TILE Kanazawa: Secret Passcode Seafood Bowl Restaurant in 110-Year-Old Townhouse Near Station
Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading cultural cities with many traditional and historic buildings still standing. It flourished as a castle town during the Edo period (1600-1868), and you can still feel traces of that era throughout the city today.
Blessed with abundant nature including the sea and mountains, one of Kanazawa's distinguishing features is its local cuisine that makes use of its unique food culture.
This time, we'll thoroughly introduce the charm of TILE Kanazawa, a restaurant where you can enjoy Kanazawa's fresh seafood in a new style. Please use this as a reference!
Table of Contents
-Why is it Popular? 4 Attractions of TILE Kanazawa That are the Talk Among Tourists
-"Shojin Don" (Vegetarian Bowl) is also available for vegetarians and those who don't prefer seafood
-"Coil," where you can create your own original hand-rolled sushi, is also recommended!
-Four Spots I Recommend for Seafood Lovers
Kanazawa Offers Various Exquisite Gourmet Foods, Starting with Fresh Seafood
In Kanazawa, you can taste various types of seafood throughout the year. This is because the Sea of Japan, where cold and warm currents intersect, provides an environment blessed with conditions where fish with different characteristics can easily thrive regardless of the season.
Whether you visit in summer for rock oysters, autumn for Nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), or winter for crab, you can enjoy fresh seafood in any season.
One of Kanazawa's attractions is also the abundance of ingredients other than seafood, such as vegetables and mountain vegetables. There are many local dishes you can only taste here, such as simmered dishes that warm the body in cold winter, and beautiful celebratory meals served in traditional craft dishes.
When you visit Kanazawa, please enjoy gourmet food made with plenty of local ingredients!
TILE Kanazawa is Recommended for Enjoying Exquisite Seafood in Kanazawa!
My favorite restaurant that I always visit in Kanazawa is TILE Kanazawa, a restaurant specializing in Kaisen Don. "Kaisen Don" is a style where you eat various seafood placed on top of rice served in a bowl, and it has become a popular way of eating alongside sushi.
TILE Kanazawa is recommended for people like this:
- Want to fully enjoy Kanazawa's seafood
- Want to enjoy it in a unique style unlike anywhere else
- Want to eat various types of seafood little by little
- Want to customize to your own preference
- Are vegetarian but want to enjoy the Kaisen Don style
I'll explain each attraction in detail later, so please check them out.
Overview and Access to TILE Kanazawa
Address: 4-18 Konohana-cho, Kanazawa City
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit
Business Hours: 11:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:00) / 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Closed: Irregular holidays
Phone Number: 076-255-2802
Official Website: https://tile-japan.jp/
Why is it Popular? 4 Attractions of TILE Kanazawa That are the Talk Among Tourists
Exquisite Seafood that is Fresh and Full of Umami with Every Bite
Source:Tabelog
The greatest attraction of TILE Kanazawa is, of course, that you can fully enjoy fresh, exquisite seafood.
In Japanese cuisine, the period called "Shun" when ingredients are most delicious and nutritious is valued. The "Shun" seafood you can taste at TILE Kanazawa has strong natural sweetness and texture of the ingredients, and you can feel the umami with every bite.
Some are prepared with cooking methods that bring out even more deliciousness, such as being cured with kelp or being fragrantly seared. Depending on the season, you can also choose Kanazawa's unique seafood that are considered luxury fish, such as Nodoguro and fugu (pufferfish), which is an attractive point.
Unique Style Where You Can Choose and Top with Countless Sushi Toppings Yourself
Source:Official website
The second attraction of TILE Kanazawa is that you can choose what you like from about 30 varieties of abundant seafood.
Types of toppings you can choose (examples):
- Tuna
- Nodoguro
- Yellowtail
- Salmon
- Sweet shrimp
- Snow crab
- Salmon roe
- Eel
- Yam Tororo
- Roast beef
- Duck confit
In addition to fresh seafood, it's also a nice point that you can choose meat options like roast beef and duck. The number of toppings you can choose differs depending on the set price.
My recommendation is to combine several types of seafood with grated yam called "Tororo" and a pickle called "Matsumae Zuke". Please give it a try!
The Fun of Freely Arranging Ingredients and Condiments to Create Your Original Kaisen Don
Source:Official website
The stylish appearance of arranging ingredients in glass bowls is also one of the attractions of TILE Kanazawa's Kaisen Don. Please arrange your favorite ingredients as you like and enjoy your one-of-a-kind Kaisen Don in the world!
For vinegared rice, in addition to the normal type with a refreshing taste, you can also choose a type using "red vinegar" with a mellow richness.
