Kourin Sushi Kanazawa Guide 2025: Best Traditional Family Sushi Restaurant Beloved by Locals

Kanazawa is a city in Ishikawa Prefecture, known as a place where you can experience Japan's history and traditional culture. It has a history of flourishing as one of Japan's leading cultural cities from the 17th to the 19th century, with many historical castles and buildings remaining throughout the city.

Kanazawa is also famous as a city with lots of delicious gourmet food. At the city's restaurants, you can enjoy delicate Japanese cuisine and local dishes using regional specialties, as well as delicious seafood.

This time, among the many excellent restaurants in Kanazawa, I will introduce sushi restaurants that use fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan.

I will explain about Kourin Sushi, which is very popular with tourists and is also recommended by the author, as well as some of Japan's top-class famous sushi restaurants in the city. If you want to eat exquisite sushi in Kanazawa, please use this article as a reference when choosing a restaurant.

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Table of Contents
-The Charm of Kourin Sushi, Loved by Locals
-The Author's Recommended Menu Items You Should Definitely Order at Kourin Sushi
-3 popular sushi restaurants in Kanazawa alongside Kourin Sushi
-Restaurants at Omicho Market where Kourin Sushi is located where you can enjoy exquisite seafood

Kanazawa - Enjoy Various Exquisite Gourmet Foods Including Fresh Seafood

Kanazawa is a treasure trove of gourmet food, including sushi made with fresh seafood, traditional Japanese cuisine, and local dishes.

Facing the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa is a place where abundant seafood is caught. In the waters near Kanazawa, a rich variety of fish gather due to the mixing of ocean currents and the rich salinity of the seawater.

Additionally, nutrient-rich water flows into the sea from mountains such as the famous Mount Hakusan, which helps the fish grow especially delicious. In Kanazawa, you can easily enjoy sushi made with this excellent seafood at sushi restaurants throughout the city.

Also, in Kanazawa, which values tradition, there are many historic Japanese restaurants where you can enjoy first-class Japanese cuisine. There is also an abundance of local dishes that have been loved by locals for a long time, such as Jibuni, a stew of chicken and Kanazawa vegetables, and Kanazawa Oden.

For Authentic Sushi at Reasonable Prices in Kanazawa, Kourin Sushi is Highly Recommended!

In the city of Kanazawa, where you can casually enjoy high-quality sushi, I highly recommend Kourin Sushi for those who want to eat authentic sushi at reasonable prices.

Kourin Sushi is a sushi restaurant located near Kanazawa Castle Park. Although it's small with 8 counter seats and 4 table seats, it's extremely popular with locals and tourists because you can eat authentic sushi made with fresh Kanazawa seafood at very reasonable prices.

It has an English menu and the staff can respond in English, so it's very popular with tourists from overseas, and the restaurant is almost always full.

It's also known for its friendly and kind service, and the restaurant has a casual and lively atmosphere. It's open for both lunch and dinner, and reservations are recommended for either time.

Kourin Sushi Overview and Access

Address: 79 Bakuromachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 11:30- 13:30/ 17:30- 21:30
Closed: Wednesdays and Sundays
Phone Number: 0762315964
Official Website: http://kourin1.com/
Access: 18 minutes walk from Kanazawa Station (East Exit)

The Charm of Kourin Sushi, Loved by Locals

Enjoy Authentic Sushi at Reasonable Prices

The greatest charm of Kourin Sushi is that it offers authentic sushi at surprisingly reasonable prices. For example, the 10-piece set sushi "Chef's choice sushi 10 pieces," where you can enjoy Kanazawa's delicious seafood all at once, is only 1,320 yen.

You can also eat seafood cheaply at the nearby Omicho Market, but it's surprisingly reasonable even compared to Omicho Market. As someone from Tokyo who is accustomed to eating sushi there, I was impressed that despite this low price, the seafood on the sushi is so large that it overflows from the rice.

The sushi made with fresh seafood is exquisite even at this low price, and it has a high-quality taste that will satisfy even sushi lovers.

Side Dishes Besides Sushi Are Also Excellent

At Kourin Sushi, one of the attractive points is that you can enjoy a wide variety of side dishes in addition to sushi. All of them are dishes that can be enjoyed as a light meal or together with alcohol.

The side dishes all use exquisite seafood. For example, Unagi Nuta (Eel with vinegar and miso) is a popular menu item using fresh eel without any fishy smell. The refreshing acidity of the vinegar makes it a perfect dish to eat together with sushi or alcohol.

The simmered dishes using Japanese babylon, which is seafood unique to Kanazawa, is also my favorite as you can taste its distinctive sweetness. There are many types of side dishes, and they change depending on the season. Try various dishes while asking the staff for recommendations.

Also, the miso soup that you can add for an extra 330 yen to your sushi set is exquisite, so please don't forget to order it.

The Author's Recommended Menu Items You Should Definitely Order at Kourin Sushi

Seasonal Limited Edition! Exquisite Sushi Using Seasonal Fish

When you visit Kourin Sushi, be sure to try the sushi made with seasonal fish available only during that season. Kourin Sushi offers many seasonal limited menus using seasonal seafood from the Sea of Japan.

