croquettes" were already a popular item, with long lines forming at a corner of the market, even before the redevelopment of the Omi-cho Market due to aging. The classic old-fashioned croquettes and meat croquettes have a nostalgic and comforting taste. There are also a variety of other types, including corn croquettes and pumpkin croquettes, as well as unique ones like spaghetti croquettes and octopus croquettes, which are popular with children. The sweet shrimp cream croquette, unique to Hokuriku, is a creamy and popular dish among tourists.

Have you heard of "Kanazawa Oden"? It's a type of oden (Japanese hot pot) unique to Kanazawa, featuring unusual ingredients for tourists such as carfu (dried wheat gluten), baigai (whelk), kanimen (crab stick), and akamaki (red roll). While there are many famous oden restaurants in the city, you can also taste the rumored local oden at "Ippukuya" in Omi-cho Market. Since most of the ingredients for the oden are sourced from Omi-cho Market, the quality is guaranteed! Enjoy the Kanazawa Oden, with its salty broth base infused with the umami flavor of kelp, and warm your heart and body.