If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto, Japan and love exploring local food culture, this guide to Nishiki Market is for you.
Often referred to as Kyoto’s Kitchen, Nishiki Market is a narrow, lively, well-known street located in Kyoto’s city centre, packed with over 130 stalls selling everything from sizzling yakitori and pickled vegetables to matcha desserts and Japanese knives.
To be honest, even if restaurants and markets aren’t usually your thing when you travel, you are missing out on such a fun (and tasty) experience if you don’t embrace at least a wander through Nishiki Market in Kyoto.
Visiting and wandering Nishiki Market really is a must-do experience that captures the city’s traditional heart. Nishiki Market is one of the best things to do in Kyoto because of the sensory immersion of smells, colours, and flavours that it delivers.
In this Japan travel guide, I’m going to share with you where to find Nishiki market, what you should try when you visit and what to expect. Oh, and also the Nishiki Market opening hours (very important).
If you’re staying for a few days in Kyoto, check out my 3-day itinerary for Kyoto here.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in Japan. Simply open the Google Map on your device and all my recommendations are at the touch of your fingertips.
Where is Nishiki Market?
Nishiki Market runs five blocks long through the heart of downtown Kyoto, parallel to Shijō Street and just a short walk from Kawaramachi Station or Karasuma Station. If you’re staying in Gion like I was, it’s a lovely 25-minute early evening stroll across the bridge and through the city to find it.
You’ll find Nishiki Market, Japan, tucked between the streets of Teramachi and Takakura, making it easy to combine with a day of shopping, city wandering or temple hopping.
Be mindful, though, of the opening hours of Nishiki Market; it’s not a night market, so you’ll need to visit between the hours of 9am and 6pm!
📍 Address: Nishikikoji-dori, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Opening Hours: Typically 9:00am–6:00pm (varies by stall)
Entry Fee: Free
A Little History & Fun Facts About Nishiki Market
Before Nishiki Market became the bustling foodie favourite that it is today, Nishiki Market started as a simple fish market more than 400 years ago
Kyoto, at the time, was Japan’s capital, and the clear, cold groundwater from the area’s underground springs made it the perfect place to keep fish fresh before refrigeration existed. That was the why behind the location!
By the Edo Period (1603–1868), Nishiki had become the go-to spot for Kyoto’s chefs and locals to source premium ingredients. Many of the family-run stalls and businesses still present at Nishiki Market have been here for generations, passing down traditional recipes and food preparation techniques. See if you can spot any!
Here are a few fun facts about Nishiki Market:
- The famous Aritsugu Knife Shop dates back to 1560 and originally made swords for samurai before turning to kitchen knives.
- Some vendors have been operating for over 10 generations – so when you buy a skewer, you’re literally tasting history.
- ‘Nishiki’ means brocade – a reference to the street’s richly decorated and vibrant personality, plus its historical ties to Kyoto’s textile industry.
What to Expect at Nishiki Market and Top Things to Try At Nishiki Market🍢
Lots of food! Come hungry and ready to taste your way through all the flavours of Kyoto’s traditional street food. There are so many stalls, so I highly recommend taking a wander and looking around before diving in!
Most stalls take card payments, but it’s always a good idea to bring some cash as it’s preferred by many. The last thing you want is to find something yummy and then you have no cash to pay for it!
Here are a few examples of things being served up that you can try:
- Fresh seafood skewers (grilled scallops, baby octopus stuffed with quail egg)
- Yuba (tofu skin) – a Kyoto delicacy
- Tsukemono (Japanese pickles)
- Matcha sweets – from soft-serve to mochi and dango
- Tamago-yaki – the famous fluffy rolled omelette
- Wagyu beef skewers grilled to perfection
- Local sake and craft beer tastings
- Handcrafted souvenirs like ceramics, chopsticks, and kitchen knives
It’s busy, noisy, and full of character. Go when you’re feeling social, take your camera and experience the perfect window into Kyoto’s food culture.
Beyond the Food at Nishiki Market
As I’ve mentioned previously, Nishiki Market isn’t just about street food; it’s a cultural experience, and there are other things you can purchase there, too. Here are a couple of examples:
- Locally sourced matcha and sencha (lots of opportunity to pikc up gifts and souvenirs)
- One of Japan’s most famous traditional knife makers is here, Aritsugu Knife Shop, with a 400-year legacy.
- Kimura Pickles (showcasing Kyoto’s obsession with preserving seasonal vegetables)
Tips for Visiting Nishiki Market
- Go early or mid-morning to beat the crowds. By lunchtime, it’s packed.
- Bring cash as many stalls don’t accept cards.
- Don’t rush. Leave time for wandering, as the best part of Nishiki is sampling as you go.
Best Time to Visit Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market is open year-round, but there’s a different kind of buzz in the spring and autumn when Kyoto is overflowing with seasonal produce. Think sakura-themed sweets in spring and chestnut or pumpkin flavours in autumn.
If Kyoto is Japan’s cultural soul, then Nishiki Market is its beating heart.
Coming to Nishiki Market is where old traditions meet modern bites, and where you can taste a real, authentic slice of Kyoto – one skewer at a time. If sitting down in restaurants isn’t your kind of thing, but sampling lots of different local dishes is, you are going to love Nishiki Market.
Have the best time! Let me know what your favourite dish is!
Have you been to Nishiki Market, Kyoto?
What are the best things to do in Kyoto? Anything you’d add to this Nishiki Market, Kyoto guide?
Love as always and happy adventuring…
Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in Japan. Simply open the Google Map on your device and all my recommendations are at the touch of your fingertips.