"Shun" (seasonal) refers to the time of year when each ingredient is at its most delicious.

When I visited, it was winter, so I ate mackerel sushi, which is in season in Kanazawa during winter. The raw mackerel sushi was thick and had a taste that melted in my mouth. Also, Grilled mackerel sushi with its wonderful savory aroma is another recommended seasonal menu item.

If you don't know what to order, I recommend the restaurant's signature menu "Chef's choice sushi 10 pieces." With this menu, the chef carefully selects the most delicious seafood for each season and makes the sushi. Even within the same season, the seasonal items change slightly every day.

Carefully Selected Items! Sushi Using Specially Chosen Fish

You can also order sushi one piece at a time by choosing your preferred seafood. It's also recommended to order a set and then add more if you find seafood you like.

After eating the "Chef's choice sushi 10 pieces" sushi set, I ordered several additional types. For example, the sushi of Nodoguro, my favorite luxury fish, was an incredible bargain at 550 yen per piece, and I could fully enjoy its plump texture and the refined umami flavor with plenty of fat.

Another nice point was that each piece of sushi was small, so I could eat many different types. The restaurant staff can also respond in English. Both the chef and staff are very kind and will friendly tell you about seasonal seafood and recommendations.

Perfect with Alcohol! Kourin Sushi's Specialty Side Dishes

At Kourin Sushi, it's also recommended to enjoy alcohol together with a wide variety of side dishes. In Japan, snacks eaten together with alcohol are called Otsumami. The side dishes using delicious seafood that you can eat at Kourin Sushi, starting with Sashimi, are all perfect as Otsumami.

I particularly liked Grilled squid legs, which is a classic Otsumami, and Today's Carpaccio using seasonal seafood. Also, Nodoguro, the luxury fish I mentioned earlier, is a specialty of Kanazawa and can be eaten much cheaper than in other regions.

The Grilled Nodoguro with plenty of fat that you can eat at Kourin Sushi is well-seasoned with salt and goes perfectly with Kanazawa's local sake. Please enjoy it luxuriously together with sake.

Lunch is also recommended if you visit Kourin Sushi!

If you stop by Kourin Sushi, lunchtime is also recommended. At lunch, you can order an even more affordable menu item called "Ichihan" for 1,100 yen. This means a 1.5-person sushi set, which includes 9 pieces of sushi plus 6 pieces of rolled sushi, along with soup and pickles.

The sushi pieces are small, so if you want to eat until you're full, try adding a few side dishes. Since the restaurant is near Kanazawa Castle Park, it's also recommended to have lunch at Kourin Sushi and visit Kanazawa's famous attractions such as Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden together.

Lunchtime is particularly crowded, so reservations are essential. Phone reservations are required, so make arrangements such as asking the hotel front desk to make a reservation for you. Also, takeout is available, so you can purchase and eat at your hotel.

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

When you come to Kanazawa, which has many gourmet options, it's recommended to participate in a food tour where you can enjoy gourmet food with a local guide who knows the local food culture well.

On the Kanazawa Night Foodie Tour, after meeting up with a local guide, you'll be taken to three special recommended restaurants and bars in Kanazawa at night.

On this tour, you can thoroughly enjoy all the gourmet foods you must try in Kanazawa, such as seafood, Japanese cuisine, and Kanazawa Oden. Furthermore, at a sake specialty bar, you can try several types of local sake that Kanazawa is proud of.

Learn various knowledge from the guide and bar owner about Japanese sake that makes Japanese food and seafood even more delicious. When you arrive in Kanazawa, it's also recommended to participate in the tour first before exploring gourmet options on your own, and have them show you restaurants loved by locals.

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Meeting point: In front of the Korinbo Ramoda bldg./ 2-4-30 Korinbo, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Tour area: Kanazawa City
Start time: 18:00

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3 popular sushi restaurants in Kanazawa alongside Kourin Sushi

Komatsu Yasuke

Komatsu Yasuke is a famous sushi restaurant known for having Kazuo Morita, who is said to be one of Japan's best sushi chefs. It's completely reservation-only, and people even visit Kanazawa from far away just to eat sushi made by this legendary chef.

At Komatsu Yasuke, the seafood portions are large, and the tuna I ate was so big that I had never seen anything like it in Tokyo. The rich umami flavor of the tuna combined exquisitely with the vinegared rice with just the right acidity, creating an artistically delicious taste.

The specialty dish, rolled sushi with eel and cucumber, is also exquisite with its delicious crispy eel skin texture. Although I was very nervous before visiting because it's a high-end sushi restaurant, the atmosphere inside was lively and vibrant, and I was able to relax and enjoy the sushi.

If you want to visit a legendary sushi restaurant, why not try Komatsu Yasuke as a memorable part of your trip?

