It may seem strange that we tell our guests visiting or staying in Kanazawa to make sure they visit Kanazawa Station. A train station isn’t usually a place you’d think to go sightseeing or plan to spend a few hours unless you’re waiting for a train, but Kanazawa Station is so much more than a transport hub.

And no matter if you’re just passing through or doing a little sightseeing, the Kanazawa Station area is a great place to sample the local cuisine here in Kanazawa city. We’ve rounded up our top 7 picks of lunch spots to stop by while in and around the station.

Kanazawa Station first opened in 1898, but don’t expect to see a shabby historic building. After a thorough renovation in 2005, Kanazawa Station is a prime example of contemporary Japanese architecture that combines traditional styles with ultra-modern ones. It’s an awe-inspiring contrast that has to be seen to be appreciated.

Two of Kanazawa Station’s most outstanding features are the Tsuzumi-mon Gate and the Motenashi Dome. The Tsuzumi-mon Gate dominates the east entrance to the station and its design is based on a traditional Japanese drum called the tsuzumi. Walk under the fourteen meter high wooden gate and you’ll be in a spacious plaza with a water garden that’s covered by the Motenashi Dome, which translates to the Hospitality Dome in Japanese. The dome, as well as being a decorative aluminum-framed construction that contains over three thousand panes of glass, also provides visitors with shelter from inclement weather.

The station has one main concourse and it’s there you’ll find the entrances to Kanazawa Station’s three shopping malls. Yes, you read that correctly. There are three malls in the station, the Anto, the Rinto and the Kutsurogikan. If shopping for souvenirs is on your list of things to do in Kanazawa ,then Kanazawa Station is the place to do it. There are also many places to eat in the station, but don’t let that keep you from exploring! You’ll find many delicious restaurants just a few minutes walk from the station as well! 

You won’t even have time to walk up an appetite if you choose Komachi as your lunch restaurant when you visit Kanazawa Station. Komachi is on Konohana Street which is less than a five minute stroll away. At Komachi they serve two gourmet specialities, “omuraisu” and parfait, that are a must-try while visiting Kanazawa city.

Omuraisu, or omelet rice, isn’t just your regular run-of-the-mill dish. It’s a  unique award-winning dish created by the Komachi chef you won’t find anywhere else. We also can’t resist ordering their show stopping parfait desserts that we go back for time and time again. When you want something sweet or a special treat, Komachi’s parfaits are perfect.

Who doesn’t love a bowl of ramen for lunch? We certainly can’t pass up a steaming bowl when offered! Especially if its a bowl from Hachiban Ramen, often considered the soul food of Ishikawa prefecture residents.

Hachiban Ramen is located on Flavor Lane, the food hall corridor of the Anto Shopping Mall, making it easy to access from the main Kanazawa Station area. It’s a popular stop for tourists, but you’ll often find a line of locals queued up as they can’t resist the aroma of the ramen served here.

The ramen noodles here are extra special as they’re made using water from the springs on sacred Mount Hakusan. The noodles come in four flavors, miso, salt, tonkotsu and butter, and can be topped with vegetables or meat of your choice. If you need an energy boost to help get you through an afternoon of shopping or sightseeing then Hachiban Ramen is the ideal place for a quick, but fortifying lunch.

If you’re tight on time and looking for something to-go while in Kanazawa Station, then be sure to stop by Suzume. Suzume is a store that offers not only a huge range of sweet and savory rice-based snacks, but healthy bento boxes too. They’re a great take-out option, which you can enjoy on the train, at a park, or back at your accommodation.

The rice used in the products offered by Suzume is grown in fields on the slopes of Mount Hakusan.  The top quality rice harvested here is perfect for the various rice treats found here. From rice cakes to crunchy rice snacks, you’re find everything from sweet to salty. They also make a great souvenir, for friends and family or even for yourself! They are so delectable, you’ll probably want to take several packets home with you.

When you want a next level kaisen don lunch at Kanazawa Station then you should stop by Uogashi Syokudo. Uogashi Syokudo is located in the Rinto shopping mall and specializes in fresh and local Japanese seafood. It’s where we go when we want to have a good lunch that’s also healthy and tastes wonderful. As a bonus, the prices are extremely reasonable here.

At Uogashi Syokudo, they have a fair priced set menu which includes one of our favorite dishes. If you’re wondering what to order, try the “kamameshi”, which is seafood and rice steamed in a black iron pot. If you want to enjoy your seafood raw, then try the sashimi bowl here. They even offer tempura for the tempura fans! You’ll be delighted with whichever menu item you choose.

When you want to delve into what the cuisine of Kanazawa is all about, be sure to check out Kuroyuri. Kuroyuri is an eatery in the Anton shopping mall’s Flavor Lane that truly knows how to dish up Kanazawa Oden. It’s not just a favorite for visitors! When local Kanazawa residents queue up for a bite,  then you know it has to be good!

The oden broth, they’ve been serving at Kuroyuri for over seventy years is a Kanazawa wintertime favorite. Oden, a type of nabe hotpot dish popular throughout Japan, is perfect to warm up. And don’t think about going home and trying to replicate what you get served here. The secret stock they use has been developed over generations. Take our advice and enjoy the real thing while in Kanazawa Station, you won’t regret it.