All Reviews of Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is definitely a stop you can't miss in Kyoto! Known as “Kyoto's Kitchen,” Nishiki Market has a history of more than 400 years. It stretches about 400 meters and is lined with more than 130 shops offering everything from Kyoto specialties, pickles, tofu, and seafood to all kinds of souvenirs. Walking through it gives you a real sense of everyday life in Kyoto.

The market isn't just a place to “eat”—it's more like a food stroll through Kyoto. Every shop has its own specialties, and browsing and choosing foods you like as you go is really part of the fun! One important reminder when visiting Nishiki Market: don't eat while walking! The market street is fairly narrow, so to avoid getting food on other visitors and to help keep the market clean, it's best to eat purchased food in the shop's designated area or dine inside.

Whenever I come to Kyoto, I always think of taking a stroll through Nishiki Market~ Known as “Kyoto's Kitchen,” it's packed with all kinds of Kyoto foods and long-established shops. It's really fun to browse, eat, and shop as you go. Besides all kinds of Kyoto-style pickles, you can also find dashi tamagoyaki from Nishiki Hirano, tamagoyaki from Miki Keiran, and fresh seafood from Nishiki Uoriki. If you like pickles, don't miss long-established shops such as Nishiri and Masugo. The colorful varieties of Kyoto pickles have flavors that are also very distinctive of Kyoto. Along the way, you can also pick up popular snacks such as soy milk donuts, takoyaki, and matcha sweets. There's a new surprise every few steps. If you want to experience Kyoto's everyday side, Nishiki Market is the place to go!

Visiting Kyoto's Nishiki Market is like setting off on a food adventure! The entire street is lined with delicious-smelling snacks—octopus egg skewers, tamagoyaki, grilled seafood, soy milk donuts—and everything looks so tempting!

I ate as I walked, and every item had a different surprise. The freshly grilled seafood was especially fragrant, and eating it piping hot was so satisfying! Beyond the food, you can also experience the lively, welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Kyoto market.

This visit to Nishiki Market wasn't just about eating—it felt more like discovering Kyoto through my taste buds.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.