Ishikawa Prefecture is home to many tourist attractions, such as the Noto Peninsula, Kanazawa, and Kenrokuen Garden. Various souvenirs are available, including seafood from the Sea of Japan, Japanese sweets, Kanazawa curry, and traditional Ishikawa crafts.

Here, we introduce our recommendations for Ishikawa souvenirs. We've compiled a wide selection, from classic souvenirs to famous confections, foods, local sake, and charming sundries, so please use this as a reference.

 

What are the must-buy souvenirs in Ishikawa Prefecture?

If you're looking for souvenirs in Ishikawa Prefecture, start by checking out Japanese sweets. Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture is famous as one of "Japan's Three Great Wagashi (Japanese Confectionery) Producing Regions," alongside Kyoto and Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture. It ranks among the top three regions for the number of wagashi shops per capita.

This tradition began with Toshiie Maeda, the first lord of the Kaga Domain, and Toshinaga, the second lord, who were direct disciples of Sen no Rikyu. Wagashi shops were established in the castle town to serve the domain, and they presented wagashi to the lords. Even today, many wagashi shops line the streets, so choosing a wagashi unique to Ishikawa Prefecture is highly recommended.

If you prefer non-food souvenirs, "Kutani ware," a traditional craft Ishikawa Prefecture boasts, is also perfect. Many colorful items are available to adorn your dining table. Ishikawa Prefecture is also a thriving producer of gold leaf, with most of the gold leaf distributed in Japan being made in Kanazawa. If you're looking for luxurious-looking souvenirs, try to find products that use gold leaf.

Ishikawa Souvenir Ranking: Famous, Popular, and Well-Known

1st Place: FIX Le Cotentin Kanazawa Kin-tsuba Biscuits

This Ishikawa souvenir was born from the encounter of kintsuba (Japanese confectionery) and butter. By combining Japanese and Western elements, it offers a novel flavor. It features French butter, specifically fermented butter made in Isigny, Normandy. Its rich and aromatic taste is a highlight.

It comes in plain and matcha flavors, with assorted packs of both also available. The shelf life is about 2-3 weeks. This is recommended for those who want to choose a unique Ishikawa confection as a souvenir.

2nd Place: Murakami Seikajo Rich and Smooth Chocolate Yokan

This Ishikawa yokan offers a texture similar to raw chocolate. It is characterized by its rich flavor. This product is made by an Ishikawa traditional confectionery shop that has been in business since 1911. It comes in three flavors: bitter chocolate, matcha, and Kaga Bocha.

Available in quantities from 1 piece to 16 pieces. The wide range of options, from single items to assortments, is also appealing. Since there are several direct stores in Kanazawa City, be sure to stop by when exploring Ishikawa.

3rd Place: Nakadaya Kintsuba

This Japanese confection, made with adzuki beans and agar, is recommended as an Ishikawa souvenir. It features a glossy tsubuan (sweet red bean paste) that is clearly visible when cut in half. Large-grained Dainagon adzuki beans are carefully cooked by artisans over time to prevent them from losing their shape.

The Dainagon adzuki beans are high-quality ones diligently cultivated by contract farmers in Hokkaido. They are rich in sugar and have a strong flavor, and they are also resistant to breaking down during cooking. Additionally, the agar used is Yamaoka agar from Mino, known for its strong viscosity and excellent water retention.

The charm lies in the thin baked skin and the moist, integrated bean paste. The hint of salt that further enhances the smooth sweetness is also a key point. The shelf life is 10-14 days from the date of manufacture when stored at room temperature. This is recommended for those who want to choose a kintsuba made with Dainagon adzuki beans as an Ishikawa souvenir.

4th Place: Wagashi Murakami Fukusamochi

This Japanese confection, where mochi and an (bean paste) are wrapped in baked skin, is recommended as an Ishikawa souvenir. There are two flavors. The "Kokuto Fukusamochi" is a confection where gyuhi mochi and homemade koshi-an (smooth bean paste) are wrapped in a brown sugar-infused baked skin, offering a chewy, smooth, and fluffy texture.

The "Kaga Bocha Chocolat Fukusamochi" features gyuhi mochi coated with a Kaga Bocha-flavored dough. The fragrant and rich flavor of Kaga Bocha harmonizes with the sweetness of chocolate. The shelf life is 10 days from the date of manufacture. This is recommended for those who want to choose fukusamochi as an Ishikawa souvenir.

