A Guide to Kyoto Nishiki Market: What to Eat, See, & Explore

No visit to Kyoto is complete without exploring its culinary heart: Kyoto Nishiki Market. Nicknamed "Kyoto’s Kitchen," this shopping and food arcade has been serving locals and travelers for centuries with its array of fresh produce, street food-style snacks, fresh seafood, traditional sweets, and artisan specialties. Whether you are a foodie or simply a curious traveler, a guide to Kyoto Nishiki Market is essential to help you navigate its seemingly endless stalls, sample the best bites, and uncover hidden gems along the way.

In this blog post, you will find everything you need to make the most of your visit to Kyoto Nishiki Market. From must-try foods and insider tips to cultural insights and local favorites, get ready to explore one of my favorite places in Japan. Together, we will step into the heart of Kyoto’s culinary scene as we explore a guide to Kyoto Nishiki Market in all its rich, flavorful detail.

A Brief Intro to Kyoto Nishiki Market

Kyoto Nishiki Market began as a fish market in the early 17th century and has evolved into a one-stop destination for everything from seasonal produce and flowers, to street food-style snacks, cookware, and souvenirs. Today, Kyoto Nishiki Market is a blend of generations-old family-run businesses and modern vendors, featuring around 130 unique stalls, offering an experience that is both deeply traditional and wonderfully accessible for tourists.

Nishiki Market is located in central Kyoto, spanning five city blocks that run parallel to Shijō Street (Shijō-dōri), which is the main shopping area and commercial artery of the city. The market stretches from Teramachi Street on the west to Takakura Street on the east, making it incredibly easy to access as you spend your time exploring Kyoto. (Teramachi Street is home to another popular shopping arcade.)

In my opinion, thanks to Nishiki Market's central location, it makes the perfect stop on a day of sightseeing! Whether you are exploring the Gion district, staying in a hotel near Kyoto Station, or shopping on Kawaramachi, Nishiki Market is just a short walk (or train ride) away. The closest metro stations to Nishiki Market are Shijō Station (Karasuma Line) and Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu Line). From either station, it is a short walk to the market. 

Must-Try Foods & Snacks at Nishiki Market

One of the best parts of exploring Kyoto Nishiki Market is sampling your way through the food stalls. Here are some of my favorite Japanese foods to try:

• 🥟 Gyoza: Gyoza are pan-fried dumplings usually filled with minced pork, garlic, chives, and cabbage. At Nishiki Market, you can find freshly grilled gyoza served hot off the skillet. 

• 🍣 Sushi: While sushi is more commonly associated with sit-down dining, you can still find sushi at Nishiki Market. You can expect to find fresh cuts of tuna (maguro), salmon (sāmon), and mackerel (saba). 

• 🍡 Mochi & Traditional Sweets: Soft, chewy, and sometimes filled with sweet red bean paste (yum!), mochi is one of the most popular traditional sweets you can find at Nishiki Market. Additional variations of mochi, include: matcha mochi, mitarashi dango (mochi balls on a skewer and coated in a sweet soy glaze), and daifuku.  
• 🍶 Sake: Many stalls and specialty shops at Nishiki Market offer tastings of sake, Japanese rice wine, giving you the chance to sample different styles. I definitely recommend checking out Nishiki Yatai Mura, which is kind of like a food court within Nishiki Market, if you are interested in trying sake. They offer a special in which your first glass is ¥100 (70¢ USD). Some of the other stalls within Nishiki Yatai Mura also serve some truly excellent food! 

• 🍑 Plum Wine (Umeshu): Plum wine is sweet, smooth, and slightly tangy. It is made by steeping ume plums in alcohol and sugar. At Nishiki Market, you can often sample it chilled—perfect after a long day of sightseeing—or find bottles to take home. Some shops carry aged umeshu or unique infusions like plum wine beer (my personal favorite). 

• 🍢 Kushiage/Kushikatsu: These fried skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables are breaded in panko bread crumbs and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. Popular varieties include: shrimp (prawn), beef, pork, chicken, sweet potato, and asparagus.

• 🐟 Taiyaki: These adorable fish-shaped waffle-like pastries are filled with anything from sweet red bean paste (anko), sweet potato, custard, chocolate, or even matcha cream. Freshly made taiyaki is hot and slightly crispy on the outside. For a fun take on taiyaki, there is a Snoopy Cha-ya (Tea House) in Nishiki Market that sells Snoopy-shaped dorayaki which are really similar to taiyaki! Except instead of being fish-shaped, dorayaki are round, almost like two pancakes with a filling between them. 

• 🎣 Fresh Seafood: Although Kyoto is inland, it has a rich history of seafood being brought in daily from nearby ports. At Nishiki Market, you will often see fresh oysters, scallops, sea urchin (uni), and squid served right on the spot.  

Pickles are another popular snack sold within Nishiki Market, although, they were not something I tried while exploring Kyoto Nishiki Market. One stall specializing in pickles, Uchida, is pretty popular among travelers and locals, selling more than 50 different types of pickles. If you are looking for a full listing of shops and stalls within Nishiki Market, check out the Kyoto Nishiki Market website.

Guided Tours of Kyoto Nishiki Market

If you are unsure of where to start with Japanese street food, or the thought of Nishiki Market overwhelms you, know that there are plenty of guided food tours that you can guide through this iconic landmark. While Brian and I navigated Kyoto Nishiki Market on our own, it is worth noting that we are pretty adventurous eaters. However, if you are looking for a local guide to help you decipher what things are and what to try, some of the highest rated tours of Kyoto Nishiki Market, with our affiliate partner, GetYourGuide, are listed below. 

