What’s your early morning fancy?
・western style shops near Kaname Inn Tatemachi
・around Omicho Market
・traditional Japanese fare, including our favorite! (reservations required)

For all of Japan’s many cultural wonders, breakfast is rarely considered among them. The meal is usually small—often only simple bowls of rice and miso soup—and eaten at home. The more gastronomically exciting dishes are reserved for lunch, dinner, at various events or even a favorite cafe, and few of these ever start earlier than 11:00 a.m. But, slowly, cafes and shops are opening their doors at dawn, especially for overseas visitors, including those in Kanazawa.

Close to Your Hotel

Monet Sandwicherie Artisanale

Down the shopping promenade of Shintatemachi Street, just before you reach the temple, is Monet. Owned and operated by the same as that of the locally famous Plat Home, this shop uses the same quality of ingredients and thoughtfulness is in each dish here as well.

Come for the Breakfast Plate or the Croque Monsieur, either alone or as a salad set. Stay for lunch! The mackerel sandwich for lunchtime is equally delicious.

Monet Sandwicherie Artisanale
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (breakfast)
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (lunch)
open until 6:00 p.m.
closed Wednesday
3-48-1 Shintatemachi, Kanazawa
076-299-5449
400 meters from Kaname Inn Tatemachi

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Keseran Pasaran Espresso Bar

A charming little cafe run by a Japanese couple just a few more steps down the road from Monet. As the name suggests, this little shop specializes in esperesso drinks. For those looking for an early morning bite, they also have a selection of pastries and baked goods, including sandwiches. Cheesecake lovers in particular should not miss this shop, as they have the cutest cheesecake that looks like it came right out of a cartoon!

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
closed Mondays and Fridays

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Bistro Hiramipan

A French cuisine and bakery where the road from Oyama Shrine meets the Kuratsugi Waterway flowing from Seseragi-dori Street, along the edge of the Samurai District. For all its hours, it’s open as a bread shop. The intimate cafe seating area opens at various times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. Breakfast here also runs later than other breakfast places, with last orders at 10:30 a.m.

Select between the croque madame (pictured) or the quiche with seasonal ingredients. The set comes with salad and a tea or coffee. For an additional treat, order the generous serving of homemade soup.

Bistro ひらみぱん
8:00 – 10:30 a.m. (breakfast)
12:00 – 3:30 p.m. (lunch)
8:00 – 6:00 p.m. (bakery shop)
closed Monday
1-6-11 Nagamachi, Kanazawa
076-221-7831
850 meters from Kaname Inn Tatemachi

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Breakfast Around Omicho Market

Mori Mori Sushi, inside Omicho Market

If you’re so inclined, you might try sushi for breakfast. Several shops in Omicho Market open as early at 8:30 a.m., like Mori Mori Sushi Omicho.

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Curio

If espresso is a necessary start to your day, Curio has you covered. All coffees are espresso-based, and even the Americano is robust. The full menu is available throughout the day, so in addition to the egg and cheese Breakfast Sandwich (pictured), you can chow down on pulled-pork or perk up with the vegetarian-friendly quinoa or hummus plates. Let them know up front of any dietary restrictions, and they’ll adjust your order as best they can.

The cafe itself is a charming lounge with vintage aesthetic and its own cultural hub. It’s well-known and popular with overseas visitors, so be wary of crowds.

Curio Espresso & Vintage Design
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
closed Mondays and Tuesdays
1-13 Yasuecho, Kanazawa
076-231-5543
1.6 km from Kaname Inn Tatemachi (12 min. by bus)

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Traditional & Filling Japanese Fare

Delicious and filling spreads of traditional Japanese cuisine are available for breakfast, but do note that for each of these reservations are required. During busy seasons, they are often booked well in advance, so plan accordingly!

Kenroku-tei

Located alongside Kenrokuen Garden with which it shares its name, this tea house specializes in serving local cuisine to garden visitors throughout the day, including for breakfast. Two sets are on offer.
The “Kaga Boucha Congee Set” replaces rice with a rice porrige flavored with Kanazawa’s local twig tea, Kaga boucha. The deep roasting of twigs and stems of the tea plant give the tea a rich aroma that is often described as coffee-like. Splurging on the “Jibuni Set” will grant you the Kanazawa-specific dish, jibuni, a savory stew of of whole vegetables, a medalion of mushroom, gluten cake, fish cake, and duck.

After breakfast, set out for a walk through the Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, or the historical and beautiful Seisonkaku Villa.

Kenroku-tei
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
1-20 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa
reservations by TableCheck
1100 meters from Kaname Inn Tatemachi

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Sorasio

Sorasio’s breakfast comes the closest to an at-home Japanese breakfast of rice and miso soup, with extra side dishes of seasonal vegetables. Served in an elegant wooden box inside an equally elegant wooden space.

The reservation website only shows spots for dinner, so reservations for breakfast must be made by phone, in Japanese only. We are happy to help guests of Kaname Inn Tatemachi schedule their breakfast here if they wish. Please enquire with the front desk.

Sorasio is a short walk from the eastern geisha district of Highashi Chaya Gai, the historic living museum of the banished samurai, Kurando Terashima, and “Kanazawa’s Kitchen,” Omicho Market.

Sorasio
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
phone reservations (Japanese only): +81 (0)76-225-8360
2-1 Fukuro-machi (SOKI 1F), Kanazawa
1600 meters from Kaname Inn Tatemachi (12 min. by bus)

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Tsubajin

We have saved the very best for last.

Descended from artisans who specialized in the hilts, or tsuba, of Japanese samurai swords, the family who run Tsubajin have taken kaiseki meals to a whole new level of artistry. Centuries’ old Tsubajin overlooks the Sai River, a view that even breakfast-lovers of this fine establishment can relish.

The meal starts with a spread of homemade tofu, omlete, fish cake, and vegetables, gently flavored yet hearty. The pièce de résistance is the crab congee, and I recommend mixing in the liquid salt to bring the full power of the crustacean to the front. (I’m compelled to admit, even as someone who does not usually go for rice porridge, I craved a second helping!)

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, or simply want to make sure you get a taste of exquisite local cuisine, make a point to breakfast here at least once.

Tsubajin (つば甚)
Breakfast served starting from 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00 a.m.
(availability may be limited during certain seasons)
closed Wednesdays
5-1-8 Teramachi, Kanazawa
reservations by TableCheck
950 meters from Kaname Inn Tatemachi