Omicho Market

Omicho Market (近江町市場) — the “Kitchen of Kanazawa” and one of the city’s most popular food-centric attractions in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan:  • Vibe: A bustling, lively food market with a mix of local and tourist visitors, offering seafood, produce, prepared food, snacks, and small restaurants.  🐟 Fresh Seafood & Local Produce • The market is famous for fresh seafood from the nearby Sea of Japan, including prawns, oysters, uni (sea urchin), snow crab, and sashimi-grade fish.  • Stalls and restaurants offer food on the spot or to take away — seafood bowls (kaisendon) and grilled seafood are especially popular.  🍱 Great for Food Lovers • describe it as a must-visit for foodies: the variety of stalls, standing counters and small eateries make it fun to explore and taste local specialties.  • You can find other regional eats too — grilled skewers, produce, fruits, sweets, and even local craft beer.  🧼 Clean, Friendly & Welcoming • the market is clean and well-organised, with friendly vendors and a cheerful atmosphere.  ⸻ ⚠ Things Some Visitors Mention 🐌 Can Be Busy • The market gets quite crowded, especially at lunchtime, so navigating the aisles can feel a bit hectic.  • Since there are many tasting stalls, queues can form at popular spots.  💸 Price • the food prices can be a bit touristy (higher than at local restaurants), especially for ready-to-eat dishes.  • Its size and many alleys mean it’s easy to wander without finding a specific stall unless you go in with a plan.  ⸻ 👌 • Visit in the morning to early afternoon for the widest selection of stalls and freshest seafood.  • Try fresh oysters, prawns, and local crab if in season — these get especially positive mentions.  • There are small restaurants inside the market offering sit-down meals if you want more than a snack.  • The market’s plants, produce and sweets make it more than just a fish market — it gives a broader taste of Hokuriku food culture.  ⸻ 📍 Summary Omicho Market is widely regarded as one of Kanazawa’s top food experiences. It’s especially recommended for visitors who love fresh seafood, local specialties, and vibrant market atmospheres. While busy at peak times and sometimes a little touristy, most travellers find it a worthwhile and memorable stop for sampling regional flavours and exploring a lively local food hub. 

Had some giant bota ebi, sea urchins, oysters, yellowtail, Noto beef, and muscat grapes in front of the stores. There are places to sit or standing tables. If you prefer to eat at restaurants, there are also great sushi/sashimi restaurants abound. We had some massive kaisendon at the restaurants. About half the shops don't accept cards so be prepared and bring cash. Came back twice because we loved the market so much.

Amazing market, large but feels small in a good way. Easy to wander and don’t forget some restaurants on basement and second floor. Was busy at noon in November with fellow tourists, but plenty of locals as well. The fresh seafood and produce (catering to locals) was wonderful. Tried some fresh cut fruit, coffee, and the most amazing pumpkin croquettes. You’ll never waste your time on a pumpkin latte again. So much better than Kyoto market.

This market is what I had hoped Tsukiji to be, a bit more spacious, stalls to try classic seafood offerings and stalls to offer unique options. While the prices are still a little touristy, it is much much more reasonable than what you’d find in Tokyo and actually feels worth the price. There are several stalls selling seafood (all about 100 yen or so difference) that allow you to stand and eat by them. We picked the one with the shortest queue and had oysters, botan ebi, dogfish (all from Kanazawa) and some uni and maguro as well. The botan ebi is incredible - creamy, smooth, sweet and delicious. Also try the unagi and scallops kushiyaki! Also, there’s a fun store that sells fruits and they sell orange juice in oranges

Omicho Market is the heart of Kanazawa's food scene and a must-visit for its incredible energy and variety. The covered streets are lined with stalls selling everything from freshly caught crab and sea urchin to grilled seafood skewers and local croquettes. While it’s famous for Kaisen-don (seafood bowls) and sushi, don’t miss the chance to try "walking foods" like grilled oysters or even gold leaf ice cream. It gets very busy around lunch, so arriving in the morning is highly recommended for a more relaxed stroll and the best selection of goods.

