Omicho Market
Omicho Market is Kanazawa's roughly 300-year-old food market, with narrow, maze-like lanes lined with shops.
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Omicho Market
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Omicho Market is Kanazawa's roughly 300-year-old food market, with narrow, maze-like lanes lined with shops.
Ichiba-kan, the market's entrance building, holds a free city-run play area for babies through preschoolers and their parents, plus a nursing room.
MoreWhat kind of place
Omicho Market began in 1721 and calls itself Kanazawa's kitchen, a role it has held for about 300 years. Today it is a market of roughly 170 to 180 shops, and the Ichiba-kan building, opened in April 2009 and now home to 73 shops, sits in one corner of it.
With kidsThe part that matters
That play area, Chibikko Hiroba ("little kids' plaza"), has a big red steam train, slides, toy cars and picture books. Its "elephant" corner is for babies up to 2 and early walkers.
In its "giraffe" corner, children up to preschool age play with a parent. A mother of a 1-year-old found the market's kids' space big enough for 2 to 3 hours of play.
Below it, the market itself, packed with shops, is fun for children to look at, so the visit is part playground, part food stop.
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The play space is roomy and clean, with plenty of toys, and an 8-month-old there mixed with local children. At lunch, one mother did without a baby menu by splitting the rice and miso soup from her set meal for her 1-year-old daughter.
- Ages 2-3The sushi-bowl shop Kaisendon Ichiba has no kids' menu, yet a 3-year-old there found simple pieces to eat: egg, inari (sweet tofu pocket) and boiled-shrimp sushi. If crowds bother you, do what one mother of a 3- and 4-year-old did and head up to the play area early.
- Ages 4-6Children this age may start choosing for themselves: a 4-year-old spotted a strawberry stick and wanted one enough that the family queued for it, though his mother found it pricey, while a 6-year-old ate salmon and tuna sushi.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayRain changes little, because the market stands under a covered arcade and the prefectural tourism federation lists it under "Rainy-day OK! indoor sightseeing." Also, a local guide notes that the buses it recommends from Kanazawa Station's east-exit terminal to the Musashigatsuji-Omichoichiba stop, two stops away, let you off at an entrance where you can get into the market without getting wet.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayArriving by car is easier on a cold day, because Ichiba-kan's general parking lot has a roof and the path from it to the building's entrance is set up for snow and icy surfaces. For a warm bite once you are there, one visiting couple found a hot curry-rice croquette (¥250) just right.
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
Family checks✓ easy for your family
- ElevatorElevator：with conditionsconditions
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：with conditionsconditions
- RentalStroller rental：not checked
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Diaper binDiaper disposal bin：none
- Family WCFamily restroom：with conditionsconditions
- Own foodOutside food allowed：with conditionsconditions
- EnglishEnglish support：with conditionsconditions
Tap a mark for details.
Not yet checked: 2
Lost-child support, Kids' toilet seat & step stool
Green = we confirmed it. Gray = not checked yet. Gray with a line through = the place does not have it.
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Where to go next
With a baby (0–1)
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaArt museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table1.3 kmA contemporary art museum ringed by lawn, with fourteen galleries no two alike.
- Kanazawa Shrine1.4 kmA small vermilion shrine just outside Kenrokuen's Zuishinzaka gate, free to enter.
- Higashi Chaya DistrictDiaper changing tableFamily restroom10 min walkHigashi Chaya is a preserved Edo-era teahouse street in Kanazawa, free to walk into.
- Kenrokuen GardenStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableFamily restroom1.3 kmAn 11.4-hectare strolling garden in central Kanazawa, begun by Kaga's fifth lord in 1676.
With a toddler (2–3)
- D.T. Suzuki MuseumStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableFamily restroom1.7 kmKanazawa's museum for the philosopher D.T. Suzuki: three wings, three gardens, all on one floor.
- Kenrokuen GardenStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableFamily restroom1.3 kmAn 11.4-hectare strolling garden in central Kanazawa, begun by Kaga's fifth lord in 1676.
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaArt museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table1.3 kmA contemporary art museum ringed by lawn, with fourteen galleries no two alike.
For sights
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaArt museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table1.3 kmA contemporary art museum ringed by lawn, with fourteen galleries no two alike.
