Carefully selected by JAL staff! 13 fascinating Ishikawa souvenirs on display at Komatsu Airport

So we conducted a survey with JAL staff at Komatsu Airport and the OnTrip JAL editorial team. We divided the items into two categories: "I want to give them to someone" - perfect souvenirs - and "I want them for myself" - perfect treats for yourself. We will introduce a total of 13 recommended items from Ishikawa Prefecture that are not only Japanese sweets, but are also great to buy.

*Prices include tax.
*This article is based on a survey conducted in December 2023. Please note that you may not be able to purchase the product due to the closure of the retailer or changes to the store's business hours.

"Nodoguro Shigureni with Ginger" is a bottled version of the high-class fish that Hokuriku is proud of, preserving all its charm.

"I want to give it to someone" category No. 1

Nodoguro is a high-class fish that Hokuriku is proud of, and in recent years, its name has become known nationwide. This is a superb dish that uses a luxurious amount of this rare seafood, also known as akamutsu, in minced meat. It is amazing how well-fattened the meat is, even though it has been thoroughly simmered with a sweet and spicy sauce. With each bite, you can taste the rich flavor, the spicy ginger, and the fragrant texture of sesame. This is a superb dish that combines multiple delicious flavors.

A word from JAL staff!
"It goes great with rice. Sprinkle it generously on top and enjoy." (OnTrip JAL Editorial Department)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Koicha" is a cream sandwich that allows you to enjoy the refreshing sweetness and the fragrant aroma of strong tea.

"I want to give it to someone" category No. 2

The crispy, light wheat flour kawara senbei rice crackers are sandwiched with colorful matcha-flavored cream. Along with a pleasant texture, the refreshing sweetness and the mellow aroma of strong tea linger in your nose. The potential for this cracker to fit in with both Japanese and Western teatime is a testament to the unique depth of Kanazawa, where tea ceremony culture is integrated into everyday life. Why not pick up a souvenir that gives a glimpse of the culture of your travel destination?

A word from JAL staff!
"Crispy kawara rice crackers with rich cream... You won't be able to stop eating them." (OnTrip JAL Editorial Department)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Warigoori (broken ice)" has a beautiful shape and color, and a texture that is completely different from what it looks like.

"I want to give it to someone" Category 3

This popular sweet is known for its sparkling, adorable appearance, like broken ice. It stands out among the many famous sweets in Kanazawa. It is dried for six days to give it a crispy texture on the outside. It looks hard like rock candy, but when you put it in your mouth, you'll be surprised by the contrast between the delicate texture and the moist and soft inside. Made from simple ingredients like sugar and agar, it is a mysterious and elegant sweet unlike any you've ever tried.

A word from JAL staff!
"It's a Japanese sweet that looks like beautiful glasswork. It's crisp on the outside and has a sweet texture like jelly on the inside. It's cool and perfect for summer. I've loved it since I was a child, and when I was given this I felt like a princess." (Female ground staff member)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Hachiban Ramen" - a local ramen that continues to be passionately loved in the Hokuriku region

"I want to give it to someone" Category 4

If you ask "What is Ishikawa Prefecture's local gourmet food?" many people in Ishikawa will mention this ramen. "Vegetable ramen" is filled with vegetables and has thick, chewy noodles, and is a flavor that many people have been familiar with since childhood. The store chain is centered around the three Hokuriku prefectures, and it is said that the original store was located on National Route 8, hence the name "No. 8." This souvenir package contains one serving, and comes in three flavors: salt, soy sauce, and miso.

A word from JAL staff!
"Hachiban Ramen is the soul food of the Hokuriku region. It's a long-established chain restaurant that can be found anywhere along this national highway, but you can also buy it as a souvenir, so I recommend it for those who forgot to try it." (Male)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Takara no Fu" is enjoyable not only for its taste, but also for its appearance the moment hot water is poured into it.

