Discover Kanazawa's Hidden Gems: 11 Traditional Kissaten & Traditional Cafes to Experience in 2025 (Local Guide)

Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu. It flourished as a castle town from around 1600-1800, and that atmosphere still remains today. It's particularly known for having many historical buildings and traditional spots throughout Japan, and the scenery that harmonizes with the four seasons' landscapes is popular with tourists.

Kanazawa is also known as a treasure trove of food, possessing deep charm in terms of taste, including seafood and local cuisine. If you want to casually enjoy that rich food culture, cafes where you can enjoy dishes using local ingredients and Japanese sweets are recommended.

This time, we will carefully select and introduce cafes where you can enjoy exquisite cuisine and coffee shops where you can feel a traditional atmosphere - representing the best of Kanazawa cafe culture and the evolving kissaten 2025 scene.

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3 Selected Cafes Where Kanazawa's Traditions Live On (Author's Recommendations)

Kanazawa flourished as a castle town from around 1600-1800, so many traditional places and cultures still remain today. From here, we will carefully select and introduce cafes where Kanazawa's traditions live on, showcasing the finest Kanazawa cafe experiences.

Kanson-an

Kanson-an is a cafe located in an annex of "Shima," a geisha residence built in 1820. Shima has not been altered at all since its construction and is culturally valuable, designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Located in the Higashi Chaya District, where historical streetscapes including geisha residence ruins remain, you can enjoy the feeling of traveling back in time. In the calm atmosphere, you can savor Japanese traditional sweets and matcha while gazing at the garden.

My recommendation is "Nerikiri," a Japanese traditional sweet made by kneading sweetly boiled beans into a paste, coloring them in elegant and colorful hues, and crafting them to resemble seasonal plants and other motifs. The appearance is artistic and perfect for this historical space.

Store Information
Address: 1-13-21 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: None
Phone: 076-252-5675
Business Hours: 9:30-17:30
Winter period (December-February) 9:30-17:00
Official Website: http://www.ochaya-shima.com/shima/shima_f.html

Sabo Yanagi-an

Sabo Yanagi-an is also a cafe located in the Higashi Chaya District. It's on the second floor of a gallery and shop that handles high-quality crafts from Ishikawa prefecture and neighboring areas.

This 200-year-old geisha residence building offers views of the willow tree that can be called a symbol of the Higashi Chaya District from its windows. With deliberately limited seating for a relaxed atmosphere, you can spend quality relaxation time between sightseeing activities.

The Japanese-style parfait menu that boldly uses one whole sheet of gold leaf, Kanazawa's specialty, has an impressive and gorgeous appearance - I took many photos when it was brought to my table! You can also enjoy afternoon tea using seasonal fruits and local ingredients.

Store Information
Address: 2nd Floor, 1-13-24 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: January 1st
Phone: 076-251-8899
Business Hours: 10:00-17:00 (L.O. 16:30)
Official Website: https://kanazawa.hakuichi.co.jp/shop/yanagian.php

Shigure-tei

Shigure-tei is a cafe located within Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three most famous gardens. Kenroku-en is a garden built in the 1600s by the lord of this area, where you can enjoy seasonal scenery throughout its vast grounds.

This building reproduces a villa that was used as a tea ceremony venue when Kenroku-en was built, reconstructed in 2000. The building can be freely toured, and you can sit in the tatami room and gaze at the garden.

The cafe menu consists of two types: matcha and green tea, both served with Japanese sweets sets. They also pay attention to the vessels, serving tea in ceramics that are traditional crafts of Ishikawa prefecture.

The time spent leisurely gazing at the garden while listening to bird songs and water sounds is exceptional - when I visited, I ended up spending much longer there than planned due to the comfortable atmosphere.

Store Information
Address: 1-5 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (Kenroku-en)
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)
Phone: 076-232-8841
Business Hours: 9:00-16:30 (Final admission 16:00)
The facility is closed for cleaning from 12:00-13:00
Official Website: https://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/sigure.html

Recommended Cafes in Kanazawa for Enjoying Exquisite Japanese Traditional Sweets

Kanazawa is also famous for its visually beautiful Japanese Traditional Sweets. From here, we'll introduce cafes where you can enjoy exquisite Japanese Traditional Sweets. As we explore the evolving Kanazawa Cafe scene, these traditional kissaten establishments continue to thrive alongside modern cafes, making 2025 an exciting time to experience both classic and contemporary Japanese confectionery culture in this historic city.

Amanatto Kawamura

Amanatto Kawamura is located in a corner of the "Nishi Chaya District," where former Geisha residences line up, similar to the Higashi Chaya District. This cafe is operated by "Kawamura," a specialty store for Amanatto, and the shop is located on the second floor of the building. "Amanatto" is a Japanese Traditional Sweet made by simmering various types of beans together with sugar, then coating the surface with sugar and drying them.

It's a simple confection characterized by its sticky texture and sweet taste, and pairs excellently with Japanese tea or coffee. This Amanatto Kawamura is a shop where you can enjoy Amanatto in a stylish way, offering signature plates featuring Kawamura's popular products and parfaits using seasonal fruits. During hot seasons, the beautifully presented shaved ice is also recommended.