- Kanazawa Shrine1.4 kmA small vermilion shrine just outside Kenrokuen's Zuishinzaka gate, free to enter.
- Higashi Chaya DistrictDiaper changing tableFamily restroom10 min walkHigashi Chaya is a preserved Edo-era teahouse street in Kanazawa, free to walk into.
- D.T. Suzuki MuseumStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableFamily restroom1.7 kmKanazawa's museum for the philosopher D.T. Suzuki: three wings, three gardens, all on one floor.
- Kenrokuen GardenStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableFamily restroom1.3 kmAn 11.4-hectare strolling garden in central Kanazawa, begun by Kaga's fifth lord in 1676.
Where it is
The address is 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0905.source
Before you go
- Eating while you walk is not allowed in the market: eat at the front of the shop where you bought the food, or in its eating space, because the lanes are narrow and shoppers carry goods. Fried food and skewers are hot and the sauce drips easily, so mind your child's height around them.
- The play area is open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Wednesdays (the next weekday if Wednesday is a public holiday) and over New Year. Paid childcare there costs ¥500 an hour, up to 4 hours a day, for children from 6 months to preschool age; book by phone (076-260-6724) up to the day before, and visitors from outside Kanazawa can use it.
- Take the elevators on the left or right of Ichiba-kan to reach the third floor; the right-hand one stops there only from 10:00 to 18:00, and at lunchtime the elevator wait can pass 5 minutes, with stairs right beside it.
- The nursing room, diaper-changing table and toddler toilet are inside the play area, and the nursing room keeps the play area's hours and closed days. There is one nursing room, so you may have to wait, and you ask at the reception on the right after leaving the elevator to have it opened. The nursing room is listed, from user posts, as having no diaper bin, so be ready to take used diapers with you.
- About 20 percent of shops close on Wednesdays, though there is still plenty to shop for. On Wednesdays when the central wholesale market holds no auction, even the big fish shops close, the market feels quiet and trading runs only to about 16:00. Only about 60 percent of shops open on Sundays and about 50 percent on holidays. Before a Wednesday visit, ask the market office (076-231-1462, weekdays 9:00 to 17:00).
- Go in the morning: one family sat down for an early lunch at about 10:30 without trouble, and some places were still fairly empty at 11:00. On busy days the lanes fill up from just before 12:00 to 13:00, so keep hold of small hands then. Because the lanes are narrow, a baby carrier or a folding stroller works better than a large stroller, and some restaurant doors are narrow with steps. Shops selling goods run about 9:00 to 17:00 (until about 16:00 on Sundays and holidays), but fish shops start packing up about an hour early and some close sooner. The Kanazawa tourism association, though, gives about 9:00 to 16:00 for the market as a whole, varying by shop. Most are shut by 17:00, so for dinner one family with children moved to restaurants nearby and found it calmer.
- Many first-floor restaurants have mostly counter seats, and restaurants with tatami seating looked few inside the market. Ichi no Kura, a restaurant on the second floor of Ichiba-kan, has tables and tatami seating, brings a children's chair without a belt, for children who sit steadily, on request and takes online booking, but it has no kids' menu (rice alone is ¥198), so plan on sharing dishes.