"I want to give it to someone" category No. 5

When hot water is poured in, the ingredients pop out one after another from the soaked miso soup and clear soup, which is fun and delicious. About 30 years ago, the owner's children who were studying abroad were given clear soup filled with ingredients while the soup was still soaking, which became popular overseas and was then commercialized. There is a wide variety of options, such as Kaga miso and clear soup, so if you want a quick dinner, adding one of these dishes will brighten up your table. In addition to the presentation boxes that are perfect for souvenirs, the assorted sets without presentation boxes are affordable and perfect for personal use.

A word from JAL staff!
"My favorite is the miso soup. It looks beautiful, and you can enjoy it visually even while pouring the hot water. It tastes good too! Also, it's made with wheat gluten, so it's very light to carry around, which I recommend!" (Ground staff, female)

Available at Komatsu Airport Shop 1F

"Shinsen Daiginjo" is a fruity drink that will completely change your image of Japanese sake

“I want to give it to someone” category 6

Ishikawa Prefecture has many small sake breweries that are renowned for their high quality. One of them, Higashi Sake Brewery in Komatsu City, has a stone storehouse that is a registered tangible cultural property of the country and a Japan Heritage, and produces high-quality sake such as "Shinsen" Daiginjo and Junmai sake. "Shinsen Daiginjo" has a fruity taste like wine and is likely to be popular even with people who say "I don't really like sake." It goes well with fish dishes such as sashimi and sushi. It was chosen as the official in-flight sake on the former government aircraft, and is also highly regarded overseas.

A word from JAL staff!
"I think it's the best sake in Ishikawa prefecture." (Ground handling, male)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Kaga Tea Pudding" has a rich texture and a slightly bitter taste, perfect for adults

"I want one for myself" Category #1

It is kneaded with rich fresh cream and has a thick and sticky texture. One bite and you will taste the subtle sweetness of this adult flavor. You will feel its refined elegance. The brown color comes from Kaga Bocha tea, and is accented with a rich aroma and subtle astringency. The simple and elegant packaging also leaves a good impression. This souvenir shows the unique sense of Ishikawa Prefecture, where Japanese sweets culture is well developed.

A word from JAL staff!
"The perfect balance of sweetness. Enjoy it with tea." (OnTrip JAL Editorial Department)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Noto Ponzu" is an original seasoning from "Kagaya", a long-established inn on the Noto Peninsula.

"I want one for myself" Category #2

The Noto Peninsula is famous for Ishiru, a seasoning that looks like soy sauce but is a little different. It is a fish sauce made by fermenting sardines and squid, and is characterized by its strong umami flavor. This ponzu sauce is made with carefully selected ingredients and supervised by the head chef of Kagaya, a famous hot spring inn in Wakura Onsen. It is perfect for pouring over dishes or using as a secret ingredient. It is a versatile local seasoning that can be used in a wide variety of ways.

A word from JAL staff!
"We use whole soy soy sauce and mirin from Ohno, Kanazawa, and the sudachi juice is also domestically produced. We use carefully selected high-quality ingredients." (OnTrip JAL editorial department)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Tori Yasai Miso" is a staple food of Ishikawa Prefecture residents that can be used to easily make delicious hotpots

"I want one for myself" Category #3

This chomi miso contains rice miso and seasonings. Simply dissolve the miso in a pot of water, add meat and vegetables, and heat to make a delicious "tori yasai miso nabe" (chicken and vegetable miso hotpot), which is especially useful when you're busy. It's sold at supermarkets in Ishikawa Prefecture, and many households stock it. This miso has a long history, having been invented in the Edo period to provide nutritious meals to the sailors of the Kitamae ships. By the way, the "tori" in "tori yasai" does not mean "bird," but rather means to "take in" vegetables and nutrients.