My favorite point is that there is a wide variety of seasonings, such as dashi soy sauce and citrus-flavored sauce. You can enjoy ways of eating that you can only experience here, such as eating while gradually changing the flavor. I recommend leaving just a little rice and finishing by pouring soup fragrant with bonito flakes over it at the end.
A Sophisticated Space That Makes the Food Even More Delicious, Renovated from a 110-Year-Old Townhouse
Source:Official website
What cannot be left out when talking about the charm of TILE Kanazawa is its stylish exterior and interior. A 110-year-old townhouse has been renovated, creating a unique atmosphere where traditional colors and modern architectural style are fused. The clean space with nothing unnecessary further enhances the deliciousness of the food.
It's also a unique point that you need a 4-digit passcode to enter the restaurant. The passcode can be easily obtained from the restaurant's official website, but you can experience a special feeling that you can't experience at other restaurants.
Please enjoy the extraordinary worldview unique to TILE Kanazawa!
"Shojin Don" (Vegetarian Bowl) is also available for vegetarians and those who don't prefer seafood
Source:Official website
At TILE Kanazawa, there's also a "SHOJIN Bowl" that doesn't use seafood, so vegetarians and those who aren't fond of seafood can enjoy it with peace of mind.
"SHOJIN## "Shojin Don" (Vegetarian Bowl) is also available for vegetarians and those who don't prefer seafood" is a Buddhist concept of disciplining the spirit by focusing on vegetable-centered meals and simple foods, abstaining from meat and gourmet foods. Dishes using plant-based foods other than meat and seafood are called "SHOJIN cuisine." Originally it was the meal of training monks, but in recent years, more people prefer to eat it for health reasons.
It is characterized by using vegetables, grains, seaweed, beans, etc., and not using strongly scented vegetables much.
Vegetarian Bowl
The SHOJIN Bowl at TILE Kanazawa, just like the regular Kaisen Don, lets you enjoy the style of arranging ingredients yourself on top of rice.
SHOJIN Bowl ¥3,300 (as of October 19, 2025)
Ingredients:
- Paprika
- Takuan (pickled radish)
- Mixed beans
- Oboro kombu (shaved kelp)
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Myoga (Japanese ginger)
Six types of colorful vegetables and flavorful ingredients are lined up. The ability to enjoy various textures is also an attractive point. Try adding plenty of home-grown condiment vegetables and arranging them colorfully.
Special Vegetarian Bowl
Source:Official website
The Special SHOJIN Bowl also lets you enjoy 6 types of ingredients, just like the normal SHOJIN Bowl. The contents are slightly different, so please choose according to your preference.
Special SHOJIN Bowl ¥3,800 (as of October 19, 2025)
Ingredients:
- Avocado
- Paprika
- Vegan egg
- Grilled eggplant
- Chili con carne
- Grilled pearl onions
In addition to vegetables, being able to taste vegan egg and legumes is a delightful point of the Special SHOJIN Bowl.
When you come to Kanazawa, enjoy exquisite cuisine at restaurants loved by locals!
In Kanazawa, which has many delicious restaurants, joining a guided tour is also recommended. A guide who knows the local area inside and out will take you to three special restaurants.
At traditional Japanese restaurants, take your time savoring Kanazawa's local cuisine. Japanese dining manners, which may feel a bit difficult for beginners, are carefully explained by the guide, so you can enjoy your meal with peace of mind.
"Kanazawa Oden," a hot pot dish with local ingredients slowly simmered, is perfect for the cold season. Enjoy a sake tasting experience where you can savor a wide variety of delicious local Japanese sake, as well as Japanese confectionery desserts!
<Information>
Meeting point: In front of the Korinbo Ramoda bldg.
Tour area: Restaurants in the Kanazawa area
Start time: 18:00
"Coil," where you can create your own original hand-rolled sushi, is also recommended!
Source:Official website
If you want a further hands-on experience, why not visit "Coil" where you can customize hand-rolled sushi? "Temaki-zushi" is a style of sushi where you arrange your favorite ingredients on vinegared rice spread over nori (seaweed) and roll it into a roll shape to eat. It's a popular way of eating not only as everyday home cooking but also at home parties.
Of course, fresh seafood such as tuna, salmon roe, and crab are available, but Western-style ingredients such as roast beef and Camembert cheese are also lined up. The fact that all sets come with tempura is also a delightful point.
If you want to experience Japanese food culture in a fun way, please visit!