Sources and evidence (53)
- The nursing room is inside Ichiba-kan, on the third floor in the city's Omicho Koryu Plaza play area, which is open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Wednesdays (the next weekday after a holiday) and over New Year.source
- For the third-floor nursing room, take the elevator up and ask at the reception on the right to have it opened; inside are a sink, foam soap, a two-seat sofa and a table.source
- The official market map marks restroom, wheelchair-accessible and baby-seat symbols together on the west (highway) side of Ichiba-kan's basement floor (B1).source
- Ichiba-kan's third floor, inside the play area, has a nursing room, a diaper-changing table and a toddler toilet.source
- Ichiba-kan has a family restroom that anyone can use.source
- The nursing room is listed in an app as able to take a stroller inside, as is the restroom; stroller rental is listed as none, and the entry was added from user reviews.source
- Narrow spots mean a folding stroller or a baby carrier is recommended; mornings are more relaxed.source
- Strollers are not impossible, but are hard at busy times; a carrier helps at midday, and early morning is better.source
- The market is under a covered arcade, and the prefectural tourism federation lists it under "Rainy-day OK! indoor sightseeing."source
- The nursing room in the third-floor play area is listed as having no diaper disposal bin, based on user posts.source
- Used diapers from the nursing room had to be taken home (a 2019 post).source
- The official map shows elevator symbols at the northern Fureai-kan, the central union building and Ichiba-kan (also on its B1 and 2F plans); the market's lanes on the first floor (1F) are drawn flat.source
- The right-hand elevator stops at the third floor only from 10:00 to 18:00; no hours are given for the left-hand one.source
- Ichiba-kan's elevators are busy, and at lunchtime the wait can pass 5 minutes; stairs are right beside them.source
- Shop signs are in Japanese and English only; the market map leaflet comes in English, Chinese and Korean.source
- At the shop Omicho Ichiba Sushi, bringing baby food in was said to be fine.source
- The play area is registered as a "Baby Station" under the Ishikawa Angel Mark scheme, with nursing, diaper changing, a microwave and a baby keeper chair; its listed name is the Kanazawa Omicho Koryu Plaza Chibikko Hiroba (Ichiba-kan, third floor).source
- At Ichi no Kura (Ichiba-kan, second floor), a children's chair without a belt, for children who sit steadily, was brought quickly on request.source
- Ichi no Kura (Ichiba-kan, second floor) has no kids' menu, so you share dishes or order single items (rice alone is ¥198).source
- The play area is for children from 0 to preschool age, together with a parent (Ichiba-kan, third floor).source
- Childcare at the play area costs ¥500 an hour, up to 4 hours a day; it is a paid childcare service, not an entrance fee to the play area.source
- Hours are 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and Saturdays and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sundays and holidays; fish shops start tidying an hour early and some close early, and the same page notes that this may be dated, since some shops closed at 16:00 during the pandemic.source
- The Kanazawa tourism association gives the market's overall hours as about 9:00 to 16:00, varying by shop; some restaurants stay open later.source
- The prefectural tourism federation says shops selling goods are open about 9:00 to 17:00, restaurants mostly 11:00 to 17:00, and some from 7:00 or until about 21:00.source
- Childcare at the play area can be booked up to the day before, by phone at 076-260-6724 (online booking is also now possible), and the tourism association recommends booking ahead; people from outside Kanazawa can use it.source
- Ichi no Kura takes online reservations; the market itself needs no reservation.source
- The address is 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0905.source
- The market union's phone is 076-231-1462 (weekdays 9:00 to 17:00); it announced an office move in June 2026.source
- Purchased food is eaten at each shop's front or in its eating space, because of trash and safety; eating while walking is not expected.source
- About 60 percent of shops open on Sundays and about 50 percent on holidays.source
- About 20 percent of shops close on Wednesdays, but there is still plenty to shop for.source
- On Wednesdays, when the central wholesale market has no auction, even the large fish shops close, the market feels quiet, and trading runs to about 16:00.source
- The market asks visitors planning a Wednesday visit to inquire first.source
- The play area is open from 10:00 to 18:00.source
- The play area, inside Omicho Koryu Plaza, is closed on Wednesdays and over New Year (the next weekday when Wednesday is a holiday).source
- Paid childcare for infants and children is for ages 6 months to preschool, up to 4 hours a day, by reservation (phone 076-260-6724).source
- The play area is closed on Wednesdays (the next weekday if Wednesday is a holiday) and over New Year.source
- Eating while walking is prohibited in the market.source
- The lanes are narrow, with people carrying goods and elderly shoppers, so you are asked to stop and eat at the designated eating areas.source
- The play area is reached by the elevators on the left and right sides of Ichiba-kan.source
- You are asked not to eat while walking and to use the eating space attached to the shop.source
- Restaurants with tatami seating inside the market looked quite few.source
