Kyoto’s four hundred year old Nishiki Market is a virtual paradise for food and ethnic Japanese goods. Join me as I walk through Japan’s most iconic markets.
Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, Nishiki Market is a lively market in Kyoto that dates back to over four hundred years. It’s a great place to see attractively displayed fresh seafood, produce and for seasonal Kyoto specialities like sweets and pickles.
The market is spread over five blocks and has close to over a hundred stores. I paid a quick visit to Nishiki when I was in Kyoto. While I reached the market a little before closing time, it certainly was a veritable riot of colors and colorful displays.
The entrance to Nishiki Market shows promise, but I am a little late – almost at closing timeThe market is spread over five blocks and has close to over a hundred stores. (Peter Rabbit/flickr)Packed delicacies for sale at the market. Nishiki is known for its wide variety of unique food.Squid for sale at one of the stalls in NishikiSome kind of flat fish or Eel at Nishiki MarketThe octopus arms on stick, look delicious. You can find this and many more snacks in NishikiLots of nice freshly cut Sashimi like slices are on sale at this stallSome lovely fish roe and clams on saleDifferent types of crabs at NishikiNishiki market is a seafood lover’s paradise for the sheer variety of seafood on saleSeafood is not the only thing you can find in Nishiki. Lots of fresh flowers are available here as wellYou can also find traditional Japanese sweets hereBesides food, you can also find handicrafts, like these beautiful fans (Sophia Lucero/flickr)More Sweets on sale at NishikiNishiki is also a street food lover’s paradise. The street is often interspersed with aromatic smells of freshly cooking snacks. (Craige Moore/flickr)Sashimi on a stick, one of the many easy to eat snacks at Nishiki. (wjl_yyc/flickr)This tiny octopus was stuffed with a boiled quail egg. The snack was delicious, in spite of its fearsome appearance.You can find an octopus at almost every corner of Nishiki, even on the ceiling
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Getting There
The closest station to Nishiki is the Shijo Station on the Karasuma Subway Line or Karasuma or Kawaramachi Stations on the Hankyu Line. The market is a short 10-15 minute walk from these stations. The market is open from 9:00 to 18:00 on most days, but stores remains closed on Wednesday or Sunday (depending on the store)