🦀 Omicho Market – Kanazawa Omicho Market is a true celebration of product excellence. This is not a place where food is dressed up to impress, it’s where quality speaks for itself. Impeccably fresh seafood, seasonal specialties, and a deep respect for provenance define every stall. Each counter feels like a masterclass in precision: clean cuts, pure flavors, and ingredients at their absolute peak. Walking through Omicho is to understand why Kanazawa holds such a strong reputation for seafood and culinary culture. Take your time, observe, taste, and enjoy. This is high gastronomy in its most honest and authentic form. 🐟🍣✨🍶

Mixed feelings about this market. Positives: -multiple options for fresh fish and other seafood -covered roof which protects you from the sun/heat -multiple food vendors have seating to enjoy your food sitting down -culture Negatives: -there is a strong odor in the air due to the market being covered with a roof causing lack of ventilation. It is definitely not horrible, I don't want to make it a bigger deal than it is, but if you have a sensitive nose then just keep this in mind -barely any vegetarian options to find -crowded -public toilet has a window that has direct view to outside (if someone stand near the window they can fully see you!)

Personally I love this market much better than the fish market in Tokyo and Kyoto. Based on language spoken, it seems to be locals are dominant crowds here. I had a wonderful meal inside the market. So happy that I came all the way here from Nagano for a day trip🙏🏻❤️🤗

Covered market without air-conditioning, contains mostly seafood and fish vendors Also, some souvenir shopping here. It is hot and humid during the summer here so bring a fan. The popular restaurants have a line so we prepared to wait. The restaurant that sells Ramin was excellent. Make sure you pay at the vending machine first, get your ticket, and then wait for a seat. The Katsu restaurant was excellent. Also, with a fairly long wait since the Inside is quite small with only counter seating for about 8 to 10 people. You can buy lots of raw fish to eat right there, or you can get some vegetables and fruits, which taste delicious. Overall, only takes about 1 to 2 hours to see everything.

Although listed hours were from 9AM to 5PM, most stalls and restaurants were closed by 3PM. The market was notably emptier during the later hours. Ohmicho Market was notably calmer and less showier than other popular markets. The stalls primarily sold produce, seafood and dried products. The restaurants had similar menus of various sushi and chirashi bowls. The stalls that were open after 3PM often had discounts on the remaining seafood although I found the prices to still be higher than average. The service was terse and impersonal. The market was clean and surprisingly not too fishy. *Sliced Tuna: very disappointed by how slimy and fishy the tuna was. The texture was off putting and stringy. Even the included wasabi and soy sauce couldn't save the pungency. *Oyster: across the market, I was surprised by how expensive singular oysters were. A stall at the very end of the market sold one for 800 yen while every other stall sold them for 1000 yen or higher. They were shucked in front of us and the larger size permitted 3 bites. The flesh was meaty and salty. It was fresh but definitely not worth $7+. *Scallops: my favorite purchase in terms of flavor. Sweet, soft and fresh. Didn't need any toppings and I could have easily finished a dozen. Some of best scallops I've ever had and it was worth the 600 yen for 3. Although I enjoyed the more laidback atmosphere, the market itself wasn't too impressive. I can't see myself getting full off the seafood given the prices compared to other restaurants and the produce didn't seem too different from those of supermarkets to warrant 1.5X the price.

I loved this little market. They have everything from fresh sashimi to eel on a stick to fruit and desserts. We tried the oysters and the scallops and both were great. We went upstairs and had fantastic sashimi bowls for great prices. It was so fresh and delicious. The fatty toro was amazing and 10 thick pieces for $30 is a steal. The little shrimp was also super sweet and delicious. We also tried the pink and white strawberries. I tried those at home before and they tasted like grass. These were really good though a little pricey. Definitely highly recommend coming here but make sure to go early.

Still my absolutely favorite market! Super fresh and cheap seafood. Super delicious and reasonably priced fruits (they can be expensive tbh). Go early in the day (9am ish) for the best deals on seafood sashimi etc. card is more widely accepted than before but cash would be more convenient with vendors.

