All Reviews of Nishiki Market

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.