Kifune Kanazawa 2025: Complete Guide to Michelin 2-Star Restaurant + Best Kazuemachi District Experience

Kanazawa, blessed with abundant natural resources, is also characterized by its unique food culture that has taken root in the region.

This time, we will introduce "Kifune," a popular Japanese restaurant in Kanazawa, a city full of renowned establishments. We've also picked out local specialties unique to Kanazawa and other recommended restaurants. Please use this as a reference!

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Table of Contents
-For Ahentic Kanazawa Cuisine in a Historical Street, Kifune is Recommended!
-Three Reasons Why Kanazawa's Super Popular Restaurant "Kifune" Is So Beloved
-What kinds of dishes can you enjoy? Examples of seasonal menus explained
-3 photo spots in Kazuemachi Chaya District that I want visitors to Kifune to enjoy

In Kanazawa's Historical Tea Districts, You Can Enjoy Traditional and Local Cuisine

"Chaya-gai" refers to entertainment districts that flourished during the Edo period. These tea districts, which developed as adult social venues where people could enjoy geisha entertainment and drinking, have become one of Kanazawa's representative cultural features.

Kanazawa has three famous tea districts that preserve old traditions. Many establishments serve traditional local cuisine and authentic Japanese food, and the attractive point is that you can enjoy a different atmosphere in each tea district.

In Kanazawa, where natural blessings from the sea and mountains are abundant, a unique food culture has taken root since ancient times. When you visit Kanazawa, please savor the local Japanese cuisine in the tea districts full of Japanese charm.

For Ahentic Kanazawa Cuisine in a Historical Street, Kifune is Recommended!

"Kifune" is a popular Japanese restaurant located in Kazuemachi Chaya District. The establishment, renovated from an old private house that was actually used over 100 years ago, is filled with the atmosphere unique to Kanazawa.

The attractive point of the authentic Japanese cuisine course, which mainly uses ingredients from the Hokuriku region, is that you can feel the sense of the seasons. It operates on a complete reservation system, and you can leisurely enjoy your meal in a private room in the tatami dining area on the second floor.

Another pleasing point is that the pricing is reasonable compared to typical Japanese restaurants and the satisfaction level is high. The lunch course, which you can enjoy from 2,500 yen, is particularly popular even among locals.

Due to Its Popularity, Kifune Reservations Are Sometimes Fully Booked for More Than Six Months

Kifune, being a popular establishment, is known for being difficult to book, as it only accepts 4 groups per day for both lunch and dinner (breakfast is limited to Sunday only with 3 groups). Reservations open on the 1st of each month for the following month, so once your travel plans are set, make sure to book immediately.

If reservations for your desired date are fully booked, it's recommended to ask if you can be put on a cancellation waiting list. In that case, make sure to provide a phone number where you can definitely be reached in Japan, such as your mobile phone or the hotel where you'll be staying.

Kifune Overview and Access

Address: 1-9-69 Hikoso Machi, Kanazawa City
Access: Get off at "Hikoso ryokuchi" bus stop, 2-minute walk
Business Hours: Lunch 11:30-15:00 / Dinner 17:30-22:30 (Also open on Sundays 7:00-9:00)
Closed: Wednesdays
Phone Number: Inquiries 076-220-6131 / Reservations 050-5871-4856
Official Website: None

Three Reasons Why Kanazawa's Super Popular Restaurant "Kifune" Is So Beloved

Numerous Japanese Dishes Boasting Overwhelming Qualit

The biggest attraction of Kifune that I want to convey is, without a doubt, the high quality of the cuisine. The menu, carefully designed to bring out the quality of the ingredients, allows you to fully savor Kanazawa's fresh seafood and local vegetables.

In addition to sashimi, simmered dishes, and deep-fried items, the takikomi gohan (seasoned rice cooked in an earthenware pot with seasonal ingredients) is also popular. You can also taste luxury ingredients unique to each season, such as abalone and shirako (milt).

Each carefully prepared dish is beautifully arranged on special tableware, including the traditional craft "Kutani ware," so you can enjoy it visually as well.

The greatest appeal of Kifune is that while preserving tradition, you can taste unique and creative Japanese cuisine found nowhere else.

Refined Menu Using the Most Delicious Seasonal Ingredients Each Month

At Kifune, which renews its menu on the 15th of every month, another attractive point is that you can taste "Shun" ingredients. "Shun" refers to the time when a food ingredient is at its most delicious and nutritious, and it is a concept cherished in Japanese food culture.

