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Nishiki Market

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Nishiki Market

All the ingredients only Kyoto can offer! The market has supported Kyoto gourmet food for over 400 years.

3.25 5

Last update :
Supervised by :  Kyoto Nishiki Market Promotion Association

Nishiki Market is located on Nishikikoji Street, north of Shijo Street, Kyoto’s main street. The fish market thrived here, and in 1615, it received official permission from the Edo Shogunate to expand. It is called “Kyoto’s kitchen” and offers a wide range of foods such as Kyoto vegetables, fresh-water fish from Lake Biwa, Hamo (conger pike), Guji (tilefish), Sasakarei (half-dried flounder), Yuba (tofu skin), Namafu, and pickles. Most of Kyoto’s special ingredients can be found here.

The arcade stretches 390 meters from east to west, and is lined with about 130 stores on both sides. Among them are soy milk doughnuts, namafu buns, fish ball tempura, yuba cream croquettes, and many other Kyoto gourmet foods that are hard to choose from. The market prohibits eating or drinking while strolling, so you should take your purchases to an eat-in area. At Kyoto's antenna shop, “Tango TABLE” in the market, customers can bring in items from other stores by ordering at least one item per customer. And at “Nishiki Shokudo” near the market, customers can do the same by ordering one drink per customer.

This place has become known as a related place to Ito Jakuchu, an artist in the Edo period, who is popular overseas. He was born into a vegetable wholesaler in Nishiki Market, and there is a monument at the site of his birthplace. Also, some stores decorate their shutters with colorful and detailed paintings of Jakuchu, so taking a tour of the art on shutters would be entertaining.

Highlights

  • This market with a long history has been loved for over 400 years.
  • It offers a large selection of Kyoto ingredients and is used by professional chefs.
  • The eat-in area and lots of take-out foods are available.
  • Art on store shutters by Ito Jakuchu, an artist in the Edo period, entertains your eyes.

Photos

  • This colorful canopy makes shopping easy even on rainy days.

    This colorful canopy makes shopping easy even on rainy days.

  • At “Tango TABLE”, you can bring in your purchases from other stores. It offers specialties from Tango in Kyoto, such as craft beer and sausages.

    At “Tango TABLE”, you can bring in your purchases from other stores. It offers specialties from Tango in Kyoto, such as craft beer and sausages.

  • Even when the stores are closed, the art on the store shutters keeps your eyes entertained.

    Even when the stores are closed, the art on the store shutters keeps your eyes entertained.

Reviews

5

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • Holly
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    Nishiki Market felt to me like a blend of a Japanese shopping street and traditional markets such as Kizu Market and Omicho Market. The entire street is packed with shops selling everything from Kyoto pickles, tofu, tamagoyaki, seafood, and dried goods to wagashi and matcha desserts. However, Nishiki Market now officially reminds visitors not to eat while walking. After purchasing food, it is best to eat in front of the shop or in a designated area inside.

    That said, there aren't many places where you can sit down and eat, so you may want to have something beforehand and then come browse. It's good for trying small snacks, while many items are better bought to eat back at your hotel. This time, I also bought tamagoyaki from one shop. I had high expectations, but after eating it, I realized I really do seem to prefer the Kanto style. I looked it up afterward and learned that Kansai-style tamagoyaki mainly features the flavor of dashi and is lighter, while I prefer the sweeter Kanto version with a more pronounced flavor. Another interesting item commonly seen in the market is baby octopus stuffed with a quail egg. A whole baby octopus has a quail egg inside, giving it a very distinctive appearance. This was also my first time trying it here, and it was a memorable snack.

    At the eastern end of Nishiki Market is Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine. The main deity enshrined here is Sugawara no Michizane, so like other Tenmangu shrines, it is known for worship related to learning and wisdom and is very popular. After all, who wouldn't want to pray for knowledge and wisdom? The grounds also have “Nishiki Water,” which springs from about 30 meters underground. It's very convenient to stop by and pray after reaching the end of the market.

    Next to Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine is the Shinkyogoku branch of Tamaru Inbo, which I make a point of visiting every time I come. Their “Kyo Ufufu Stamps” come in around 1,000 designs, ranging from Japanese-style patterns and Kyoto themes to amusing text stamps. If you like planners and stamps, it's really easy to lose control here. The prices certainly aren't cheap, but the stamp designs and craftsmanship are excellent, and I personally feel the quality justifies the price.

  • HUANG CHIUYEN
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    Even though it's a traditional market, the place is decorated in a unique way and is super clean—no fishy smell at all.

  • 賴梅
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    It feels like a traditional market, but there are also lots of trendy shops. There are street foods and restaurants, so it's always lively.

  • 箐箐
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    Markets in Japan are generally super clean, and there are tons of snacks to try. Kyoto especially has a huge variety of pickled foods. Worth checking out!

  • AngeLourdsky
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    You can really get a feel for local life from the ingredients and foods sold at the shops. No matter what country I visit, I always love checking out the markets.

Details

Name in Japanese
京都錦市場商店街振興組合
Postal Code
604-8054
Address
609 Nishidaimonjicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Telephone
075-211-3882 (Kyoto Nishiki Market Promotion Association)
Holiday
Varies by store
Business Hours
Varies by store
Directions
1) A 3-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Line Kyoto Subway
2) A 3-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line
3) A 4-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line
4) A 10-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line
Credit Cards
Varies by store
Official Website
Official Website (English)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa