Nishiki Market is located on Nishikikoji Street, north of Shijo Street, Kyoto’s main street. The fish market thrived here, and in 1615, it received official permission from the Edo Shogunate to expand. It is called “Kyoto’s kitchen” and offers a wide range of foods such as Kyoto vegetables, fresh-water fish from Lake Biwa, Hamo (conger pike), Guji (tilefish), Sasakarei (half-dried flounder), Yuba (tofu skin), Namafu, and pickles. Most of Kyoto’s special ingredients can be found here.
The arcade stretches 390 meters from east to west, and is lined with about 130 stores on both sides. Among them are soy milk doughnuts, namafu buns, fish ball tempura, yuba cream croquettes, and many other Kyoto gourmet foods that are hard to choose from. The market prohibits eating or drinking while strolling, so you should take your purchases to an eat-in area. At Kyoto's antenna shop, “Tango TABLE” in the market, customers can bring in items from other stores by ordering at least one item per customer. And at “Nishiki Shokudo” near the market, customers can do the same by ordering one drink per customer.
This place has become known as a related place to Ito Jakuchu, an artist in the Edo period, who is popular overseas. He was born into a vegetable wholesaler in Nishiki Market, and there is a monument at the site of his birthplace. Also, some stores decorate their shutters with colorful and detailed paintings of Jakuchu, so taking a tour of the art on shutters would be entertaining.
Highlights
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This market with a long history has been loved for over 400 years.
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It offers a large selection of Kyoto ingredients and is used by professional chefs.
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The eat-in area and lots of take-out foods are available.
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Art on store shutters by Ito Jakuchu, an artist in the Edo period, entertains your eyes.
