π Local-First — Best in its home region: Kanazawa.
At Kuroyuri inside Kanazawa Station, you can experience the city’s winter tradition — clear dashi, local ingredients, and a taste shaped by the cold of Hokuriku.
Last updated: 2025-11-10
Introduction
Kanazawa oden is a regional winter dish born from the cold climate of Hokuriku. It began as a street food during the Meiji era and evolved after the war with a light kombu-based broth seasoned with soy sauce. Local ingredients like baigai (sea snails) and kuruma-fu (wheat gluten) gave rise to a distinctive Kanazawa style. Today, it’s loved equally by locals and travelers as a comforting winter staple.
Kuroyuri, established in the 1950s and located inside Kanazawa Station, lets visitors taste this local flavor between trains. Orders are placed by speaking directly with staff or by scanning a QR code at the table. Add a cup of hot sake, and you’ll understand why sharing a bowl of oden feels like joining a Kanazawa dinner table. Experiencing everyday local dining — that’s a true reason to visit Kanazawa.
What to Try
The broth is clear yet deeply flavored with kombu and soy. Here are some of the must-try ingredients that define Kanazawa oden:
- Baigai — Local sea snail that adds a rich, oceanic depth to the broth.
- Kuruma-fu — Wheel-shaped wheat gluten that soaks up the dashi beautifully.
- Akamaki — Pink spiral fish cake, both festive and traditional.
- Tentama — Tempura-coated soft-boiled egg; the batter absorbs the broth and the yolk turns creamy.
- Daikon and Potato — Slow-simmered until tender and deeply seasoned.
Each ingredient complements the clear dashi rather than overpowering it — understated, balanced, and unmistakably Kanazawa.
Tokyo or Trip?
π Local-First — Best in its home region: Kanazawa.
Tokyo’s oden tends to be darker and heavier, while Kanazawa’s is delicate and transparent. Its subtle broth, local seafood, and calm pace reflect the city’s culture itself — refined, quiet, and rooted in everyday life. Eating oden here is not just a meal; it’s a glimpse into how Kanazawa preserves warmth through simplicity.
Explore Nearby
- Jibu-ni in Kanazawa — Kaga-Style Duck Stew π²
- Kanburi in Kanazawa — Winter Yellowtail π
- White Shrimp Kakiage Soba in Standing Shop at Kanazawa Station π€
- Shiroebi Sashimi in Toyama — Sweet White Shrimp π€
- Toyama Crab Miso — Grilled Winter Luxury π¦
Similar Dishes
- Doteyaki at Shimasho, Nagoya — Hatcho-Miso Oden π’
- Tokyo Oden at Togoshi-Ginza — 5-Item Set π’
- Onigiri (Omusubi) in Tokyo — Japan’s Rice Ball Tradition Meets Nori π