Omicho Market and Higashichaya Food Tour in Kanazawa
Explore the foodie delights at Omicho Market, then wander down to the old town geisha district at Higashichaya in Kanazawa.
Highlights
Discover the best of food in Kanazawa’s Omicho Market, exploring hundreds of shopfronts with all kinds of interesting foods
Be inspired by the beautiful traditional buildings in the Higashichaya tea house district, the historic entertainment hub where you can see geisha
Learn about the city of Kanazawa, its history, and its food with insights from an English-speaking guide
Taste 8 different local foods from Kanazawa along the route
10 meals
Experience Details
The beautiful city of Kanazawa is the capital of the Ishikawa Prefecture, in the central region of Japan. It’s known as “Little Kyoto” for its beautiful gardens and traditional architecture, albeit on a much more compact scale. Located between the ocean and the Japanese Alps, Kanazawa sees the best of both worlds when it comes to local food. Discover some of the best food on offer in the city during this Omicho Market and Higashichaya Food Tour in Kanazawa. This tour is a great opportunity to get to know the city through food, where you’ll explore the glorious Omicho Market and the humble old town area while snacking along the way.
The best food in Kanazawa comes together at Omicho Market, a huge market in the heart of the city, with over 200 stores just beckoning to be explored! You’ll explore the market and taste over 8 different local foods during this food tour in Kanazawa, then afterward, you’ll head to the beautiful tea house district of Higashichaya, to the east of the city. Once a hub for geisha to entertain the elite, this district still has beautiful surviving wooden houses, which are some of the most well-preserved in Japan.
Inclusions
A 3-hour food tour in Kanazawa covering the Omicho Market and the Higashichaya District
An English-speaking guide to guide you through the market and its culinary delights, telling you about the legacy of food in Kanazawa and the history of the city
8 different dishes to taste along the way
A bottle of water
Exclusions
Additional food, drink, or souvenir purchases
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
The meeting point is in front of Starbucks Meitetsu Emuza, Kanazawa.
Remarks
This food tour starts strictly on time. Please be respectful of the other guests. If guests do not arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will begin regardless.
Please notify us in advance if there are any food restrictions, preferences, and allergies (e.g. gluten allergy, vegetarian, vegan).
Minimum drinking age is strictly 20 years and above in Japan, so participants must be 20 years or older to join this tour.
Please be reminded to wear comfortable shoes because there will be a lot of walking.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Literally translating to “the eastern tea house district,” Higashichaya is the historic site where geishas would entertain Japan’s elite during the Edo period. With chaya translating directly to “tea house,” this entertainment district was one of three major tea house areas in the city. It's the largest one of these well-preserved picturesque districts made up of traditional wooden houses, now filled with galleries, tiny shop fronts, and family-run restaurants. There's also a number of stores specializing in gold leaf products, a signature handicraft in Kanazawa.
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10 meals
Learn about the world of geisha in Kanazawa! This guided night tour will take you to Higashi Chaya & Kazue Machi geisha districts, where you’ll learn about geisha culture. End the night at a local restaurant with a full-course Japanese meal.
See the main sights of Kanazawa and taste its specialties on this guided food tour. You’ll sample local foods in Omicho, the city’s biggest seafood market, and stroll through Kazuemachi Chayagai and Higashi Chaya, two iconic geisha districts.
Touring Kanazawa on a bike is a breeze! Cycle through historic landmarks, the geisha district, and scenic mountainside paths at a leisurely pace. Then, have a lunch of local Kanazawa fermented foods and learn about katanas.