A word from JAL staff!
"Whenever we eat hot pot at home, we always use Matsuya's chicken and vegetable miso. By the way, when we served it to people from other prefectures, they were very happy with it." (Ground staff, female)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

Simple and timeless, everyone loves "Enpachi's Bean Jam"

"I want one for myself" Category #4

Ankoro mochi is a long-established shop that has been around since the Edo period. The bean paste is wrapped in bamboo skin and made over three days, so the flavor of the red beans is well preserved and you can even smell the bamboo skin. The simple taste is loved by people of all ages and genders, making it a truly local flavor. When you open the wrapper, you'll find a single square lump of bean paste, but it's also fun to poke it with the toothpick that came with the package to find the mochi. It doesn't keep well, so rather than giving it to others, why not buy it at home to eat as soon as you get home?

A word from JAL staff!
"There are nine dumplings inside a generous amount of lightly sweet bean paste. They are wrapped in bamboo skin and are bite-sized, so even one person can eat them all in one go. My grandmother loved them since she was a child, and even now I occasionally buy some at the airport and have them delivered to my parents' house. I've actually even toured the factory, where I saw how carefully they are made, and it made me love them even more." (Female, Passenger Service Section)

Available at Komatsu Airport Shop 1F

"Tsukiyomi Yamaji" is a must-buy when you see it

"I want one for myself" Category #5

Kurimushi Yokan is made with bean paste made from high-quality red beans, candied chestnuts, granulated sugar, and kudzu starch, then wrapped in bamboo bark and steamed. Chewy bean paste with a bamboo scent is packed with chestnuts without any gaps, and the natural flavor of the chestnuts is well preserved, which is impressive. Even in Ishikawa Prefecture, where there are many different Japanese sweets, this is a gem that only a connoisseur knows about. Simple and rustic, yet refined and delicious, some people find themselves buying it when they see it for sale.

A word from JAL staff!
"The yokan has lots of chestnuts inside, is wrapped in bamboo bark, and has a nice aroma. It's not too sweet, but just the right amount. My parents would often buy it for me, or I would receive it as a year-end gift, so it's a sweet I've loved since I was a child." (Female ground staff member)

Available at Komatsu Airport Shop 1F

"Shibafune" - irresistible ginger spiciness

"I want one for myself" Category #6

Shibafune is a traditional Kanazawa sweet made of moderately curved oval-shaped rice crackers coated with ginger and sugar. The most famous of these, Shibafune Koide, is made by skilled craftsmen who take the time and effort to brush each cracker with ginger syrup, a mixture of freshly squeezed ginger juice and sugar. The crunchy rice crackers, which are like a thin layer of snow, and the spicy kick of fresh ginger that occasionally peeks out from the sweetness, are unique to Shibafune. The perfect hardness and spiciness make it a great accompaniment to a tea break to wake you up.

A word from JAL staff!
"These rice crackers have a strong ginger flavor. They are thick and satisfying to eat. All of Koide's rice crackers are delicious, but I've always loved Shibafune, which I've eaten often since I was a child. They are individually wrapped, so they don't get soggy when you eat them." (Female ground staff)

Available at the Komatsu Airport Shop on the 2nd floor

"Kintsuba" has an elegant appearance, like wearing a thin lace

"I want one for myself" Category #7

Kintsuba is also popular in Kanazawa. Nakataya's is one of the most well-known. When you cut it in half, the plump and shiny bean paste almost spills out, looking delicious. The beauty of the thin, lace-like batter that covers all six sides is also distinctive. They are particular about the ingredients they use, such as the finest Dainagon azuki beans from Hokkaido and Tamba agar. Kanazawa's Japanese sweets are generally not too sweet, and this kintsuba is also not too sweet, and the natural flavor of the azuki beans lingers in your mouth.

A word from JAL staff!
"This is an excellent product wrapped in a thin skin that lets you taste the flavor of each and every bean. The packaging is also ingenious, and I use the empty box to store my New Year's cards every year." (Female ground staff member)

Available at Komatsu Airport Shop 1F

Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region is a place where you can feel the unique history and traditions of the prefecture, combining modesty and splendor. The souvenirs on display at Komatsu Airport are also full of hidden potential that reflect this context. Don't forget to check out these souvenirs before you leave. Bring home the charm of Kaga's one million koku domain.

First posted date: May 28, 2020
*Some content was updated on February 8, 2024.

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