5th Place: Kanazawa Ukokkei no Sato Ukokkei Castella

This Ishikawa souvenir uses eggs from "Tenrai Ukokkei" (heavenly silk fowl). It uses rare eggs from silk fowl raised in a strictly managed environment in Ishikawa, as silk fowl do not lay many eggs throughout the year. The characteristic is that the sweetness is suppressed, and it is finished fluffy and fragrant, utilizing the flavor and richness of the eggs. You can enjoy a silky fine texture and a rich egg flavor.

The shelf life is 30 days from the date of manufacture when stored at room temperature. This is recommended for those who want to choose a castella made with silk fowl eggs as an Ishikawa souvenir.

Ishikawa Souvenir Ranking: Confections and Sweets

1st Place: Tsutsumi Sayaka Shizuku

This Ishikawa souvenir is a charming Japanese confection shaped like an umbrella. It's designed to resemble a Japanese parasol. Not only does it prioritize deliciousness, but it's also made with the goal of being a confection that can be enjoyed by touch and sight.

The "Kiichigo (Raspberry) Yuzu Orange" flavor received the Special Jury Excellence Award at the 60th National Recommended Tourist Souvenir Examination, and the "Shio Soda (Salt Soda) Grape" flavor received the National Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry Chairman's Award. Furthermore, the "Small Kiichigo (Raspberry) Yuzu Orange" received the Japan Shopping District Federation President's Award at the 61st National Recommended Tourist Souvenir Examination in fiscal year 2020.

The flavor combinations are "Kiichigo (Raspberry) Yuzu Orange," "Shio Soda (Salt Soda) Grape," and "Shio Soda (Salt Soda) Kiichigo (Raspberry) Yuzu Orange." This is recommended for those who want to bring home an elegant confection from Ishikawa.

This is a rabbit-shaped Japanese confectionery souvenir. It is a steamed bun made with bean paste from Ishikawa and Kanazawa's specialties, wrapped in a soft and chewy dough. This Ishikawa and Kanazawa famous confection offers the cute appearance of small rabbits and an elegant taste.

There are five flavors. "Gorojima Kintoki" uses sweet potatoes from Kanazawa, and "Noto Dainagon" uses Dainagon adzuki beans grown in the mountains and seas of Noto. "Bocha" uses tea familiar in Ishikawa, and its fragrant and rich aroma spreads in your mouth.

"Noto Pumpkin" is a flavor that allows you to feel the delicious natural sweetness. "Ishikawa Yuzu" offers a rich aroma and flavor. The shelf life is approximately 20 days from the arrival date. This is recommended for those who want to choose a cute-looking Japanese confection as an Ishikawa souvenir.

3rd Place: Hakuichi Kanazawa Hakugashi Gold Leaf Gateau Chocolat

 

This Ishikawa souvenir is a gateau chocolat topped with gold leaf. It is made with over 40% chocolate from Ghana cocoa, which has a rich flavor. Each gateau chocolat is carefully baked by a pastry chef and topped with gold leaf.

It is a rich and moist confection that is luxurious in both appearance and taste. Each piece is individually wrapped, so you can take it whenever you want to eat it or share it with friends. No preservatives are used. The shelf life is 90 days from the date of manufacture when stored at room temperature. This is recommended for those who want to choose a Western confection using gold leaf as an Ishikawa souvenir.

Ishikawa Souvenir Ranking: Non-Confectionery (Dishes, Snacks, Rice Accompaniments)

1st Place: Champion Curry Retort Champion Curry Retort Mild

This is a retort pouch of "Champion Curry," the soul food of Ishikawa, heralded as the original Kanazawa curry. You can enjoy its rich, smooth texture that is addictive once you try it.

It is characterized by an appropriate spiciness and a deliciousness that creates richness. To create its secret flavor, the manufacturer independently developed and produced its own roux. The fact that it can be stored for two years from the date of manufacture is also a plus. It's convenient for taking home as a souvenir or giving to someone without worrying. Check this out for a curry lover's souvenir from Ishikawa.

2nd Place: Kaga-fu Fumuroya Fu and Yuba An-kake

This Ishikawa souvenir is a side dish from a specialty store of Kaga-fu. It primarily features the store's proud yakifu (baked gluten cake), generously augmented with yuba (tofu skin), shiitake mushrooms, spinach, and more. It contains three types of fu with different textures.

The an-kake (thick sauce) allows you to savor the umami of the dashi (broth). It can be eaten with just one pot. It is recommended to eat it as a side dish as is, or to put it on rice as an an-kake donburi.

The capacity is for approximately 2 servings. The shelf life is 90 days from manufacture. If you want a souvenir using Ishikawa's unique ingredients, be sure to check this out.

