Nishiki Market sits in the centre of Kyoto, in the Kansai Region of Japan, and is often called "Kyoto's Kitchen." The market runs for five blocks through a narrow shopping street, lined with more than 100 specialty food shops, and its roots go back about 400 years.
What to expect
The appeal of Nishiki is its focus on food. Stalls and shops offer a wide range of local produce and prepared foods, so a visit is as much about wandering and looking as it is about buying. Many shopkeepers invite visitors to sample what they sell, which makes it easy to try a few things as you go.
- Traditional sweets, which are a good way to sample Kyoto's confectionery.
- Pickles, a long-standing part of Japanese food culture and a regular feature of the market's shops.
- Local delicacies, showing the foods that the city is known for.
Planning your visit
Nishiki works well as a relaxed stop during a day of sightseeing in Kyoto. Because the market is a single long street, you can walk its length at your own pace, stopping wherever something catches your eye. Going with an empty stomach, or with room to sample several small items, will make the most of it.
The market gives a sense of everyday Kyoto life, with its shopkeepers and their specialist goods. Combined with the other attractions in the city and wider Kansai region, it makes a good introduction to the local food scene.
