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Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Find out what to eat in Kanazawa Omicho Market and enjoy the best local food including fresh seafood, sushi platter, sashimi rice bowl, snack, and lots of local produce here.

I love to explore the local market whenever visit a place, especially in Japan. It is the best place to experience the local vibe and sample all the fresh food. The Kanazawa Omicho Market (近江町市場, Ōmichō Ichiba) is one of the well-known fresh food markets in Kanazawa, Japan. It has been around since the Edo period and remains a very local traditional market in Japan. There is a variety of excellent seafood and local produce that you hardly can miss when visiting Kanazawa.

In this Kanazawa food guide blog post about Omicho Market, I’ll share the best food I ate and saw while walking around the market. The best place to look for what to eat in Kanazawa.

Kanazawa Travel Tips: When looking for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Kanazawa check prices for Kanazawa Best Hotel from Booking.com. We found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.

Getting To Kanazawa Omicho Market

Getting there: Kanazawa Omicho Market is easy to access from Kanazawa station. From the east exit of the station, just walking straight for 15 minutes will get you to Omicho Market. Alternatively, take a short bus ride from Kanazawa station. It is just two stops from the station and gets off at the Musashigatsuji bus stop.

Wandering Around in Kanazawa Omicho Market

From Kanazawa station, we took the city bus and get off at Musashigatsuji bus stop. As soon as we arrived at Omicho Market, we decided to tour around before getting on any food to eat. There are several restaurants on both the ground and upper levels which are open for lunch as well as dinner. But the lower floor has many less expensive eateries.

Locals come to Kanazawa Omicho Market for fresh seafood and local produce. But most of the tourists visit here for their excellent fresh seafood. This Kanazawa market is famous and specialized in rice bowls topped with fresh seafood.

The market is not very big and can be finished in 30 minutes walking. But take note it can be busy and crowded during lunch hours.

What To Eat in Kanazawa Omicho Market

Kanazawa Omicho Ichiba market offers a huge variety of fresh seafood, vegetables, and ready to eat delicacies. You can find all kinds of seafood, beef, and seasonal fruit in this market. Prices are competitive among the stalls. During our visit, it was crab season, and many stalls were selling them at very reasonable prices. You can also buy the crab and have the eateries cook it for you.

The main focus of our food, of course, is fresh seafood. We first decided to try the fresh uni from one of the seafood stores.

We had the super fresh sea urchin at ¥500 and walloped it. It was so delicious and fresh. There is also other seafood in stores such as scallops, oysters, shrimp, and sashimi awaiting you to try on.

Japanese Snack in Kanazawa Omicho Market — Different flavors of Fried Japanese croquette

Besides, there was also a lot of Japanese snack food. I have to admit, sometimes the fried Japanese croquette is a great choice for a quick and budget snack. There are many different flavors, all made fresh on the spot. You can also choose to heat up in their microwave in the store. Wonderful Japanese street food to grab.

Although our main focus was on seafood, don’t forget to try on the beautiful assortment of fruits and vegetables in the market. We stopped by one of the fruit stalls and would like to try some local fruits.

The Japan Shrine muscat grapes were a good choice for those who want to try the high-class fruit in Japan. So sure it was nice to see and to just imagine how juicy and sweet they taste.

However, my friend would like to try on something new. These dark-colored fruits seem like a good choice. Not sure what is this. But we enjoyed this and fell in love at first bite.

At the market, there were also a couple of shops selling homemade Japanese pickles and preserved items, all of which looked good.

Limited Sushi Platter at Unbelievable Price

Kaitenzushi Okura Sushi Restaurant in Kanazawa Omicho market

This is probably one of the highlights of our food tour in Kanazawa Omicho Market. We originally were plan to get the seafood rice bowl or sushi at any restaurant for early lunch. Mori Mori sushi seems like one of the popular sushi restaurants in Kanazawa.

But we saw there was a special limited edition of sushi platter from Kaitenzushi Okura Omicho Branch. This shop offers a limited 20 sets of sushi platters for ¥500 on weekdays. Oh my God! A great deal.