3rd Place: Hokuchin Ishikawa Prefecture Noto Wajima Produced Dried Fresh Fish Nodoguro

This Ishikawa souvenir is Nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) dried overnight. Its Japanese name is "akamutsu," and it's called nodoguro because its throat is black. It's a white fish famous for its elegant taste on the Japan Sea side. It's rich in fat but not greasy, and has a rich yet clean taste.

It features clear eyes, beautiful skin, and fins. This product is dried overnight while maintaining its freshness. After being landed at Wajima Port, it is processed immediately. It is seasoned with Noto's "Ishiri," one of Japan's three great fish sauces, and then frozen in a vacuum pack.

Enjoy the flaky and juicy flesh of Nodoguro as an accompaniment to freshly cooked rice or in ochazuke (rice with tea). The content is 140-180g per fish. The shelf life is 60 days when frozen. This is recommended for those who want to choose overnight-dried Nodoguro as an Ishikawa souvenir.

4th Place: Hachiban 8-ban Ramen Soy Sauce

This Ishikawa souvenir is a reproduction of the taste of "8-ban Ramen." Named after its first store opened on National Route 8, 8-ban Ramen is a ramen chain with over 100 locations in Hokuriku. Its "Vegetable Ramen," available in various flavors, is even called the soul food of Hokuriku.

While it doesn't come with vegetables, it reproduces the classic taste of 8-ban Ramen. The noodles, made by kneading wheat flour with subsoil water flowing from the Hakusan mountain range and then aging it, are characterized by their unique chewiness. They feature thick, curly noodles that have just the right texture to be eaten with vegetables and perfectly entwine with the soup.

The soy sauce flavor allows you to richly experience the umami of soy sauce and the aroma of aromatic vegetables, mainly ginger. The noodles weigh 120g, and the shelf life is about 45 days at room temperature. This is recommended for those who want to choose Hokuriku's soul food as an Ishikawa souvenir.

Ishikawa Souvenir Ranking: Drinks (Sake, Juice)

1st Place: Maruhachi Seichajo Kenjo Kaga Bocha

This Ishikawa tea souvenir was devised for Emperor Showa. By carefully roasting the stems of carefully selected first-flush tea leaves, a rich flavor is drawn out. The beautiful color of the brewed tea is appealing.

Brewing for 25 seconds in hot water allows you to enjoy an elegant taste without bitterness and a fragrant aroma. It is recommended to extract for a short time when brewing tea. You can also enjoy it deliciously when extracted with cold water.

It comes in canned, bagged, and tea bag forms. This shop has several stores in Ishikawa Prefecture, offering not only souvenirs but also unique cafe menus and takeout options at each store. Tea lovers should stop by and purchase some when visiting Ishikawa.

2nd Place: Fukumitsuya Kagatobi Junmai Daiginjo Kissho

This Ishikawa sake offers an elegant and rich flavor. It uses "Yamada Nishiki" rice, specially cultivated through contract farming, as its raw material. It is finished with low-temperature fermentation, utilizing traditional techniques. It is characterized by its deep umami and rich aroma.

It is recommended to drink it chilled to about 8°C. Drinking it in a wine glass allows you to enjoy its aroma even more. The rice polishing ratio is 40%. It comes in 720ml and 1800ml sizes. The alcohol content is 16%. If you are a sake lover and interested in Ishikawa's local sake, consider this as a souvenir.

3rd Place: Fukumitsuya Fuku Masamune Kagayaki Kanazawa Junmai Ginjo with Pure Gold Leaf

This Junmai Ginjo sake features a luxurious golden package adorned with the Hokuriku Shinkansen "Kagayaki" design. You can enjoy its refined, smooth texture and rich aroma. It also contains gold leaf, making it perfect for special occasion meals.

The bottle label and gift box both feature an illustration of the Hokuriku Shinkansen W7 series. It's a gorgeous design typical of Kanazawa, a city known for its thriving gold leaf production. The stylish slim bottle is also appealing. Recommended serving temperatures are chilled or at room temperature.

The rice polishing ratio is 60%, and the alcohol content is 14%. Each bottle contains 500ml. If you're looking for a sake souvenir for a sake lover in Ishikawa Prefecture or want to choose an item that would be appreciated by train enthusiasts, be sure to check this out.

4th Place: Ante Okunoto Local Cider Shio Cider

This Ishikawa souvenir is a cider that condenses the blessings of the Noto sea. The key point is the addition of sea salt made from seawater. It has a smooth texture and rich flavor, offering an addictive taste when consumed. The sea salt used is manufactured using the Agiage-shiki salt-making method. This traditional method, still passed down in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, involves lifting seawater to salt fields to produce salt.

Each bottle has a capacity of 340ml. The best-before date is 545 days from manufacturing. It has received the gold award at the Monde Selection for three consecutive years. This is recommended for those looking for an award-winning Ishikawa souvenir.

