Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is a centuries-old, narrow covered shopping street renowned for selling traditional Kyoto foods and ingredients. It is famously nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen' due to its vast array of local specialties. The market is the premier place to buy traditional Japanese pickles, seaweed, and fresh seafood.

The main covered portion of Nishiki Market stretches for approximately 390 meters, which is about 1,300 feet. It runs parallel to Teramachi Street, connecting the eastern and western halves of central Kyoto. Despite its relatively short length, it is packed with over a hundred individual vendors.

Most of the shops in Nishiki Market are open daily, typically from morning until late afternoon or early evening. However, the market observes traditional Japanese holidays, and many individual stalls close on specific days of the week or for the New Year. It is generally best to visit between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

While there is plenty of street food available, tourists are strongly discouraged from eating while walking through the narrow aisles. This is a strict local custom to maintain cleanliness and prevent crowding. Vendors usually provide a designated eating area right next to their stall for customers to consume their food.