From the seasonal menu created through repeated trial preparations, you can feel the owner's commitment and passion. No matter what season you visit, you will definitely be satisfied.

At Kifune, you can also enjoy dishes inspired by traditional seasonal events. My recommended point is that through the meals, you can experience Japan's beautiful four seasons, such as "Hina Matsuri" celebrating children's growth and "Tanabata" where wishes are offered to the stars.

A Diverse Alcohol Menu That Further Enhances the Cuisine

Tasting local sake together with regional cuisine is one of my travel pleasures. At Kifune, centered around Ishikawa Prefecture's local sake, there is a wide variety of Japanese sake that matches the exquisite Japanese cuisine. The sake that enhances the deliciousness of the food will make your precious time at Kifune even more wonderful.

Beer, wine, plum wine, shochu, and non-alcoholic drinks are also available. The refreshing yuzu sake mixed with soda is recommended even for those who don't usually drink much alcohol. Please be sure to ask the owner about which sake matches each dish.

What kinds of dishes can you enjoy? Examples of seasonal menus explained

Kobako-gani (Autumn)

Kobako-gani is a female snow crab also called the "Queen of Winter Delicacies." Fishing is opened in November and can only be eaten for a short period until it gets really cold. Although smaller in size compared to males, the packed meat, rich crab miso, and flavorful eggs are exquisite.

It's eaten in a style called "Kani-men" where the meat and eggs are packed into the shell, and also as an ingredient in hot pot dishes. Pasta combined with olive oil and tomatoes is also my recommendation.

Please try kobako-gani, which represents autumn and winter in Kanazawa.

Snow Crab Yuzu Bowl Sushi (Winter)

Yuzu is an ingredient often used as an accent in Japanese winter cuisine. When you visit Kanazawa in winter, why not try the cute-looking snow crab yuzu bowl sushi?

It's made by mixing yuzu juice, grated peel, snow crab meat, lotus root, etc. into vinegared rice and stuffing it into a hollowed-out yuzu vessel. The rich umami and sweetness of snow crab matches exquisitely with the refreshing yuzu flavor.

Please enjoy this collaboration unique to winter in Kanazawa - snow crab & yuzu!

Sea Bream Sasa Sushi (Spring)

"Sasa zushi," vinegared rice and ingredients wrapped in bamboo leaves, is a traditional Kanazawa local dish that has been eaten since ancient times. Bamboo leaves with high sterilizing effects are suitable for food preservation and have been treasured since long ago. The characteristic feature is that when you open the leaves, a refreshing bamboo fragrance spreads.

In spring, sea bream Sasa zushi becomes popular, and there's also a custom of eating it at spring events and celebrations. It's also made with Japanese halfbeak, which also reaches its Shun (most delicious period) in spring, and you can savor the refreshing and elegant taste of halfbeak.

Grilled Ayu with Salt (Summer)

My summer pleasure in Kanazawa is cold beer and grilled ayu with salt. Fresh ayu caught in Kanazawa's clear streams can be enjoyed whole. The crispy skin and tender & juicy meat, and the just-right bitterness of the internal organs called Wata are exquisite.

Ayu, whose flavor differs depending on the river environment where it grew, allows you to directly experience the sensation of eating nature's bounty.

Fresh ayu that reaches its Shun from early summer to summer is best recommended to be eaten simply grilled with salt.

When you come to Kanazawa, enjoy exquisite cuisine at shops loved by locals!

If you're unsure about choosing a restaurant in Kanazawa, which has many delicious restaurants, why not participate in a tour guided by a local guide?

On this tour, you can savor Authentic Japanese food incorporating Kanazawa specialties. With a guide, you can enjoy your meal with peace of mind even if you don't know Japanese dining etiquette.

After the meal, walk through the nighttime streets while listening to the guide's explanations, and head to a sake bar popular with locals. Please enjoy various tastes of sake in a tasting style!

<Information>
Meeting point: In front of the Korinbo Ramoda bldg.
Tour area: Restaurants in the Kanazawa area
Start time: 18:00

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3 photo spots in Kazuemachi Chaya District that I want visitors to Kifune to enjoy

Kazue Machi Chaya District, where you can feel a tranquil atmosphere, is one of my favorite spots in Kanazawa. Here, I'll introduce recommended photogenic places. Please try taking atmospheric photos!

Kyoka no Michi

"Kyoka no Michi" is a walking path at the foot of Asano River Bridge. It was named after the literary master "Kyoka Izumi (1873-1939)" who was born in Kanazawa.

