Kyoto’s most famous food and drink destination, Nishiki Market, is over 400 years old and located in the heart of Kyoto.
With so many tasty tidbits and traditional Japanese dishes available, it is one of the best places to shop and eat in Kyoto.
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A bustling street of savory, sweet and umami treats, Nishiki Market comprises of around 120 shops, fish counters and street food stalls along a 400m stretch, with a colossal and colourful stained glass.
It is an awesome all weather activity in Kyoto (delicious too) and often referred to as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’.
Nishiki Market also recently featured in the 2024 episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix and serves up everything from eel to mugmort mochi, sake to sabazushi (mackerel sushi).
From its history to the different foods you can try, here is our guide to Nishiki Market in Kyoto.
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How to get to Nishiki Market in Kyoto
The nearest stations to Nishiki Market (錦市場) is Shijo Station on the Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line or Karasuma Station on the Kyoto Metro Hankyu Kyoto Line – both are a 3 minute walk away from the market.
Alternatively, Kyoto Kawaramachi Station is a 5 minute walk away from the market.
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Kyoto station to Nishiki Market
From Kyoto station to Nishiki Market by bus, take bus No. 5 to Shijo Takakura and get off at the Daimaru Department store – from there, it is a short 1 to 2 minute walk to the market.
To take the train from Kyoto Station to Nishiki Market, take the Karasuma local line towards Kokusaikaikan from platform 2 to Shijo station (3 minutes on the train), then walk 8 minutes to Nishiki Market.
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Nishiki Market opening hours in 2024
The opening hours of the various stalls at Nishiki Market vary but most are open from 9am to 5pm (although individual stalls may vary).
If you want to try a particular food, try to get to the market in the morning as some stalls sell out by lunch!
Some Nishiki Market stores are open daily but many close on Sundays and public holidays – some of the smaller stalls close on Wednesday too.
Nishiki Market is also free to visit – no tickets are required.
However, if you would like a guided tour with food tastings and a local guide, try these experiences:
- Explore Nishiki Market: food & culture walk >
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hour food tour with a local >
- Kyoto: walking tour in Gion with breakfast at Nishiki Market >
- Kyoto foodie night tour >
- Nishiki Market & Teramachi Street tour with Klook >
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History of Nishiki Market in Kyoto
Now Kyoto’s most famous food destination, Nishiki Market (錦市場) was officially designated a food market over 400 years ago in 1615, but fish-selling has taken place on this site since the 1780s.
The market really began to boom in the late 1920s when many more new stalls opened here and its reputation for good, fresh food grew.
The iconic red, green and yellow roof was then installed – given the unique color scheme and rainbow effect this produces as sunlight shines through, this is one of the most unmistakable (and Instagrammable) markets in Kyoto, if not Japan.
Such is the popularity and international appeal of Nishiki Market, it even trademarked its name in 2005, to protect the good name of the market.
Today, it is one of the busiest food markets in Kyoto, welcoming thousands of tourists every day.
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Food and drink at Nishiki Market
The colorful covered market stretches around 400 meters with over 100 fine food stalls lining either side. Nishiki is bustling all day as locals and restaurant staff buy fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish, plus workers grab breakfast and lunchtime snacks.
There are so many different types of foods to try at Nishiki Market and it is famous for its fresh seafood stalls (best served with sake – probably).
Also, whilst some of the stalls are all about wholesale and large quantities too, many of the restaurants and fishmongers also sell small portions to takeaway or eat in small sitting areas inside.
Some of the most famous stalls at Nishiki Market include:
- Kaisen Hotate Center – grilled seafood skewers, fish bowls plus fresh oysters galore!). With all the fresh fish outside, this is one of the most popular stalls in Nishiki Market (and very photogenic too).
- Inumaeya – jumbo yakitori chicken skewers and chicken drumsticks – it smells amazing!
- Kumonocha tea cafe, known for its amazing matcha tea drinks
- Hiroshige – renowned for their beef / pork innards dish, motsu ni
- Houkyuuan fishcakes and oden stall
- Yatai Mura – a famous set of stalls under one roof selling oysters, sashimi, blow-torched beef cubes and more
- Tsunuki sake stall – try dozens of different local sakes including some very cheap shots
- Ikemasi Tai – famous for its obanzai Kyoto specialities using fresh local ingredients
- Nishiki Daiyasu – selling fresh oysters for over 100 years
- Tasty Tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelet stalls)
- Genzou Kyoto style noodles, oden and kushikatsu (skewered meat and vegetables deep fat fried)
- Sublime strawberry daifuku at Hatagoya Rihei
And it isn’t just traditional food and drink stalls – you will also find a Snoopy Tea House, plus several greengrocers and souvenir stalls selling waving cats (neko), tote bags and more.
Plan My Japan tip – wear sensible shoes when exploring the market as the floors can be quite slippery when wet, especially around the fish market section.
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Our Nishiki Market video
Somebody Feed Phil Netflix Kyoto Edition – Nishiki Market
If you’ve found this Nishiki Market guide after watching the Kyoto episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix, welcome!
In the programme, Phil meets up with food-tour guide Yuma Wada to sample delicious street food from this popular 400 year old market.
Phil and Yuma ate:
- Sabazushi (marinated mackerel sushi)
- Battered and deep fried hamo eel
- Kyoto-style dashimaki egg omelet
- Pickled vegetable plate with sake
- Fresh mugwort mochi with sweet red bean filling
- Koi fish cooked with sake, mirin sweetener and soy sauce
Check out the rest of the Kyoto restaurants and food stalls that Phil visited here >
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When is the best time to go to Nishiki Market?
Open from 9am to 5.30pm most days (although many close on Sunday), if you don’t like crowds, try to avoid Nishiki during the lunchtime rush between 11.30am and 2pm or at the weekend. However, when it is packed with hungry visitors, it is very atmospheric.
If you want to try the cheap sake stalls the market is famous for, it might be best to do your sightseeing in the morning then head to Nishiki in the afternoon for a sake session – kanpai!
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Other things to know
- It is impolite to walk around whilst eating and be sure to dispose of garbage in the correct manner.
- Nishiki Market requests you eat your food in front of or inside the shop where you bought it.
- The official Nishiki website and English language version can be found here including a full directory of stalls and shops.
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Address
Nishiki Market, 〒604 – 8054, 609 Nishidaimonji-cho, Nakagyo-ku,Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
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