5th Place: Horita Concentrated Yuzu Drink Kanaya Bijin

This Ishikawa souvenir is a rare yuzu drink made with domestic yuzu juice. Its characteristic is that you can enjoy the yuzu flavor by mixing it with various drinks such as carbonated water, plain water, or alcohol. Only carefully selected yuzu for origin and quality are used. In addition to its strong sweetness and excellent flavor, it is also rich in nutrients, making it appealing.

It's also perfect for pancakes and yogurt. It's recommended for a wide range of uses, such as a base for drinks or a secret ingredient in dessert sauces. It contains no artificial preservatives or artificial sweeteners. For sugar, beet sugar from Hokkaido is exclusively used. The content is 500ml per bottle. It is produced by a long-established greengrocer in Ishikawa. This Ishikawa souvenir is suitable for health-conscious individuals.

Ishikawa Souvenir Ranking | Non-Confectionery (Sundries/Accessories)

1st Place: Kaburaki Square Small Plate, Yoshidaya Rokuhyo

This is a square small plate finished in the "Yoshidaya style," which is highly popular among Kutani ware. The Yoshidaya kiln was a pottery that closed down in a short period, but it is famous for having greatly influenced the design and techniques of later Kutani ware. This is a colorful product painted using the Kutani Gosai, or Five Kutani Colors, which are red, yellow, blue, dark blue, and purple.

This product features a design of six gourds when two plates are put together, symbolizing a wish for good health. In addition, one gourd symbolizes recovery from illness, and three gourds symbolize "sanbyoshi" (three beats), which is considered auspicious, embodying various wishes. This is recommended for those who want to buy a craft unique to Ishikawa Prefecture as a souvenir.

2nd Place: Nakashima Menya Kaga Hachiman Okiagari

This is a Kaga Hachiman Okiagari doll, an Ishikawa craft. It is modeled after the highly virtuous old man who wrapped Emperor Ojin, the enshrined deity, in red brocade upon his birth in Kaga. Later, it became an auspicious product said to have been created as a doll for children, wishing for their healthy growth.

It is characterized by Japanese paper pasted onto a mold, painted with white pigment and vermillion, and adorned with pine, bamboo, and plum designs. In 1955, it was selected as the design for a New Year's commemorative stamp, and this doll is widely known even outside Ishikawa Prefecture. A wide variety of sizes and designs are available. It is recommended for those who want to choose an Ishikawa craft as a souvenir.

3rd Place: Wakou Yamanaka Lacquerware Tsutsuwan Sakura

This is a Yamanaka lacquerware bowl, certified as a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. It is a soup bowl made from domestic cherry wood. Crafted meticulously using a lathe and finished with "fuki-urushi" (wipe lacquer), this product has a pleasant mouthfeel and a soft impression.

Its capacity is 300cc when filled to the brim. To ensure long-lasting use, it is recommended to wipe it with a soft cloth after washing and not to leave it submerged in hot or cold water. As the store has five locations within Ishikawa Prefecture, it is also recommended for those who wish to choose a souvenir after seeing the actual product. Those interested in Ishikawa's traditional crafts should check it out.

4th Place: Kaga Mizuhiki Tsuda Mizuhiki Origami single ball 14kgf Mizuhiki Necklace ac0464

This Ishikawa souvenir is a simple accessory that is easy to coordinate with any outfit. It features an application of "Awaji-musubi," the basic mizuhiki knot. It's a small Awaji-dama mizuhiki craft. The chain uses 14k gold-filled material.

The chain's links are welded, making durability another appealing feature. The length is adjustable from 40 to 45 cm with an adjuster. It is produced by a manufacturer considered a pioneer in mizuhiki crafts. If you want to choose a lovely accessory as an Ishikawa souvenir, consider this one.

5th Place: Hakuichi Kodaihaku Compact Mirror

This Ishikawa compact mirror uses gold leaf. It features "Kodaihaku," a Kanazawa gold leaf original to this manufacturer. Each piece is handmade by artisans, resulting in variations in color, such as bluish or reddish tones, for each product.

It is characterized by a gradation process that makes the golden color change from the center of the foil. Due to special processing, there are few usable parts, making this gold leaf rarer than general ones. The color also changes depending on how the light hits it.

In addition to the beauty of the gold leaf, this practical compact mirror also includes a magnifying mirror. It's convenient for quick grooming checks or makeup touch-ups when you're in a hurry. The size is 70mm in width, 70mm in depth, and 5mm in height. It is recommended for those who want to choose a compact mirror with gold leaf as an Ishikawa souvenir.