If you love sushi, or seafood in general, Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture is the place to go. Luckily, with the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) Kanazawa city has become even more accessible from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto! Kanazawa’s exceptional seafood scene is due to its prime location on the Sea of Japan coast. The city sits at the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, where the nutrient-rich waters of Toyama Bay meet diverse fishing grounds. This coastal position provides access to an incredible variety of fresh seafood year-round, making it a true paradise for sushi lovers!

The options here are practically endless, but nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) is particularly popular and prized in Kanazawa. Snow crab, prawn, and yellowtail are also common choices that showcase the region’s exceptional fresh seafood.

For an authentic market experience, head to Omicho Market, the largest fresh food market in Kanazawa. With over 300 years of history, this bustling marketplace is the best place to find the freshest fish in the city. You can get high-quality sushi at surprisingly low prices here, and kaisendon (fresh seafood rice bowl) is an extremely popular offering throughout the market and city.

For those seeking an authentic local dining experience, booking some of the best local sushi restaurants in Kanazawa can be done via MACHIYA LOCALS. This platform connects you with carefully selected traditional sushi and kaiseki establishments that locals frequent, ensuring you experience the true essence of Kanazawa’s renowned seafood culture!

The island of Hokkaido is the northernmost region of Japan. If you’re up for the trip and are looking for delicious sushi, we think it’s absolutely worth it. The region is famous for having exceptionally fresh seafood!

Hakodate, a port town in southern Hokkaido, is home to some of the best sushi in Japan. Hakodate-Asaichi (Hakodate morning market) is a must-visit location. Just around the corner from the main Hakodate Station, there are over 250 stores at this morning market.  Sushi restaurants here, as well as all around Hokkaido, are affordable yet amazing. Two of Hakodate’s specialties are tuna and squid, so be sure to try sushi made with these ingredients while you’re there!

You can also find Michelin-starred restaurants all throughout Hokkaido, especially in the capital, Sapporo City. Compared to high-end restaurants in other parts of Japan, the ones in Hokkaido are often surprisingly affordable and have a relatively low barrier to entry.

The local specialty throughout Hokkaido is uni (sea urchin roe). Tip: one of the best ways to enjoy uni, besides sushi, is served atop a donburi (rice bowl), so look out for that on menus!

In Tokyo, sushi can be found at every turn. One district in Tokyo that has a high concentration of high-quality sushi restaurants is Ginza. If you go to a Michelin-starred restaurant here, you’re bound to be satisfied.

For the ultimate sushi experience, Tokyo now has two major fish markets that both offer great sushi experiences. The relocation of the famous Tsukiji market to the modern Toyosu market was once the subject of much debate, but now both markets offer a different glimpse into Tokyo’s food culture.

Tsukiji Outer Market remains a historic and traditional market, beloved by tourists and locals alike. While the main wholesale operations moved to Toyosu in 2018, Tsukiji’s outer market continues to thrive with street food vendors, long-established shops, fresh seafood, and traditional Japanese sweets. The atmosphere here is bustling and authentic, with narrow alleys packed with small restaurants serving some of the best sushi in Japan at reasonable prices.

Toyosu Market, on the other hand, is Tokyo’s new wholesale hub housed in state-of-the-art facilities with a completely indoor environment. Here you can witness the famous tuna auctions early in the morning from designated viewing areas. The market features higher-end sushi restaurants that source directly from the auction floors, offering some of the freshest fish available in Tokyo. The modern facilities and elevated dining options make Toyosu ideal for those seeking a premium sushi experience.

Shizuoka Prefecture ranks first in Japan for tuna catches, thanks to the Kuroshio Current flowing offshore. This warm ocean current creates ideal conditions for bluefin tuna, making the region the top city for supplying the most tuna in Japan. As locals often say: “Shizuoka is the place for tuna.”

The prefecture is also known for two other seafood specialties: sakura shrimp (sakura ebi) and shirasu (baby sardines). Sakura shrimp are small, translucent pink shrimp available fresh only during certain months of the year. Shirasu are typically served either raw or lightly boiled and have a mild, sweet flavor.

Shimizu, a major port city in Shizuoka, serves as the hub for the region’s tuna industry. The morning markets here are where large tuna are auctioned, and many local sushi restaurants have direct relationships with fishing operations. This means the fish served is often caught in nearby Suruga Bay within hours of being served.

Local sushi chefs work with seasonal ingredients throughout the year. Spring is sakura shrimp season, summer brings the best shirasu catches, and autumn typically offers prime tuna. When visiting Shizuoka, try sakura shrimp nigiri and look for restaurants offering “Shimizu-style” tuna, where the fish is aged using traditional methods to enhance its flavor.

When trying to think of where to find the best sushi in Japan, Kyoto might not immediately stand out. Make no mistake, though. When it comes to sushi, Kyoto is not to be underestimated! Kyoto has a surprisingly vibrant sushi scene if you’re in the mood!

While Kyoto Prefecture sits along the coastline, Kyoto City (the former capital of Japan) sits quite far inland within the prefecture. Because of this, Kyoto City’s local specialty became saba sushi (or saba-zushi): preserved mackerel sushi. Thought to have been invented during the Edo period (1603-1867), saba sushi is made with salted and preserved mackerel fish.  As transporting fish from the seaside towns and villages to Kyoto City took time, fish needed to be salted and cured before making the long journey. With little to no access to fresh fish, saba sushi and other preserved-style sushi were invented.

Though fresh sushi is now the standard, you can still find saba sushi and other traditional preserved-style sushi in Kyoto. This is especially the case at high-end ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurants).

Kyoto Sushi Recommendations

Take a look at this sushi article for our recommended sushi restaurants in Kyoto! This comprehensive guide highlights the best local sushi restaurants in Kyoto, featuring traditional Edomae nigiri experiences, seasonal kaiseki courses, and unique specialties like Kyoto’s signature saba (mackerel) sushi.

Have you heard of Toyama Prefecture? Toyama Prefecture is a gorgeous coastal prefecture with, arguably, some of the best sushi in Japan. You can get to Toyama easily from Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Most sushi fish in Toyama come from Toyama Bay. The topography of the bay is quite unique, in that it has three very distinct layers within a small space. It’s been called a “natural fish tank.”

In the heart of Toyama City, you can visit the Shinminato Kitokito Market, a lively fish market with the freshest fish in Toyama. There are also restaurants where you can enjoy delectable sushi made from fish delivered promptly from the bay. The great thing about Toyama is that you can go virtually anywhere and get awesome sushi. This even applies to inexpensive restaurants!

Be sure to try the baby white shrimp sushi (shiro ebi / 白海老) while you’re there — the ones available in Toyama are especially sweet and juicy! Many people from around Japan travel to Toyama specifically to have a taste of the shiro ebi! Trout sushi and firefly squid are also two equally fantastic options.