AMIYA Kanazawa Guide 2025: Local-Loved Nodoguro & Wajima Fugu in Historic Higashi Chaya District

Kanazawa once flourished as a castle town (a town developed around a castle) of the Kaga Domain (a group that governed the area around Ishikawa during the Edo period), and was the fourth largest city after Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Even today, there are many attractions including not only historical spots such as Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle, but also modern spots like the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and traditional crafts such as Kutani ware and Kaga Yuzen, and the city bustles with tourists regardless of weekdays or holidays.

Kanazawa is also known as a city where you can enjoy exquisite gourmet food, including seafood cuisine and Kaga cuisine. This time, we will introduce restaurants where you can savor dishes that are truly representative of Kanazawa.

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Table of Contents
-AMIYA is Recommended for Enjoying Kanazawa's Specialty "Blackthroat Seaperch" and "Pufferfish"!
-Three Attractions of AMIYA, a Kanazawa Cuisine Restaurant Loved by Locals
-Recommended Menu Items the Author Wants You to Order When You Come to AMIYA
-3 Things to Enjoy in Higashi Chaya District Along with AMIYA

Kanazawa Offers a Variety of Exquisite Gourmet Food, Including Fresh Seafood

In Kanazawa, you can enjoy a variety of exquisite gourmet food, starting with fresh seafood.

For recommended seafood dishes, you can taste various types of seafood caught in nearby waters, such as Blackthroat seaperch, Noto crab, and sweet shrimp, prepared in diverse cooking methods including sashimi, nigiri sushi, and tempura.

In addition, there is an abundance of local gourmet food including Kaga cuisine such as Jibuni (a dish of duck meat and vegetables simmered together) and Kabura-zushi (a fermented food made by sandwiching aged yellowtail and salted turnips in koji), as well as local specialties like Kanazawa curry (rich curry served with cabbage) and Kanazawa oden (a dish of Kanazawa ingredients such as Kaga vegetables and kuruma-fu simmered in broth).

AMIYA is Recommended for Enjoying Kanazawa's Specialty "Blackthroat Seaperch" and "Pufferfish"!

If you want to enjoy Kanazawa's specialty "Blackthroat seaperch" and "pufferfish," AMIYA is recommended. At AMIYA, you can enjoy original "Kanazawa oden" using broth made from the luxury fish "Blackthroat seaperch," as well as pufferfish dishes made with "Wajima pufferfish" procured by the owner through special routes.

The course meal that includes the signature "Kanazawa oden," overnight-dried "Blackthroat seaperch" (a type of dried fish), and "Wajima pufferfish" tataki is recommended for those visiting AMIYA for the first time, as it allows you to fully enjoy the flavors of Kanazawa.

Despite being located in the lively Higashi Chaya District, once you step inside, a hidden sanctuary-like space unfolds, allowing you to leisurely enjoy your meal, which is another attractive point.

AMIYA Overview and Access

Address: 1-12-12 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Access: 5-minute walk from Hashiba-cho Station on the Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District bus
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays, Irregular holidays
Business hours: Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, and holidays 11:30-16:00/ Friday-Sunday and holidays 17:00-20:00
Website: https://amiya.foodre.jp/

Three Attractions of AMIYA, a Kanazawa Cuisine Restaurant Loved by Locals

Exquisite Dishes Using "Wajima Pufferfish" and "Blackthroat Seaperch" Procured by the Owner Through Unique Routes

The first is that you can enjoy exquisite dishes using "Wajima pufferfish," known as a branded pufferfish, and "Blackthroat seaperch" in various preparations.

My three recommended "Wajima pufferfish" menu items are:
Fugu tempura don
Fugu tataki
Fuku tempura

My three recommended "Blackthroat seaperch" menu items are:
Blackthroat seaperch set meal
Kanazawa oden with Blackthroat seaperch broth
Nodoguro mabushi don

All of these are dishes that can only be tasted here, so please try sharing them with friends and family.

Numerous High-Quality Kanazawa Dishes

The second is that you can eat numerous high-quality Kanazawa dishes at AMIYA.

The dishes use not only seafood landed in Noto, but also generously incorporate local ingredients such as Noto pork and Noto beef, allowing you to fully taste the bounty of the sea and mountains of Noto. AMIYA procures seasonal ingredients, so the freshness is high, and it has a reputation for allowing you to directly taste the umami of the ingredients.