Please note that entry is restricted to ages 6 and above, so be careful when traveling with children.

Store Information
Address: 2F, 2-24-7 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: First Tuesday of each month (open in January, May, December; winter closure December 25 - January 4)
Phone: 076-282-7000
Business Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, day before holidays, day after holidays: 10:00-17:30 (L.O. 17:00)
Sunday, holidays: 10:00-16:30 (L.O. 16:00)
Official website: https://mame-kawamura.com/store/

Cafe MURAKAMI Cross Gate Kanazawa

Cafe MURAKAMI Cross Gate Kanazawa is a cafe operated by "Wagashi Murakami," a long-established Japanese Traditional Sweets shop in Kanazawa. While this shop allows you to enjoy freshly made sweets, the most popular item is drinks made with "Warabi mochi." Warabi mochi is made by heating powder extracted from the roots of "Warabi" (a type of mountain vegetable) with water and sugar, then cooling it. It's characterized by its elasticity, fluffy texture, and smooth mouthfeel.

This Warabi mochi is added to drinks of various flavors such as Matcha and cafe latte, allowing you to casually enjoy Japanese Traditional Sweets. There are also abundant menu options including pancakes made with rice flour and soft cream topped with gold leaf.

Since it's close to Kanazawa station, easy accessibility is also a pleasant point.

Store Information
Address: 1F・2F Cross Gate Kanazawa, 1-5-3 Hirooka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: According to Cross Gate Kanazawa schedule
Phone: 076-208-4443
Business Hours: 10:00-20:00 (L.O. 19:00)
Official website: https://ore-sc.jp/crossgate-kanazawa/shop/detail/cafe-murakami/

Horaido Cafe

Horaido Cafe is located very close to Kenroku-en and is a recommended spot to visit while touring Kenroku-en. This Japanese-style cafe is a renovation of a place that was established in 1936 as a shop where passersby could casually enjoy tea and sweets.

The second floor is a relaxing cafe space, while the first floor also offers takeout options. The parfait inspired by Kenroku-en's garden contains Matcha, "Hojicha" (Japanese tea characterized by its fragrant roasted flavor), "Kinako" (roasted soybean powder), and other ingredients, making it enjoyable both visually and taste-wise.

There are many photogenic menu items, including dumplings made with glutinous rice that are baked after ordering, and sweets with fluffy dough filled with sweet bean paste and whipped cream.

Store Information
Address: 1-18 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Open daily
Phone: 076-254-0866
Business Hours: 10:00-17:00
Official website: None

Experience Kanazawa's Traditions and Culture More Deeply by Touring with Knowledgeable Local Guides

Kanazawa has not only cafes where you can enjoy Japanese Traditional Sweets, but also many historical spots and places where you can experience traditions. When visiting for the first time, you might be confused about where to go. The modern Kanazawa Cafe culture beautifully blends with traditional kissaten, and in 2025, visitors can experience this unique fusion of old and new Japanese coffee and sweets culture.

Magical Trip's local tours feature English-speaking local tour guides who will show you places that only locals know. Since you can tour while hearing episodes that only guides familiar with the local area would know, you can enjoy Kanazawa's traditions and culture more deeply.

The half-day tour exploring Kanazawa's historical sites meets at 10:00 in front of Family Mart+Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashiten and walks around Kanazawa's representative spots in about 5 hours.

You'll explore Omicho Market (which has over 300 years of history and where you can enjoy local seafood), Kenroku-en, Higashi Chaya District, and other locations. In Higashi Chaya District, you can enjoy Matcha and Japanese Traditional Sweets inside historic buildings.

Since you'll visit spots recommended by local guides from their unique local perspective, you can experience Kanazawa's traditions even more deeply.

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For those seeking unique experiences, kanazawa-saryo is recommended - a place where you can enjoy both pottery making and tea

kanazawa-saryo is a cafe where you can enjoy tea in vessels you create yourself. You can choose 3 favorite colors from 20 available paints to layer onto Kanazawa's traditional ceramics "Kutaniyaki," creating a one-of-a-kind vessel in the world.

You can immediately pour Japanese tea into your created vessel and drink it on the spot, enjoying both art and cafe experience together. While typical pottery experiences involve processes like firing after coloring, which can take several weeks to complete, the immediate enjoyment here is truly delightful.

Since you can take the vessel home, it becomes a wonderful travel memento. I personally use the vessel I made during my cafe time at home.

The cafe space for enjoying tea is a stylish area renovated from an old private house, with windows overlooking Kanazawa's townscape.

The required time is approximately 2 hours, so I recommend scheduling this for a day when you have plenty of leisure time.

Store Information
Address: 16-17 Chi, Utatsuyama-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Irregular holidays
Phone: 076-254-6647
Business hours: 10:00-18:00
Official website: https://www.kanazawasaryo.jp/

Cafes offering exquisite coffee recommended by a barista with 5 years of experience

Actually, as a barista with 5 years of experience, I find that Kanazawa has many shops offering exquisite coffee, and I always visit them whenever I come to Kanazawa.