<Information>
Address: 2F Kanazawa Hakomachi, 1-1 Fukuromachi, Kanazawa City
Business hours: 11:00-21:30 (L.O. 20:30, may vary by store)
Regular holiday: Irregular holidays
Phone number: 076-256-5076
Official website: https://coil-japan.jp/
Four Spots I Recommend for Seafood Lovers
Omicho Market
Among the abundant fresh seafood in Kanazawa, I particularly recommend "Omicho Market." Known as "Kanazawa's kitchen for the citizens," this market has a history of over 300 years.
Within the vast grounds, approximately 170 shops line up, and the attractive point is the rich lineup including seafood, vegetables, fruits, meat, sweets, flowers, and clothing. While asking friendly shop staff for recommendations, please enjoy the shun (most delicious seasonal) gourmet food.
Homemade delicacies unique to Kanazawa, such as oyster fry and crab rice, are also exquisite!
<Information>
Address: 50 Kami-Omicho, Kanazawa City
Business Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (may vary by store)
Closed: Varies by store
Phone Number: 076-231-1462
Official Website: https://ohmicho-ichiba.com/
Otome Sushi
Source:Tabelog
When it comes to representative sushi restaurants in Kanazawa, "Otome Sushi" is also famous. The sushi at this renowned restaurant, which has earned two Michelin stars, is particular about careful preparation that brings out the quality of the ingredients.
The nigiri sushi made primarily with local Kanazawa seafood has fluffy rice that melts in your mouth as one of its charms. You can also encounter rare Kanazawa ingredients that are hard to find elsewhere, such as manjyu-gai (surf clam) and gas ebi (spot prawn).
This restaurant, popular not only with tourists but also with locals, has become increasingly difficult to book in recent years. If you'd like to visit, I recommend making a reservation as soon as your itinerary is decided!
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Address: 4-10 Kiguramachi, Kanazawa City
Business Hours: 12:00 - Last entry 13:30 / 17:00 - Last entry 19:00
Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, and holidays
Phone Number: 076-231-7447
Official Website: https://kiguramachi.com/shop/237/
Komatsu Yasuke
Source:Tabelog
You can savor the taste of a sushi chef called a legend at the long-established sushi restaurant "Komatsu Yasuke." At this sushi restaurant run by owner Kazuo Morita, who is 94 years old as of 2025, you can taste exquisite seafood from authentic nigiri sushi to original dishes full of originality.
My recommendation is the squid cut so thinly by skilled technique that it's translucent. You can feel the chewy texture and the rich sweetness of fresh squid.
The signature dish "Hakusan," which consists of rice topped with tuna and sea urchin with grated yam "tororo" poured over it, is also recommended!
<Information>
Address: 2-17-21 Honmachi, Kanazawa City, Kanazawa Chaya Annex 1F
Business Hours: 11:00-/ 13:00-/15:00- (complete reservation turnover system)
Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Phone Number: 076-231-1001
Official Website: None
Sushi Kibatani
Source:Tabelog
If you want to enjoy delicious Japanese sake and sushi, I also recommend "Sushi Kibatani." Located in an area called a fierce battleground for sushi, Kibatani carefully selects and sources seafood from the Hokuriku region every morning.
The attractive point is that they are particular about Kanazawa products not only for sushi toppings but also for soy sauce, salt, rice, and other ingredients, and you can feel the owner's care and commitment in every dish you eat.
The exquisite sushi enjoyed with local famous sake will become an unforgettable memory of your Kanazawa trip. If you want to enjoy fresh seafood unique to Kanazawa in a relaxed space, please visit!
<Information>
Address: 1-8-26 Hikosanmachi, Kanazawa City
Business Hours: 17:00 - 21:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 076-256-1218
Official Website: None
If You Come to Kanazawa, a City Where Japanese Tradition and History Live, Enjoy Exploring the City Too
If you want to enjoy Kanazawa 100%, including gourmet food, shopping, and exploring the city, why not participate in this tour? It's a popular tour where you can visit must-see tourist spots in about half a day. After your tour, consider staying at TILE Kanazawa, which offers convenient access to all these wonderful attractions and serves as an excellent base for exploring the city's culinary scene.
My recommended points:
- Tasting & shopping at Omicho Market, "Kanazawa's kitchen"
- Strolling through Kenroku-en garden where you can enjoy seasonal scenery with a guide's explanation
- Authentic local cuisine lunch at Kenroku-en
- Visiting the "Japanese Sweets Museum" where you can deeply learn about the world of wagashi
- Enjoying delicious matcha and wagashi
Please check out this tour packed with the charms of Kanazawa! Whether you're staying near TILE Kanazawa or exploring from another location, these experiences will make your visit unforgettable.
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Meeting point: FamilyMart+Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store
Tour Area: Omicho Market/Kanazawa Castle Park/Kenroku-en Garden, etc.
Start Time: 10:00