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Address: 2-17-21 Honmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 11:00- / 13:00- / 15:00-
Closed: Wednesdays, Thursdays
Phone Number: 0762311001
Official Website: None

Otome Sushi

Otome Sushi is also a famous sushi restaurant representing Kanazawa. It received two stars in the Michelin Guide Hokuriku 2021 and is so popular that sometimes people wait more than six months for a reservation.

At the restaurant, a course of sushi and side dishes using seafood chosen by the chef is served. At Otome Sushi's course, you can enjoy a variety of side dishes that are reputed to be exquisite, as well as the sushi of course.

For me, the side dish "Crab miso" using crab from Kanazawa was unbelievably delicious. I enjoyed the rich, sweet crab eaten together with wild vegetables and crab miso.

Despite being a first-class restaurant, it's very accessible in terms of price compared to high-end sushi restaurants in Tokyo. If you want to experience high-class sushi once, why not try making a reservation?

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Address: 4-10 Kikuramachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 12:00 - 14:00 / 17:00 - 22:00
Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, holidays
Phone Number: 0762317447 (Reservations by phone only)
Official Website: None

Sushi Kibatani

Sushi Kibatani is a renowned sushi restaurant in an area lined with old Geisha Houses. The Sushi Kibatani restaurant is also a traditional house-style building with beautiful lattice decorations. It was selected for one Michelin star in 2021.

At Sushi Kibatani, you can enjoy gourmet food from the area called Hokuriku, which includes Kanazawa and neighboring areas. They use Kanazawa-produced items down to the rice, salt, and soy sauce, and abundantly use seafood caught in Kanazawa and Toyama Bay, which is very close to Kanazawa.

For example, the bonito I ate was procured by the owner who went around Toyama's fishing ports early in the morning, and it was juicy and fatty with a deliciousness that could rival tuna. If you want to eat exquisite sushi with a focus on origin, be sure to try Sushi Kibatani.

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Address: 1-8-26 Hikosomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 17:00 - 22:00
Closed: Sundays, holidays
Phone Number: 05058708418
Official Website: https://kibatani.com/

Restaurants at Omicho Market where Kourin Sushi is located where you can enjoy exquisite seafood

Kaisendon Yutaka Suisan

Kaisendon Yutaka Suisan is a restaurant located in Omicho Market, a famous market in the center of Kanazawa. It is one of the earliest shops to open in Omicho Market at 7:00 AM, and is always bustling with people enjoying exquisite seafood bowls for breakfast.

The most popular menu item at Kaisendon Yutaka Suisan is a seafood bowl called "Yutaka saikyo donburi". This menu item is a gorgeous bowl topped generously with 15 types of premium seafood including nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), uni (sea urchin), crab, and ikura (salmon roe).

The seafood bowls at Kaisendon Yutaka, made by trained sushi chefs, are characterized not only by the luxuriousness of the seafood but also by the exquisite balance with the rice and delicate deliciousness.

If you want to eat a memorable luxurious seafood bowl or are looking for a place to eat breakfast, definitely try Kaisendon Yutaka Suisan.

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Address: 31 Jikkenmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (inside Omicho Market)
Business hours: 7:00 - 15:00
Regular holiday: Wednesday
Phone number: 09032930032
Official website: https://yutaka-oumicho.com/

Mori Mori Sushi Omicho

Mori Mori Sushi is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant with locations throughout Ishikawa Prefecture, where Kanazawa is located. Mori Mori Sushi is known for serving high-quality seafood sushi that doesn't seem like typical conveyor belt sushi.

The Omicho store is a popular location among Mori Mori Sushi's stores where you can eat sushi made with the freshest seafood gathered at Omicho Market.

The large fatty nodoguro I ate when I visited, as well as the toro and sawara, all the seafood was fresh enough to feel its freshness, and the taste was unquestionably high quality.

At the restaurant, you can order from touch panels at each seat. The English text and photos make ordering very easy, which is a nice point. The atmosphere allows even children to relax and enjoy their meal, so it is also recommended for families.

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Address: 88 Aokusacho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 8:00 - 16:00
Regular holiday: Irregular
Phone number: 0762627477
Official website: https://ohmicho-ichiba.com/gourmet/shop73401/ (Omicho Market official page)

If you come to "Kanazawa", a city where Japanese tradition and history live on, enjoy exploring the city too

Kanazawa is a city where Japanese traditional culture and history live on. If you visit Kanazawa, definitely try participating in a tour where you can explore Kanazawa City with a local guide who knows the city well.

The Kanazawa Half-day Historical Walking Tour explores Kanazawa's main spots over 5.5 hours, including Omicho Market introduced today, as well as Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park.

On this tour, you can not only visit tourist spots but also have various experiences where you can feel Kanazawa's food culture. At the Japanese sweets museum, you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets and matcha tea that are loved in Kanazawa.

Also, for lunch, try Jibuni, a chicken dish that is representative of Kanazawa's local food.

This is a walking tour recommended not only for those interested in the city's history and main tourist spots, but also for those interested in gourmet food.

<Information>
Meeting point: FamilyMart+Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store/ 35-1 Shimotsutsumicho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Tour area: Kanazawa City
Start time: 10:00

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