While high-quality menu items are available at AMIYA, another attractive point is that many are in an affordable price range because they use local ingredients. The balance between price and quality is excellent, and it's understandable that locals flock to visit even in Kanazawa, which has many renowned restaurants.

A Wide Variety of Alcoholic Beverages (Including Sake) That Pair Perfectly with the Dishes

The third is that you can enjoy a wide variety of alcoholic beverages (including sake) that pair perfectly with the dishes at AMIYA.

The drink menu offers a rich variety of alcoholic beverages, including Ishikawa Prefecture local sake, plum wine, craft beer, and Noto wine. Sometimes they procure precious local sake produced in extremely small quantities that you rarely encounter normally.

If you want to fully enjoy Ishikawa's sake, why not order the Ishikawa local sake tasting set at AMIYA? You can compare three types of local sake carefully selected by the owner, so you can fully enjoy Ishikawa's local sake while experiencing the marriage with exquisite dishes.

Fugu Dishes

When you visit AMIYA, the author's recommended menu item that you should definitely order is fugu (blowfish) dishes.

The "Wajima fugu" that the owner from Noto confidently sources is prepared using various cooking methods such as rice bowls, sashimi, and tempura, allowing you to enjoy different flavors.

Special Wajima Fugu Rice Bowl

The Special Wajima Fugu Rice Bowl is generously topped with "Wajima fugu" tataki (fish with its surface lightly seared) and nagaimo tororo (grated yam) over rice.

The soft and elastic fugu meat is light yet full of umami, offering an elegant taste. While the fugu is delicious on its own, it pairs perfectly with the tororo, which is characterized by its sticky and smooth texture, and your chopsticks will keep moving. The fragrant condiments such as green onions and shiso add an accent, allowing you to eat it without getting tired until the end.

-Price: 2,200 yen (as of 10/13/2025)

Noto (Wajima) Fugu Tataki

Noto (Wajima) fugu tataki is a dish where only the surface of the fugu is seared over high heat, while the inside remains raw, resulting in a half-cooked finish. By searing the surface, not only is the umami concentrated, but a savory aroma is also added, allowing you to enjoy a flavor that sashimi doesn't have.

Since fugu is a white fish with a light flavor, it is recommended to eat it with spicy condiments such as green onions, wasabi, and momiji-oroshi (daikon radish grated with red chili pepper), which adds depth to the taste.

- Price: 1,650 yen (as of 10/13/2025)

Noto (Wajima) Fugu Tempura

Noto (Wajima) fugu tempura consists of bite-sized pieces of fugu tempura that can be eaten by dipping in salt or tentsuyu (tempura dipping sauce).

AMIYA's fugu tempura is lightly fried with no strong flavors, so there's no heaviness, and you could eat as much as you want! You can enjoy the contrasting textures of the crispy batter and fluffy fugu meat all at once, making it an addictive taste.

While it's delicious to enjoy tempura refreshingly by adding grated daikon to the tentsuyu, I recommend eating it with salt, which brings out the deliciousness of the ingredients without losing the texture of the batter.

- Price: 1,870 yen (as of 10/13/2025)

Nodoguro Set Meal

The Blackthroat seaperch set meal comes with two pieces of salt-grilled Blackthroat seaperch, rice, soup, and a small side dish.

Blackthroat seaperch, known as a high-grade fish, is characterized by its high-quality fat like tuna toro and a texture that melts in your mouth, and I was shocked by its deliciousness when I ate the salt-grilled version. With one bite, the fat and umami of the Blackthroat seaperch spread throughout my mouth, and I forgot to talk with my friend and became absorbed in eating it all.

The simply salt-grilled Blackthroat seaperch is reputed to allow you to taste the original umami of Blackthroat seaperch.

- Price: 2,420 yen (as of 10/13/2025)

Kanazawa Oden with Nodoguro Broth

Kanazawa oden with Blackthroat seaperch broth is an AMIYA original menu item that allows you to enjoy the taste of Blackthroat seaperch in oden as well.

The exquisite oden infused with the sweetness and umami of Blackthroat seaperch is a signature menu item with many local repeat customers. The oden ingredients include classic daikon radish, kani tsumire (seafood surimi mixed with seasonings and formed into bite-sized balls), kuruma-fu, and other ingredients unique to Kanazawa, allowing you to savor the taste of Kanazawa in one dish.

If you eat this gently flavored oden, it will surely warm both your heart and body.