We entered the restaurant once it opened. It was a rustic local Japanese sushi restaurant and full of the local vibe. It was a conveyor belt sushi restaurant with bar counter seating. Limited seats are available and mostly filled up by locals.

We were so lucky as the limited 20 sets were finished after us. Hot green tea was served by friendly staff. Without a long wait, our sushi platter was served. We have the 10 nigiri sushi with a bowl of miso soup. Can’t believe it only cost ¥500. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious sushi.

Good quality sushi and good value. Unexpected low-piece sushi in Kanazawa Omicho Market. Even if you can’t grab the ¥500 set, sure the slightly higher price set is still a good deal.

Overview: Best Food To Eat in Kanazawa

For sure, Kanazawa Omicho Ichiban is a great market for Kanazawa and worth a food trip here. Our experience shows you can get great food by visiting here. Although it was not as big as the Tokyo Tsukiji market and Sapporo fish market. But it has its charming character with many friendly vendors. The entire market street just had a pleasant authentic Japanese market feel to it. Definitely worth stopping by for some best food in Kanazawa. Come hungry!

Please take note our visit is during the weekday. Understand it can be crowded during the weekend.

Lastly, this Kanazawa food guide blog when looking for the best food in Omicho Ichiban is part of our Chubu trip. If you are interested, please continue reading our travel itinerary and food blog below.

Related Kanazawa travel and food blog:

Complete read in Chubu travel blog:

8-Days Chubu Itinerary: Complete Central Japan Travel Guide

Nagoya Itinerary and Food Guide:

Takayama, Shirakawago, Kamikochi, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route:

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Experience the unique Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa when visiting Beppu. This hell steaming cuisine is a simple yet fantastic local dish and a must-try in Beppu.

When visiting Beppu, for sure you will amaze by its numerous hot spring water and steam jetting out across the city. But do you know, locals have been harnessing the naturally hot steam and come out with a very special local cuisine since the Edo period. The hell steam cuisine (Jigoku mushi, 地獄蒸し) is developed by using the abundance of hot steam and water. It is a very simple yet healthy cooking method that brings out the true flavors of the food. Most importantly, you have the chance to experience and cook the hell steam cuisine on your own. A unique experience and must-try food in Beppu.

Read on our fun dining experience in Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa for the hell steaming cuisine.

Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa

The Jigoku Mushi Kobo (地獄蒸し工房鉄輪, Jigokumushi Kōbō Kannawa) is a famous restaurant in Beppu. This self-service restaurant is not your usual place where you order your food and have them cooked and served to you. It features an interesting hands-on workshop where you have the opportunity to steam your meal in the searing hot spring steam.

Many visitors will come here to experience the hot spring steam cuisine when visiting Beppu. Understand the wait time can be long during peak hours, we decided to stop by Jigoku Mushi Kobo after visiting the five Kannawa Hell valleys. It was about 3 p.m for late lunch. But we were so glad fewer people were waiting in line.

The restaurant has an indoor seating area with tables where you can eat your food. The hot steam setup is attached beside the seating area with stone or concrete cooking spots. Hot spring steam was kept piped from jigokugama (hell pots) directly to the cooking spots. Staffs were busy helping the visitors to steam their food in the steaming area.

Food Menu at Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa — Wide Range of Food Menu

Firstly, you need to order the food by selecting and paying for them at a vending machine. The ordering machine was allocated nearby the entrance with a picture menu and price listed.

A wide range of food with prepared plates can be ordered here. For example seafood, fish, beef, chicken, bun, vegetables, or even rice bowls. Prices range from as low as ¥200 up to ¥4,000. Alternatively, you can also opt to bring your food here and steam it. But as tourists, we choose to purchase the food at the restaurant.

How To Make Your Hot Spring Steam Food

We decided to get the fish and vegetable set which comes with such as shiitake mushroom, and pumpkins. You will also need to rent your steam chamber based on the usage time. We get the small steam set at ¥340 for 20 minutes.