If you have the JR Pass while traveling through Japan, I highly recommend making a pit stop at Kanazawa. Situated by the ocean, Kanazawa is known for its abundance of seafood and GOLD. (*Factoid: The top two floors of Kinkaku-Ji Temple in Kyoto are enrobed with gold leaf from Kanazawa) As you arrive at the JR Kanazawa Station, store your luggage in the rental lockers, grab a CREMIA soft serve cone wrapped in gold leaf, then catch a taxi to Omicho Market. We spent a couple of hours here taking in the vibe and eating our way through the market as much as we could. We dined on the following items: A5 Noto Wagyu Nigiri Miso Glazed Sablefish Grilled Giant Prawns O-Toro Nigiri Nodoguro Nigiri Kirin on tap Oden Quality of food was great without the Tsukiji/Toyosu Market sized crowds. Go if you have the chance, you won't be disappointed! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 5

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

This wasn't my favorite market that we visited in Japan. It was on the smaller side so your options are limited. This truly felt like a market for locals where people were buying to take food home to cook a meal for the family. There is quite a variety of shops including fresh seafood, fresh fruits and veggies, clothing stores, ice cream shops, flower shops, and more. We were here on fairly content stomachs, so we mostly window shopped/browsed. The vibe in Tsukiji is more inviting where the vendors are trying to give you samples and get you to look at their seafood. Maybe the layout here was just a little more intimidating and I didn't have large crowds of people lining up at specific vendors to clue me in to where I should buy from. If there is a next visit to Kanazawa, I will just have to embrace my adventurous side and pick whatever looks yummy.

I highly recommend a visit here if you are in Kanazawa. The sashimi here is amazing! We stayed at Hotel Pacific which was a 2 mins walk. We came here for lunch on both days that we were here and I'm sure that we would have came for a few more meals if the market was open in the evening. Be sure to also try the croquettes and grilled scallops! So good!

Ok, if you ever visit Kanazawa, you MUST COME HERE. It boasts THE freshest fish and seafood in Kanazawa, fish products galore, roe, sea urchin, seaweed (kombu and other dried sea vegetables) and a wide variety of fruit and vegetables at reasonable prices. This place is like nothing on earth. Almost surreal in its variety and quality of marine produce. Just amazing.

For someone who doesn't live in Japan like myself, going to open-air markets is so much fun and this was no exception. This market has a long history dating back to the Edo period and has about 200 shops, making it the largest market in Kanazawa city. Business hours vary by shop, but their website says to watch out for Wednesdays as a lot of them are closed and those that are open close early. My family and I came here on a rainy day back in April, but no worries, this is a covered open-air market. Omicho, you are awesome just for that. It mainly consists of seafood and produce shops, but there are also other shops such as florists, clothing/accessories shops, snack shops, and restaurants. Since we got here around lunch time, we decided to split up and eat what whatever we wanted to eat. Some of us went to a rice bowl place, others went to an udon shop, and the rest went to eat sashimi. We met up later and ate fresh white strawberries from a produce stand for dessert and bought some specialty snacks to eat later. By the way, the white strawberries were strange looking but surprisingly sweet and delicious (this was back in April so probably not available right now).

Ohmicho Market sells fresh seafood and other foods. Filled with tourists, but traditionally this is where locals shopped since 16th century. Originally how I decided to visit Kanazawa is a TV show I saw a couple months ago where two visitors ate uni/sea urchin right at the market. The way they ate looks so good, I wanted to do the same. The day I visited, one of the shops was selling both sea urchin and Iwagaki Oysters (Japanese Rock Oysters). These oysters are huge! I ordered one of each (uni and oyster) and ate standing up at the market. They opened oyster right in front of me, and cleaned it quick. They have some soy sauce and other sauce available if you like but I ate them without adding anything, just the way I like it. Uni was $5-7 and Oyster was $5-10 each depending on sizes. They were really fresh and oh so good. I walked around the market and enjoy learning about kaga vegetables (unique vegetables to the area). They have some restaurants and I enjoyed my lunch there. I was afraid of "tourist trap" but the food I ordered ended up being really good but price was.... I paid for tourist price. There are so many different food I was interested in but too full to try. They do get busy and I recommend going there during off-peak hours to avoid lines at restaurants. Come and enjoy the traditional Kaga food and culture. (Kaga is the old way of addressing Kanazawa).

x3* Omicho Fish Market Covered market with fresh fish and other local produce Some good souvenirs and tee shirts at reasonable prices Restaurants

Ohmicho market is the local fish market in Kanazawa. It's full of impressive crab and other seafood delicacies. Outside of the crab, the seafood was extremely inexpensive. They also had quite nice fresh vegetables throughout. One word of caution. Ohmicho Market is on the small side. So if you are expecting a fish market like Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, you may be disappointed. However, if you manage expectations it's a great place to have truly fresh fish for lunch.