• Kyoto: Nishiki Market Tour with a Local Foodie & 3 Tastings 
• Kyoto: Local Food Tasting Tour at the Nishiki Market 
• Kyoto: Walking Tour in Gion with Breakfast at Nishiki Market 
• Kyoto: Nishiki Market and Depachika Food Tour with a Local
• Nishiki Market Food Tour with Cooking Class

If you book a tour or experience with one of our GetYourGuide affiliate links, we may earn a small commission that helps us to continue producing this content for you!

Insider Tips & More to Make the Most of Your Visit to Kyoto Nishiki Market

While chances are you are going to stand out as a tourist no matter how hard you try, you can still navigate Kyoto Nishiki Market like an informed and respectful traveler with my insider tips to help you make the most of your visit. 

• Do not walk and eat (or drink) while visiting Kyoto Nishiki Market! Walking while eating and/or drinking is actually considered impolite in Japanese culture. Most stalls within Kyoto Nishiki Market have small counters or areas designed for you to stop and enjoy your food. If the stall is busy, just take a step to the side to finish your food before heading to your next stop. 
• Bring cash! As you probably now know, Japan is a very cash-heavy economy. While some stalls within Nishiki Market may accept credit cards (and/or IC cards), many stalls are cash-only. Yen in small denominations (coins and ¥1,000 notes) are particularly useful at Nishiki Market, especially if you are stopping at multiple vendors. 

• As with any tourist-heavy spot, not all of the stalls within Nishiki Market are going to serve incredible, well-priced food. I never had a bad experience at Nishiki Market, but I always tried to see what places were busy and what exactly was being served before ordering for myself (especially when it came to raw seafood, like oysters).  

• Most stalls at Nishiki Market have small trash cans, for their products only. As is common in Japan, you will not see public trash cans in the market for you to dispose of your trash. I highly recommend bringing a small bag with you to collect your garbage to later dispose of at your hotel. 
• Part of the enjoyment of visiting Nishiki Market in Kyoto is the opportunity to sample a lot of different things. If you are traveling with a friend or partner, sharing food gives you the opportunity to taste even more!
• Be respectful when it comes to photography. Although capturing photos and videos of your experience at Nishiki Market can be enticing, many vendors display "no photo" signs, and filming is generally discouraged.

When to Visit Kyoto Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is open typically from 9:30 AM to 5:30 or 6:00 PM, daily, although hours can vary by shop. Mornings are less crowded, but typically filled with guided tours checking out the market before the lunchtime rush. The sweet spot for visiting Nishiki Market, in my opinion, is mid-afternoon—after lunch, around 2:00–4:00 PM. By this time, the lunch rush has faded, and you will have more breathing room to browse, snack, and enjoy the energy of the market without feeling rushed (or more aptly, packed in like sardines).

Weekends tend to be busier than weekdays. If you are set on visiting Nishiki Market on a weekend, I recommend going shortly after opening, around 10:00 AM, before the crowds get too large. 

You can expect many stalls within Nishiki Market to be closed from January 1st through January 3rd, annually. Many stalls may also close on Wednesdays. However, hours and days of operation are unique to each stall within Nishiki Market. 

A Guide to Kyoto Nishiki Market: Final Thoughts

A stop at Nishiki Market is a must for any traveler visiting Kyoto, especially for foodies. This lively, centuries-old market offers a delicious introduction to the depth and variety of Japanese cuisine, all within a single walkable street.

Be sure to visit Nishiki Market in the mid-to-late afternoon, once the lunch crowds have thinned out, but before the stalls begin to close. (Although, a few stalls do remain open for dinner service. Brian and I had dinner at Nishiki Market one night at a seafood stall that offered sit-down seating.) Definitely remember to bring cash, especially smaller denominations, as many stalls do not accept cards. Above all, however, remember to pause and eat instead of walking while you snack. Not only is this respectful to the local customs, but it also allows you to fully savor every bite.

Nishiki Market was, in my opinion, one of the highlights of my time in Kyoto. I loved the energy, the mix of old and new, and of course, the food. Some of my personal favorites included: crispy pork gyoza, wagyu beef skewers that practically melted in my mouth, and tempura shrimp and sweet potato skewers that were perfectly golden and delicious. I also could not resist a warm taiyaki filled with sweet potato and I still think about it regularly! I also found a love for plum wine beer that was surprisingly incredible, along with some fresh tuna sushi! However, my favorite moment was actually sitting down at a seafood stall to enjoy giant oysters, possibly the largest that I have ever seen, with a cold glass of melon Fanta. 

Every stop and stall in Kyoto Nishiki Market brings something new and exciting. Whether you are on the hunt for a specific dish, simply exploring with an open mind (and empty stomach), or following a guided tour, Kyoto Nishiki Market promises an experience that is flavorful as it is unforgettable! 

Looking for more information to help you plan your trip to Kyoto? Check out our Kyoto Travel Guide for restaurant recommendations, attractions in Kyoto, and more! Spending more than a day or two in Kyoto? Consider a day trip to Nara! Learn all about this incredible town and what there is to see in a day with our Nara Travel Guide. 

What is something you are hoping to try at Kyoto Nishiki Market when you visit? Let us know in the comments below!