After we got the food ticket from the machine, pass it to the counter behind. The staff will check through the order and proceed with food preparation.

Instruction on How to Cook Food in Jigoku Mushi Kobo

There was also a brief instruction to guide you on how to enjoy your food in the store. Next, following the guide, we passed the food order slip to the counter beside and collect the food.

Food Preparation inside Jigoku Mushi Kobo — Food Preparation

The staff was busy preparing our order. Depending on what type of food ordered, the steaming time was slightly different. So they will place it in a different layer. The top one is the fastest and also will take out first. For fish, it needs about 10 minutes. While for the vegetable set, it took a long time 20 minutes. Think meat and rice may take a longer time.

Together with the steam set and food is given, we head over to the number counter in the kitchen area and pass to the staff. One friendly staff guided us through the steaming process. She checked through our food and explained how to operate for food placement.

We were given a chance to put in and take out the food by ourselves into the steamer. The timer was set to remind us came back to take out the food when it was done.

Following the guide, we put on the gloves and placed the food in the steaming pot. Once open the wooden lid, the force of steam jetted out was so strong. It was a fun experience when place the food to steam it.

Overall experience in the restaurant was easy and well organize follow the process flow.

Waiting For Food

Drinking Fountain in Jigoku Mushi Kobo — Drinking Fountain

While waiting, we waited patiently in the dining area. Tea, cup, utensils, and condiments such as salt and soy sauce are provided. While the cooking center is staffed by volunteers, please help yourself to take it and clean up after finishing the food. Added, please take note alcohol is prohibited on the premises.

Outside, there was a drinking fountain where you can taste the natural mineral water. Too bad it was under maintenance during our visit. Free foot bath and steam foot bath are also available to spend your time while waiting for the food.

The Taste of Hot Spring Steam Food

Time flies while we explored around. As our food is ready at different times. My friend and I take turns operating the food-taking process so that both of us can experience it once.

Here comes our steamed food. The fish set came first as it took only 10 minutes. For the price of ¥2000, the portion can be rather small. The taste was average but we finish almost everything including the vegetables. You can dip it with the salt or soy sauce if you think it was too blank.

Next, the vegetable set which needs to steam for 20 minutes. Surprisingly, all the vegetable was truly fresh and natural. We all love the vegetable set and especially like the pumpkin. It was so sweet and tasty even without adding any seasoning. You won’t forget the unique original taste of food from hot steam. It can be quite filling to finish the vegetable set

After finishing your meal, don’t forget to clear your table and placed it in the washing area.

Overview: Must Try Food in Beppu

All in all, it was truly a very cool experience to have. I feel that the fish was not truly amazing. But both of us agree that vegetable was delicious. The hot steam cuisine from Jigoku Mushi Kobo was the best way to taste the freshness and original flavor of local Kyushu agricultural products without any special seasoning. We enjoy the fun experience and highly recommend it.

Getting To Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa

Jigoku Mushi Kannawa — Jigoku Mushi Kobo, Kannawa

The Jigoku Mushi Kobo is located a few steps down the street from the Kannawa bus terminal. It can be accessed by frequently departing buses from JR Beppu Station in about 15 minutes. It is the best place for local unique dishes if you are looking for what to eat in Kannawa, Beppu.

Operating Hours: 9:00 to 21:00 (last start for cooking at 20:00)
Closed: Third Wednesday of each month (or the next day if Wednesday is a holiday)
Expected to Pay: Ranging from ¥2,000 to ¥4000 per person depending on what you order

Lastly, this Beppu food blog is part of the Kyushu travel post. We truly enjoy our Beppu trip and local food here. My Beppu itinerary and food tour are listed below:

If you are interested, please read our travel guide to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Yufuin, Miyazaki, and other Kyushu places.

Northern Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kurokawa Onsen, Beppu, Yufuin, Kitakyushu, and more):

Southern Kyushu (Miyazaki, Takachiho Gorge):

Kanazawa Food Guide: What To Eat in Omicho Market