- Around noon the market is crowded with tourists and locals, so watch that children do not get separated.source
- An early lunch at about 10:30 went smoothly; at about 11:00 some shops were still relatively empty.source
- Ichi no Kura has table, counter, sofa and tatami seating.source
- Some restaurants in the market have narrow entrances with steps, which are hard for strollers and wheelchairs.source
- On busy days, avoid the crowded time from just before 12:00 to 13:00 and move early.source
- By 17:00 most shops are closed, and only some restaurants stay open.source
- Few shops are open in the evening, so choices are limited.source
- Fried food and skewers are hot and the sauce drips easily, so watch your child's height.source
- Some shops are mainly daytime ones, so one family with children found dinner calmer at restaurants nearby.source
- In the market, first-floor restaurants have many counter seats, and some upper-floor restaurants have tatami seating.source
- There is only one nursing room, so if someone is using it you wait.source
Basics
- Fee: Childcare at the play area costs ¥500 an hour, up to 4 hours a day; it is a paid childcare service, not an entrance fee to the play area.source
- Hours: Hours are 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and Saturdays and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sundays and holidays; fish shops start tidying an hour early and some close early, and the same page notes that this may be dated, since some shops closed at 16:00 during the pandemic.source
- Booking: Childcare at the play area can be booked up to the day before, by phone at 076-260-6724 (online booking is also now possible), and the tourism association recommends booking ahead; people from outside Kanazawa can use it.source
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (13)
- kototabi.blog: High chair, Kids' menu
- mamamap.jp: Stroller friendly, Diaper disposal bin
- Official: Diaper changing table, Elevator
- i-prepass.i-oyacomi.net: Official family-friendly certification
- ibarifuri.com: English support
- bfmap-ishikawa.jp: Family restroom
- hot-ishikawa.jp: Indoor / outdoor
- kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.or.jp: Nursing space
- nito.work: Outside food allowed
- Public agency: Best-fit ages (guide)
- Official: main site
| Nursing space | Yes | The nursing room is inside Ichiba-kan, on the third floor in the city's Omicho Koryu Plaza play area, which is open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Wednesdays (the next weekday after a holiday) and over New Year. | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.or.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diaper changing table | Yes | The official market map marks restroom, wheelchair-accessible and baby-seat symbols together on the west (highway) side of Ichiba-kan's basement floor (B1). | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | ohmicho-ichiba.com |
| Family restroom | Yes | Ichiba-kan has a family restroom that anyone can use. | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | bfmap-ishikawa.jp |
| Stroller friendly | Yes | The nursing room is listed in an app as able to take a stroller inside, as is the restroom; stroller rental is listed as none, and the entry was added from user reviews. | Web-checked | checked Jul ’24 | mamamap.jp |
| Lost-child supportExtra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Indoor / outdoor | Indoor | The market is under a covered arcade, and the prefectural tourism federation lists it under "Rainy-day OK! indoor sightseeing." | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | hot-ishikawa.jp |
| Diaper disposal bin | No | The nursing room in the third-floor play area is listed as having no diaper disposal bin, based on user posts. | Web-checked | checked Apr ’26 | mamamap.jp |
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Elevator | Yes | The official map shows elevator symbols at the northern Fureai-kan, the central union building and Ichiba-kan (also on its B1 and 2F plans); the market's lanes on the first floor (1F) are drawn flat. | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | ohmicho-ichiba.com |
| English support | English menu & signs | Shop signs are in Japanese and English only; the market map leaflet comes in English, Chinese and Korean. | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | ibarifuri.com |
| Outside food allowed | Yes | At the shop Omicho Ichiba Sushi, bringing baby food in was said to be fine. | Web-checked | checked Sep ’21 | nito.work |
| Official family-friendly certificationExtra info — guide only | Yes | The play area is registered as a "Baby Station" under the Ishikawa Angel Mark scheme, with nursing, diaper changing, a microwave and a baby keeper chair; its listed name is the Kanazawa Omicho Koryu Plaza Chibikko Hiroba (Ichiba-kan, third floor). | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | i-prepass.i-oyacomi.net |
| High chair | Yes | At Ichi no Kura (Ichiba-kan, second floor), a children's chair without a belt, for children who sit steadily, was brought quickly on request. | Web-checked | checked Feb ’26 | kototabi.blog |
| Kids' menu | No | Ichi no Kura (Ichiba-kan, second floor) has no kids' menu, so you share dishes or order single items (rice alone is ¥198). | Web-checked | checked Feb ’26 | kototabi.blog |
| Best-fit ages (guide)Extra info — guide only | Yes | The play area is for children from 0 to preschool age, together with a parent (Ichiba-kan, third floor). | Web-checked | checked Oct ’26 | www4.city.kanazawa.lg.jp |
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