When it comes to Japanese matcha sweets, most travelers instinctively think of Uji in Kyoto or Ningyo-cho in Tokyo. However, Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture holds an underrated matcha story of its own. This city of Kaga's Million Peaked Castle is famous not only for gold leaf but also for merging its proud local tea culture with traditional wagashi, creating a unique "Kanazawa-style matcha" experience found nowhere else.
Kanazawa's matcha sweets differ fundamentally from Kyoto's. Kyoto's matcha sweets pursue extreme bitterness and richness, embodying the "wabi-sabi" aesthetic of tea ceremony philosophy; Kanazawa's matcha is closer to daily life, slightly sweeter and softer in texture, forming a stable taste triangle with locally abundant gold leaf, red bean, and mochi. This difference stems from Kanazawa's status as the castle town of the Kaga Domain during the Edo period—domain lords viewed tea ceremony as a tool for self-cultivation but did not deliberately separate it from folk sweets.
The greatest characteristic of Kanazawa matcha sweets lies in the fusion of "double gold" elements. Gold leaf is Kanazawa's most famous specialty, and when matcha’s fresh green meets gold leaf’s golden yellow, it creates a visually stunning effect. Many shops garnish matcha ice cream, matcha daifuku, and matcha dango with edible gold leaf, giving sweets a luxurious "golden glittering" appearance. This combination is rare in Tokyo or Kyoto, but it is Kanazawa’s unique local specialty.
Another noteworthy characteristic is the "Japanese-Western hybrid" tendency of Kanazawa matcha sweets. Since Kanazawa rapidly introduced Western technology after the Meiji Restoration, local wagashi shops began developing products blending matcha with Western butter early on. Items like matcha red bean butter sandwich cookies, matcha raw chocolate, and matcha mille-feuille are uniquely Kanazawa products that cannot be found at Omotesando in Tokyo or Gion in Kyoto.
For recommended locations, "Morishita Soy Milk" must be mentioned first. This small shop along the Asano River is famous for its matcha soy milk ice cream, using locally produced Kanazawa soy milk paired with Uji matcha. The texture is lighter than regular ice cream, with sweetness controlled within a range that doesn’t overwhelm the tea flavor. At around ¥450 per cone, its social media exposure has risen sharply in recent years. It’s recommended to visit on weekday afternoons to avoid crowds.
If you want to taste traditional matcha sweets, "Akadama Sumski" is a better choice. This long-established shop founded during the Showa era is now run by the third generation. Their signature is matcha red bean shiratama dumplings, using Noto-produced Daifuku red beans that are distinct and sweet without being cloying, while the shiratama are handmade daily with a soft, chewy texture. The shop’s warm atmosphere and calligraphy works on the walls make sitting down to enjoy them help you understand Kanazawa people’s insistence on "slowness." A set including matcha costs ¥650.
For those who want to taste multiple matcha sweets in one go, "Chaya-machi" is an excellent choice. This Japanese-Western confectionery shop on Korinbo Shopping Street offers such a rich variety of matcha items that it causes decision paralysis—matcha tiramisu, matcha fresh cream rolls, matcha jelly with kuromitsu syrup, matcha daifuku, and at least ten other options. Their recommended item is the Matcha Frost Ice Cream Sundae (¥580), generous enough to share between two people, topped with gold leaf that serves as the perfect photo prop. The shop has English menus, making it easy for foreign tourists to order.
To experience a more complete tea ceremony culture, visit "Kanazawa Kenroku-tei." This dessert shop converted from a traditional tea house offers matcha wagashi sets, where the master performs a brief tea ceremony demonstration before serving seasonal ingredient-adorned wagashi. The matcha here has a higher bitterness level, suitable for those who prefer authentic tea flavor. The experience costs ¥1,200 and requires advance reservation; it is often fully booked during peak travel seasons or weekends.
Finally, along the "Higashi Chaya-gai" (East Tea District), there are also hidden gem shops worth exploring. Like "Marble," a coffee shop converted from an old Japanese house, where the owner is a young person who returned to Kanazawa from Tokyo. They combine matcha with homemade yogurt and oat bowls, creating products that align with modern healthy eating trends. A bowl of matcha yogurt bowl at ¥520 has become a popular Instagram check-in spot in recent years.
For practical information, you can take a bus or walk from Kanazawa Station to the main matcha dessert shops in the city. There is a sightseeing bus (free seating, ¥200) at the east exit of Kanazawa Station. Getting off at Korinbo or Musashi-mae brings you to most recommended locations. Most shops’ operating hours fall between 10:00-19:00, with a significant number closed on Wednesdays, so it’s recommended to confirm before heading out. Matcha sweets prices generally range from ¥450 to ¥1,200, while souvenir-style packaged products start from ¥800.
The best visiting seasons are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), when the weather is cool and tourists are fewer than during summer vacation. You can also enjoy Kenroku-en’s seasonal scenery at the same time. It’s worth noting that matcha dessert shops in Kanazawa are not as ubiquitous as in Kyoto; many shops require a walk to reach, so it’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes and keep your itinerary relaxed. Don’t forget to bring a portable insulated cup, so you can eat matcha ice cream or soy milk desserts while walking without them melting too quickly.
