KANAZAWA Oishii Festa 2026 in Ishikawa: Two Days of Fermented Flavors and Hands-On Food Workshops

KANAZAWA, Japan, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kanazawa Biyori, a media outlet rooted in the Hokuriku region of northwestern Japan, covers not only well-known sights but also the food, culture and traditions that shape the region. This autumn, it turns its attention to KANAZAWA Oishii Festa 2026 ("oishii" means "delicious" in Japanese), a two-day celebration of the city's food culture at Shiinoki Ryokuchi, a green space in Kanazawa, on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. This year's theme is fermented food, and the program goes well beyond what is served on a plate: drinks, traditional Japanese sweets, hands-on food experiences and activities for children make it an event for families, friends and couples alike.

Local Ingredients, Reimagined Through Fermentation

About 40 vendors, ranging from well-known Kanazawa restaurants to specialty shops and cafés, will take part in the festival. Under the theme "Local Ingredients and Fermentation," 23 food vendors will serve dishes available exclusively at the festival, giving Kaga vegetables (heirloom varieties grown in Kanazawa since before 1945) and local seafood a new twist.

The festival's dishes showcase these local ingredients through the distinctive flavors of Ōno soy sauce, brewed in Kanazawa's Ōno district since the early 1600s; Kaga miso, a rich miso made with a generous amount of rice koji; and koji, a traditional fermentation culture used to make soy sauce and miso.

The drink selection is just as varied, with sake from Kanazawa, craft beer and original cocktails. Visitors can sample dish after dish or simply relax on the lawn.

Hands-On Workshops in Kanazawa's Food Culture

The festival also invites visitors to experience Kanazawa's food culture firsthand. Workshops include making jō-namagashi (delicate seasonal Japanese confections), pickling vegetables with koji, making mayonnaise and a sake tasting. The lineup offers hands-on experiences spanning fermented foods, traditional sweets and more.

Student Creations, Support for Noto and More

Other highlights include original dishes developed by students together with professional chefs, booths supporting Noto's recovery from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and subsequent heavy rains, and a marketplace featuring Japanese sweets. With a kids' area and a stage program on both days, there is something for visitors of all ages.

Over two autumn days at Shiinoki Ryokuchi, visitors can eat, drink, make, shop and play, discovering their own way to enjoy Kanazawa's food culture.

Why Kanazawa Biyori Tells This Story

Kanazawa is often introduced through its historic sights and traditional architecture. Yet much of the city's character can also be discovered through its food — Kaga vegetables, seafood, soy sauce, miso and Japanese sweets — and this festival brings many of these elements together in one place over a single weekend.

The festival offers visitors a chance to do more than simply eat. Making Japanese sweets, pickling vegetables with koji or buying food from Noto vendors provides a way to experience the region's culinary traditions firsthand. For readers planning an autumn visit to Kanazawa, Kanazawa Biyori believes the festival is an easy and enjoyable place to start.

Information

KANAZAWA Oishii Festa 2026

Dates: Saturday, October 17 – Sunday, October 18, 2026

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Venue: Shiinoki Ryokuchi, 2-1-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

(Some workshops are held at the Shiinoki Cultural Complex.)

Program highlights:

Food booths: 23 vendors serving dishes created exclusively for the festival around the theme "Local Ingredients and Fermentation"

Drink booths: Local sake, craft beer and original cocktails made in Kanazawa

Marketplace: Japanese sweets and locally made products

Student creations: Dishes and sweets developed by local culinary and confectionery students with professional chefs and confectioners

Noto support booths: Food trucks and shops from the Noto region, supporting recovery efforts through food

Food culture workshops: Reservations required. Details are available on the official site (Japanese). Fees range from ¥500 to ¥1,000 (approximately US$3.20–6.30) per group or per person, depending on the workshop. The sake tasting is limited to visitors aged 20 and over.

Kids' area: Free outdoor activities including kendama, hula hoops, coloring and more

Stage program: Held on both days

Access: Parking at the venue is limited, and visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. A digital one-day pass for the Kanazawa Shopping Bus, valid on either October 17 or 18, will go on sale October 7 through the Norimasshi Kanazawa digital transit service and can also be used to reach the venue.

Organizer: Kanazawa Food Culture Month and Food Festival Executive Committee (English rendering by Kanazawa Biyori)

Official site: https://gokan-gochisou-kanazawa.jp/kanazawa-syokubunka-event/ (Japanese)

Inquiries: Kanazawa Biyori | www.kanazawabiyori.com

Information is current as of September 30, 2026, and is subject to change.

U.S. dollar figures are approximate, converted at about ¥158 to US$1 in September 2026.

Media Contact

Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd.
Sanpia Izumigaoka 511, 255 Fushimishinmachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 921-8172, Japan
Email: [email protected] 

SOURCE Kanazawa Biyori