Nishiki Market
Market · Kyoto-shi
Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8055, Japan
Highlights
Kyoto's Kitchen: Five blocks of food stalls, shops, & culinary specialties
Kyoto's Kitchen: Five blocks of food stalls, shops, & culinary specialties
"A popular covered market in downtown Kyoto, Nishiki Market is best visited in the quieter morning hours when locals shop for produce and seafood; I caution that many historic vendors closed during the pandemic and that much of what is bright and flashy now was added afterward, so try to seek out the less-fancy stalls for more authentic finds. I also recommend the portable treats sold there, like pickles and furikake, as easy gifts to bring home." - Jessica Kozuka Jessica Kozuka Jessica Kozuka is a Japan-based freelance writer with nearly 20 years of experience. Her work has appeared in publications such as Wine Spectator, Travel + Leisure, CNN Travel, and The Japan Times. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A lively Kyoto food market featured as a guided stop with a local chef, offering visitors the chance to sample regional ingredients, street foods, and culinary specialties while learning about local food culture." - Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer who specializes in stories at the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She has lived in Turkey for nearly a decade and has traveled extensively around the region. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A narrow, five-block-long market with roughly 400 years of history and over 100 shops where visitors meander slowly to sample countless to-go items. While most offerings are grab-and-go, the perimeter provides sit-down options like a stall serving warm okonomiyaki—pan-fried batter and cabbage—perfect for a cozy local meal." - Stacey Leasca
"Kyoto’s Nishiki Market Nishiki is Kyoto 's main food market and it is a delight for foodies. I spent a week in Kyoto and visited every day (sometimes more than once)! Inside the market is a temple, and before refrigeration, the temple was the source of cold water. Merchants and city residents visited to collect water for their stores and their homes. The modern market has plumbing, but many merchants still bring their containers to collect water as it is a source of good luck. Kyoto's water is well known which is why they are known for their agricultural products including special Kyoto vegetable. There are ancient shops, modern shops, sake shops, as well as the famous Aritsugu knife shop. Green tea matcha everything, dumplings, noodles, fresh fish and vegetables, spices and treats. Try everything!"
"The covered food market is not a secret by any means. But it's a delightful way to fit together an impromptu lunch with the prepared food from stalls."