The fantastical atmosphere reminiscent of Kyoka Izumi's writing style is a photogenic place that makes a picture wherever you capture it. It overflows with Kanazawa-like emotion, and you can relax just by walking leisurely.

It's a recommended spot for people who want to capture old-fashioned atmospheric paths in photos.

Izumi Kyoka Kinenkan Museum and the surrounding townscape

"Izumi Kyoka Kinenkan Museum" is built on the site of the house where Kyoka spent his childhood.

What's displayed inside the museum are all precious items, such as handwritten manuscripts and first editions of 300 works written from ages 19 to 65. There are also personal belongings that remain, and you can immerse yourself in the sensation of peeking into a page of Kyoka's life.

My recommended photo spot is the charming Japanese-style front garden. Please also view the bronze statues of Kyoka and his father.

Naka Bridge

Naka Bridge, which also appears in Kyoka Izumi's novel, is a bridge built in 1671 during the early Edo period. The appearance of the bridge with its wooden upper structure has an old-fashioned charm that blends into the teahouse district.

Being pedestrian-only is also an attractive point, allowing you to take photos leisurely. The view from the bridge offers seasonal delights such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

My recommendation is the evening hours onward when the area is lit up. You can capture nostalgic photos full of Kanazawa's unique atmosphere. The riverside ambiance here evokes the same serene beauty found in atmospheric areas like Kifune in Kanazawa's neighboring regions, making it a perfect spot for experiencing traditional Japanese elegance.

3 Famous Kanazawa Restaurants to Recommend to Tourists for Authentic Foodies

Komatsu Yasuke

Komatsu Yasuke is a sushi restaurant run by Kazuo Morita, considered a legend in the sushi world. The owner, who turned 94 in 2025, entered the world of sushi at the age of 15.

The squid, sliced to transparent thinness, has a chewy texture and allows you to savor its rich sweetness, earning it the title of "legendary squid." My favorites are the tuna carefully marinated in soy sauce and the sweet sea bream with the gently wafting aroma of kelp.

Be sure to enjoy the specialty "Hakusan," which features tuna, sea urchin, and grated yam over rice in a bowl.

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Address: 2-17-21 Honmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Chaya Annex 1F
Business Hours: 11:00- / 13:00- / 15:00-
Closed: Wednesday, Thursday
Phone Number: 076-231-1001
Official Website: None

Tsubajin

For authentic Japanese cuisine, I recommend "Tsubajin," Kanazawa's most historic restaurant.

At Tsubajin, you can savor local cuisine called "Kaga Ryori." Kaga Ryori is characterized by mainly using local ingredients and serving them in beautiful traditional craft dishes. You can enjoy a well-balanced selection of seafood, meat, and vegetables, including "Jibu-ni," a simmered dish of seasonal vegetables with refined seasoning.

Please enjoy the long-beloved flavors of this established restaurant in Kanazawa.

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Address: 5-1-8 Teramachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 7:00-11:00, 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00
Closed: Wednesday
Phone number: 076-241-2481
Official website: https://tsubajin.co.jp/

Tempura Koizumi

"Tempura Koizumi" stands in a residential area just off the bustling downtown district. Said to be number one in the Hokuriku region as a tempura specialty restaurant, it is loved by many fans.

Not only is the tempura featuring ingredients from the Hokuriku region excellent, but the appetizers are also superb and go perfectly with Japanese sake. I always look forward to the seasonal vegetable tempura, and the corn and zucchini I had when I visited in summer were unforgettably delicious.

The official website has an English-language reservation page, so please check it out.

<Information>
Address: 34 Ikedamachi 4-chome, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 12:00- / 18:00-
Closed: Sunday, Other irregular holidays
Phone Number: 076-223-0023
Official Website: https://tempura-koizumi.jp/

If You Come to "Kanazawa," a City Breathing with Japanese Tradition and History, Enjoy Exploring the Streets Too

Besides delicious cuisine, Kanazawa has many other attractions. To fully enjoy the streets filled with tradition and history at 100%, participating in a guided tour is recommended.

Standard sightseeing spots such as Omicho Market, Kenroku-en, and Kanazawa Castle become even more enjoyable with a guide's explanations!

You can also experience Kanazawa's unique food culture, including local cuisine lunch and matcha with Japanese sweets. Tours packed with attractions in a short time are also recommended for those with limited time.

<Information>
Meeting point: FamilyMart+Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store
Tour area: Omicho Market/Kanazawa Castle Park/Kenrokuen Garden, etc.
Start time: 10:00

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