like all fish markets in Japan this one is no different. i like the one in Kyoto more, but i did think this one is better than Tokyo and Osaka. It's not as crowded, but there's still long lines to wait for some chirashi. There are other food choices besides chirashi bowls w/stands serving some stew, chestnuts, skewers (yakitori), noodles. They have a good variety of produce ranging from fish, poultry to veggies. Nice place to hangout before heading down to the park or the art museum. Happy Hunting 日本のすべての魚の市場のように、この1は違いはありません。私はより京都の1が好き、しかし、私はこの1つは東京や大阪よりも優れていると思いました。これは、混雑していないのですが、いくつかのちらしを待つ長い列がまだあります。 /いくつかのシチュー、栗、串（焼き鳥）を提供するスタンドワットちらし丼、ラーメン以外の他の食品の選択肢があります。 彼らは魚、野菜に鶏肉に至るまで農産物の良い品種を持っています。公園や美術館まで見出しの前にたまり場に素敵な場所。 ハッピーハンティング

I really wish we came here for lunch instead of the Amusement Viking Family Restaurant buffet. There was so much fresh seafood which you could buy and eat on the spot. There were also a bunch of stands grilling things on sticks like squid or eel. The smell was enticing even though we were all stuffed. I did manage to eat some fresh raw prawn and uni. The prawn was the best thing I ate the entire trip. The way to get it is you line up and once it's your turn you can get either the fresh uni or prawn. They clean and prepare it for you and you eat it right there on the spot. Once you finish eating throw your trash in the pile of discarded shells next to you and the next person goes. Because of this process, the line was long, but so worth it. The uni was more salty than sweet and not as good as California uni. Not only is there fresh seafood, but you can find bags of dried goods like seaweed, fish, and snacks and stands that sell fresh fruit like persimmons, strawberries, etc. There was even a mochi stand somewhere. Throughout the market there were many restaurants, but the lines were extremely long for all of them. Looked like the wait would be an hour for each of them. This looked like a huge tourist spot with slightly jacked up prices, but since I was a tourist I was happy to come here. Weird thing was there was barely any garbage cans to throw out trash.

One of the tourist spot in Kanazawa is the Omi Market which is about 15 minutes walk from JR Kanazawa Station. Expect crowd here. Long line in restaurants. The prices of food is pretty standard, 2000 yen - up. One thing I noticed though, lunch and dinner has the same price which is great. I always find it fascinating for a market place to be a tourist spot. BUT if you want fresh seafood in a tourist price , then come here or you can walk around in Kanazawa and find another restaurant outside the market where locals go and might be cheaper.

This market is one of my favorites in Japan. It's less crowded and more enjoyable than Tokyo's famous Tsukiji and more spacious than Kyoto's Nishiki. It's packed with stall after stall selling locally caught seafood, as well as a good selection of fruit and vegetables and other Japanese foodstuffs. And, best of all, there are plenty of restaurants in the market where you can sample some of the stuff you see on sale

This is mainly a fish market but also sells vegetables and fruits. It is a twenty-minute or so walk from our hotel near the Kanazawa JR Train Station. The streets were quiet on the Tuesday we visited. We used the underground street crossing to access the market. We wish there's a directory map (but then would not help if only in Japanese; we saw one painted on a wall in an obscure corner). Our quick walkthrough noted several covered alleys lined with fish monger stores, restaurants and shops. It's rather clean and orderly for a market. We bought a bag of large Fuji apples for less than 450 yens. We also tried eating Sashimi as street food: we bought a package of cut yellow tail at 650 yen and ate them right in front of the store which provides chopsticks, soy sauce, wasabi and napkins. Some customers bought a whole piece of fish and have them cut up. The uni looked very fresh too. It was an interesting experience.

sushi, soup.....small place.....pedestrian food in a crowded location..prices could be lower...snack place? consider....

We absolutely loved this market. We live in Tokyo and have been to Tsukiji many times. No, it isn't as big or impressive as Tsukiji. But it is still great. So many different types of seafood to see and buy, and eat on the spot! Uni. Oysters. Unagi. And more. And even a steamed crab that was delicious. It can be intimidating to see so many places to choose from and not know which has the best quality/taste. But just dive in. (Pun intended.) You gotta start somewhere and if you don't like what you get, then try again at another spot. We walked up to the second floor and saw some busy restaurants and happy diners. But sampling bites here and there on the market level was more our style. We will return here on future visits to Kanazawa for sure.