- Price: 1,320 yen (as of 10/13/2025)

When You Come to Kanazawa, Enjoy Exquisite Cuisine at Restaurants Loved by Locals!

When you come to Kanazawa, enjoy exquisite cuisine at restaurants loved by locals. The Kanazawa Night Foodie Tour allows you to enjoy local cuisine and drinks at three establishments recommended by locals.

At the first establishment, a traditional Japanese restaurant, you can enjoy sashimi and fried foods made with seafood caught in nearby waters. At the second establishment, a restaurant with a comfortable and calm atmosphere, you can try Kanazawa's specialty "oden." At the third establishment, you can challenge yourself with "kiki-sake," where you can compare 3-5 types of sake.

While enjoying cuisine at three unique establishments, you'll receive detailed explanations about Kanazawa's food culture and sake from a knowledgeable guide, which will make the meal even more delicious.

<information>
Meeting point: In front of "BEAMS" at Korinbo Lamoda Building
Tour area: Kanazawa
Start time: 18:00

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3 Things to Enjoy in Higashi Chaya District Along with AMIYA

Here, we will introduce three things you'll want to enjoy in Higashi Chaya District along with AMIYA. Experience the teahouse culture, one of Kanazawa's representative traditional cultures, and gold leaf application to feel Kanazawa's culture firsthand.

Geisha Culture Enjoyed in Teahouse Parlors

The first is geisha culture enjoyed in teahouse parlors.

Generally, geisha at teahouses in Kanazawa's teahouse districts entertain regular customers, and the system allows use only through introductions from regular customers. Did you know that there are plans that allow even general visitors to casually enjoy this geisha culture, with the purpose of preserving Kanazawa's teahouse culture?

In the plan, you can watch geisha dances and parlor taiko drums up close, play parlor games with geisha, and have a valuable chance to experience the traditional geisha culture. Since the schedule is only a few times per month, once per day, those wishing to experience it should book early from the website!

<Information>
Dates: Designated days from April 26, 2025 to March 28, 2026
Time: 13:00-14:00　
Phone: 076-232-5555
Fee: Adults 5,000 yen, University students and under 2,500 yen (includes tea and sweets)

Cultural Experiences at Kanazawa Geisha and Teahouse District Museum

The second is cultural experiences at Kanazawa Geisha and Teahouse District Museum.

Kanazawa Geisha and Teahouse District Museum opened as a museum to convey Kanazawa's teahouse culture by renovating a townhouse built in the early Showa period. Inside the museum, you can learn about the history of Kanazawa's teahouse culture through the theater and exhibits.

What's noteworthy is that the museum offers a rich variety of experience menus, including geisha parlor experiences, mini cultural experiences where you can make items like fans and tatami coasters, and guided tours of the facility (English available). In the mini cultural experiences, you can take home what you make, so it's sure to be a memorable souvenir from your trip!

Workshops Related to Kanazawa's Specialty Gold Leaf

The third is workshops related to Kanazawa's specialty Gold Leaf.

At Kanazawa's gold leaf shop "sakuda," which has a history of over 100 years since its founding, they create gold leaf works with radiant beauty using traditional techniques passed down from the Taisho era. What's popular at this long-established gold leaf shop is the gold leaf application experience.

In the experience, you choose products like chopsticks, plates, or compact mirrors along with your favorite design, and apply gold leaf to create your own original item.

I've done the gold leaf application experience with my nephew. Even my elementary school-aged nephew was able to complete his work without failure, so even those with children or first-timers can easily give it a try.

If You Come to Kanazawa, a City Where Japanese Tradition and History Live, Enjoy Strolling the Streets Too

If you come to Kanazawa, a city where Japanese tradition and history live, let's also enjoy strolling the streets. On the Kanazawa Half-day Historical Walking Tour, you can tour Kanazawa's historic sites with a guide in half a day.

On the tour, you can visit places like Omicho Market with over 300 years of history, Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three great gardens, and Higashichaya District where you can enjoy traditional streetscapes, all while receiving explanations from the guide. Additionally, you can taste Kanazawa's specialty "Jibuni" at a restaurant in Kenrokuen and enjoy wagashi (Japanese sweets) and matcha at the wagashi museum.

Since you can efficiently visit Kanazawa's famous spots, it's recommended for those visiting Kanazawa for the first time.

<Information>
Meeting point: FamilyMart + Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store
Tour area: Kanazawa
Start time: 10:00

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