Nishiki Market: A Food Stroll Through the Kitchen of Kyoto

Nishiki Market is an arcade market with roughly four centuries of history, known as the kitchen of Kyoto. Running about four hundred meters east to west from Teramachi to Takakura Street, over one hundred thirty specialty shops line up selling Kyoto vegetables, fresh fish, pickles, rolled omelets, tofu skin, and sweets. Professional chefs and travelers mingle here, making it a place to experience the food of Kyoto firsthand.

Highlights

• Rows of specialty shops for pickles, rolled omelets, tofu skin, soy milk doughnuts, and more
• Flavors handed down by old shops mix with the ideas of newer ones
• The vivid Kyoto vegetables and seasonal fish on display make it a pleasure just to wander

Enjoying the Seasons

The market fills with seasonal Kyoto vegetables and fresh fish, changing its look with each visit. Winter brings senmaizuke and Shogoin turnip, summer shibazuke and pike conger, so you meet the flavors of the moment. At year end it grows even livelier with shoppers seeking New Year ingredients, letting you feel the vigor of Kyoto food culture.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: an arcade in Nakagyo Ward running about four hundred meters east to west from Teramachi to Takakura Street
• Access: about a 5 minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, also near Shijo Station on the subway Karasuma Line
• Hours: many shops open around 9 to 10 a.m. and trade until early evening, varying by shop
• Budget feel: you can sample a little at a time from a few hundred yen per item, such as dashimaki, pickles, and skewers

Practical Travel Notes

• Refraining from eating while walking is the etiquette. Many shops have standing spaces or eat in areas, and enjoying food at the storefront is the norm. Have your trash taken by the shop where you bought it, or carry it out.
• To avoid crowds, aim for the morning. Around 10 to 11 a.m. you can browse relatively calmly, but from before noon into the evening the aisle fills with people.
• Having cash on hand makes payment smooth even at small specialty shops.
• Buying small amounts to compare is recommended. Pickles and dashimaki also make good souvenirs.
• The east end connects to the Teramachi and Shinkyogoku arcades, and the west end is near Daimaru and Shijo Street, so you can combine it with shopping and meals.

A Quick Tip

At shops that catch your eye, sample food at the storefront. Buying a little at a time to compare the seasonal tastes of Kyoto brings fresh discoveries. Visiting first thing in the quiet morning and moving on to your next destination before noon is the wise way to tour.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Address and inquiries: Kyoto Nishiki Market Shopping Street Promotion Association / 609 Nishi-Daimonji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City 604-8054, telephone 075-211-3882.
• Access: About a 3-minute walk from 'Shijo' Station on the Subway Karasuma Line and Hankyu Kyoto Line 'Karasuma' Station, or about 4 minutes from Hankyu 'Kyoto-Kawaramachi' Station. From Kyoto Station, take city bus route 5, get off at 'Shijo Takakura (Daimaru Department Store)' and walk about 2 minutes.
• Parking: 'Amicale Nishiki' on the west side of Tominokoji, north of Shijo, with 14 spaces (open 10:00-17:00; a discount applies with a purchase of 500 yen or more at one shop). With so few spaces, public transport is the surer choice.
• Opening hours: The official website does not publish uniform opening hours or closing days for the market as a whole; these differ from shop to shop.
• Points to note: The official website asks visitors to 'please refrain from eating while walking. Please eat in front of, or inside, the shop where you made your purchase.'

Note: Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Kyoto Nishiki Market Shopping Street official website, top page and access page)

Sources of Information

This article is compiled from Kyoto Prefecture's tourism information and information published by the individual shops. Prices, menus and seasonal availability are subject to change, so please check each shop's official information for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From a few hundred yen for snacks as you go
• Where to eat: The individual shops of Nishiki Market (Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City)
• Best time of day: Mainly midday. Mornings are relatively quiet
• Dealing with crowds: Extremely busy on weekends and in the tourist season. Mornings are your best bet
• Enjoy it with: Dashimaki tamago (rolled omelette), Kyoto pickles, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, and snacking your way along Shinkyogoku