Here, I'll introduce cafes I recommend from a barista's perspective.

Kaikodo coffee Kanazawa

Kaikodo coffee Kanazawa is a coffee shop where you can enjoy carefully crafted coffee. It's located near Oyama Shrine, which is also famous as a tourist spot in Kanazawa. The nostalgic, retro atmosphere allows you to feel the air of Japan from decades ago.

Coffee brewed using beans ground with an antique manual coffee mill is a cup filled with dedication. This coffee mill is a rare item with very few remaining even within Japan, offering a taste you can only enjoy here.

The shop is filled with many other antique items, making it recommended for those who love retro things.

Store Information
Address: 2-43 Oyama-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: 1st and 3rd Saturdays
Phone: 076-231-4653
Business hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00
Saturday-Sunday 9:00-14:00 or 15:00
Official website: None

Kanazawaya Coffee

Kanazawaya Coffee is a coffee shop with the charming location right beside the gate of Kanazawa Castle. It's operated by a local company specializing in homemade roasting.

You can enjoy carefully brewed coffee one cup at a time and homemade cakes. Coffee beans sourced from around the world with careful attention to origin are hand-picked both before and after roasting, allowing you to savor flavors without any unpleasant tastes.

Another major characteristic is that they brew using filters made from flannel. While this might be rare globally, in Japan there's also a method of brewing with flannel filters, which is said to bring out coffee's umami and create a mellow taste.

Located just a few minutes' walk from Omicho Market and Kenroku-en, it's also recommended as a spot to take a break with coffee in hand during sightseeing.

Store Information
Address: 5-26 Marunouchi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
Phone: 076-254-5411
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Official website: https://www.krf.co.jp/kanazawa/

Recommended Cafes to Enjoy Japan's Traditional Drink "Matcha"

Japan's traditional drink "Matcha" is popular not only among Japanese people but also tourists from around the world. Matcha is made by grinding Japanese tea leaves called "Tencha" into powder form, characterized by its well-balanced bitterness and sweetness with a distinctive flavor.

There are many establishments in Kanazawa where you can enjoy this Matcha, representing the finest Kanazawa Cafe culture and traditional Kissaten 2025 experiences.

Kanbayashi Kanazawa Chaho Main Store

Kanbayashi Kanazawa Chaho Main Store is the main store of a Japanese tea specialty shop with three locations in Kanbayashi.

In the cafe space, you can enjoy various types of Japanese tea including Matcha and "Sencha" (a type of Green tea), along with Japanese Traditional Sweets. The Japanese Traditional Sweets are sourced from long-established shops in Kanazawa.

In summer, you can also enjoy limited gelato made with Japanese tea.

Since it's located roughly halfway between Omicho Market and Higashi Chaya District, it's easily accessible during your sightseeing tour, making it a perfect example of a modern Kanazawa Cafe.

Store Information:
Address: 1-7 Shimoshinmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays, third Sunday (open during consecutive holidays)
Phone: 076-231-0390
Business Hours: 9:30-17:00
Official Website: https://kanbayashi-chaho.com/store/

Isseian

Isseian is a cafe located within "Otomoro," a long-established restaurant founded in 1830. In the 1800s, this area was used as a tea ceremony training center by the people who governed this region. You can enjoy drinks and meals while viewing the beautiful garden.

They offer authentic Matcha and Japanese Traditional Sweets sets, Japanese-style afternoon tea sets, and lunch boxes perfect for lunch that incorporate abundant Japanese ingredients.

The afternoon tea set includes many sweets made with Matcha. For 90 minutes, Japanese tea including Matcha is available as free drinks, so you can thoroughly enjoy Matcha. When I visited, I savored the pairing of tea and sweets while gazing at the garden. This represents the essence of traditional Kissaten 2025 culture in Kanazawa.

Store Information:
Address: 2-27 Oyamacho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Wednesdays
Phone: 076-221-0305
Business Hours: 11:00-16:00
Official Website: https://ootomorou.co.jp/saryo

For Enjoying Kanazawa Gourmet, Getting Guided by Locals Who Know the Area Inside Out is Also Recommended

In Kanazawa, there are countless restaurants where you can enjoy various foods besides cafes. Therefore, especially when visiting for the first time, you might be confused about where to go.

For this reason, we recommend Magical Trip's local tours. English-speaking tour guides will take you to restaurants selected from a local perspective, so you can visit truly popular local establishments, including the best Kanazawa Cafe spots and traditional Kissaten 2025 experiences.

The tour meets at 18:00 in front of the clothing store "BEAMS" and visits three establishments over approximately 3.5 hours, including restaurants where you can savor Kanazawa's local cuisine and Japanese sake, and shops where you can enjoy Matcha and seasonal Japanese Traditional Sweets.

Since the price includes all food and drink costs in an all-in-one package, you can participate with peace of mind. You can spend time fully enjoying Kanazawa's food, including seasonal delicacies.

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