Sharon M.
Yelp
You know when you get to a tourist destination and there's that huge, flashy, "everyone knows this" sort of attraction. It's a "must-go" on every travel guide, and therefore, always packed like a can of sardines. And then there's the low-key version of the attraction, where the locals go to get away from the photo-hungry crowds and get the exact same things that they need. The former, Tsukiji Market. The latter, Omicho Market.
Though Omicho Market is not "unknown" by any means, it is certainly a lot less crowded. Kanazawa is less visited by international tourists (less, though still definitely visited) than say Tokyo or Kyoto but it's right by the sea, and therefore, offers some of the most amazing seafood. When you go to Tsukiji, you feel like you're in a tourist attraction. When you go to Omicho, you feel like you're in a market.
As with these local markets, it's packed full of history and gives you a taste of ready-to-eat food, with a lot of options to take home as well. Over 200 vendors that are selling the freshest produce and meats. You can buy whole fish that was caught that morning or eat a few slices of sashimi cut from that fish. The restaurants within the market serve dishes with an ocean-to-table philosophy. It's the perfect place to snack away your cravings and drown yourself in local flavours.
Japan has some of the highest quality food in the world and Omicho serves that up on skewers, on plastic dishes, and in cups. I had the absolute sweetest grapes I've ever tasted here, fresh sea urchin packed in its spiky shell, large meaty grilled scallops on a stick, crispy croquettes straight from the deep fryer. While everything was delicious, you can't go to a coastal market and not get the seafood, and if I were to recommend anything else, it'd be those magical grapes.
(90/100) - 2018