Nishiki Market is a narrow market of food shops, a few streets long, in the heart of Kyoto. Go in the morning for the best choice and the most room to move. When the weather turns, use the covered arcades of Kawaramachi, which run close by, for shopping that stays dry. This guide shows you how to eat at the market, how to shop with children and what to check before you go. The market and the arcades belong to the Kawaramachi and Nishiki guide, inside the wider Kyoto guide.
Go in the morning
The market is at its calmest before midday. Many stalls open in the morning, and the lanes are easier to walk. By the afternoon the narrow aisles fill with visitors, and it can be hard to stop at a stall without blocking the way.
Some shops close early, and some close one day a week. Check the opening days before you plan your visit, especially if you want a particular item.
Check first: Check the opening days and times of the shops you want on their own pages or on the official Kyoto tourism website. Some shops close early, and a few close on a set weekday.
How to eat at the market
Eating is the main reason to come. Buy one item at a time, and taste it before you choose the next. Look for pickles, tofu dishes, small skewers and sweets. Many stalls sell a single item in a small portion, which is ideal for a tasting walk.
Some areas ask visitors not to eat while they walk. Follow the signs. If you see a bench or a space beside a stall, stop there to eat, then move on so others can use the space.
Families with strollers
The lanes are narrow, and a pushchair can be hard to steer when the crowd is thick. Visit early, fold the stroller at busy points, and keep children close to the stall fronts. Plan a rest beside a shop or in a nearby cafe before the walk back.
Children often enjoy the sweets and the small snacks. Let them choose one item each, and share the rest so that the day stays easy.
Solo travellers
The market suits a solo visitor well. You can stop at any stall, take your time and read the menu boards. Ask staff about an item if you are unsure what it is. Most shops are happy to explain their food, and many will let you try a small sample before you buy.
Keep your bag closed and in front of you in the crowded lanes. Step aside when a delivery or a cart comes through.
Rainy days: the covered streets
Kawaramachi has covered arcades that run north to south. The best known are Teramachi and Shinkyogoku. They have small shops, souvenirs, games and craft stores, and they stay dry when the rain is heavy. Walk them slowly, and look into the side passages.
Use the arcades as a second plan. If the market is wet and slippery, spend the afternoon indoors and return to the market on a clear morning.
Check first: Check the weather forecast on the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) website before you plan a market morning. Check whether a stall takes cards before you order, because small stalls may take cash only.
Shopping tips
Carry some cash for small purchases. Keep the receipts from your shopping, and check the rules for any tax refund on the shop's own sign or website. Ask staff before you pack a food item to take home, because some foods cannot be taken out of the country.
If you want a gift, buy it in the arcade rather than the market. The arcades have more choice of boxed items, and they are easier to carry on a long day.
After shopping: walk to the river
When you finish, walk east to the Kamo River. It is a short walk from the covered streets, and it gives you a quiet place to sit. Evening is the best time for the riverbank, and the lights on the water are a calm end to the day.
For dinner, Pontocho is a short walk from the river. Use Tabelog to find a restaurant with recent reviews, and book when the listing allows it.
What to do next
Use the Kyoto guide to see the city as a whole. For the shopping area, read the Kawaramachi and Nishiki guide. You can find more articles in the guides index, or use the planner to fit a market morning into your trip.
