Snow crab
In winter.
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Kanazawa's big covered market, nicknamed «Kanazawa's kitchen», with about 170 shops and restaurants in covered lanes over some 2.8 hectares. It dates from 1721, when the town's fish markets were gathered here, and it supplied the Kaga Domain's kitchen; its name is said to come from merchants from Ōmi Province who settled the quarter. It is best known for seafood from the Sea of Japan: snow crab in its winter season, sweet shrimp, oysters and nodoguro, the blackthroat seaperch, alongside traditional Kaga vegetables and fruit. Its small restaurants serve kaisen-don, bowls of rice topped with raw fish and seafood. The modern Omicho Ichiba-kan building opened on part of the site in 2009, with shops, restaurants and parking. The lanes mix fishmongers, greengrocers, sweet shops and household goods, and locals do their daily shopping here. Entry is free; most shops open from about 9:00 to 17:00, many close on Wednesdays, and the whole market closes 1-4 January, per visitor guides. It is about a 15-minute walk from Kanazawa Station. For halal diners: fresh fish and seafood are easy to find, but ask about sauces, as some contain mirin, a cooking rice wine.
In winter.
Rice and fresh fish.
And local produce.
Omicho, by the Musashigatsuji crossing, Kanazawa
Kanazawa Castle ParkA large, partly rebuilt castle, seat of the Kaga Domain, which the Maeda clan ru9 minutes walk4.2
Higashi Chaya DistrictKanazawa's best-known teahouse district, on the east bank of the Asano River, wh12 minutes walk4.3
Nagamachi Samurai DistrictAn old residential quarter where upper- and middle-ranking samurai families of t12 minutes walk4.2
Kenroku-en GardenOne of Japan's Three Great Gardens, with Kairaku-en and Kōraku-en: a strolling g15 minutes walk4.3
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaA contemporary art museum opened in 2004 in central Kanazawa, designed by the Pr15 minutes walk3.6Most shops open from about 9:00 to 17:00; many close on Wednesdays, and the whole market closes 1-4 January, per visitor guides.