📜 Shopping Details
Nishiki Market is located on Nishiki Koji Street, just north of the main street of Kyoto, Shijo-dori. In the past, this area was bustling with fresh fish shops, and in 1615, it was further developed with the approval of the Edo Shogunate. From Kyoto vegetables to freshwater fish from Lake Biwa, eel, horse mackerel, flatfish, tofu skin, wheat gluten, and pickled goods, a wide variety of ingredients can be found here, earning it the nickname "Kyoto's Kitchen." Almost all unique Kyoto ingredients can be purchased here.
Nishiki Market is approximately 390 meters long, with around 130 shops lined up on both sides of the arcade. Inside, you can find a diverse range of products that allow you to taste Kyoto ingredients, such as soy milk donuts, wheat gluten red bean buns, fish cake tempura, and tofu skin cream croquettes, making it a feast for the eyes. Due to the market's rule of "no eating while walking," please make sure to enjoy any take-out food in the designated dining areas. Among the establishments in Nishiki Market is a restaurant called "Tango TABLE," which aims to promote Kyoto's culinary culture. As long as you order a drink or a meal inside, you can bring in food from other shops. Additionally, at the nearby "Sake and Dishes Nishikidokoro," you can also bring in food from other places as long as you order a drink.
It is worth mentioning that the famous Edo period painter "Ito Jakuchu," who is well-known overseas, has a deep connection to this area. He was born in Nishiki Market, where his family operated a vegetable wholesale business, and there is a commemorative signboard built for him at his original home. Furthermore, the iron gates of closed shops have also become a focal point of Nishiki Market. The gates are adorned with vibrant and intricately detailed paintings by Ito Jakuchu, and a tour of these painted gates is definitely worth including in your travel itinerary.
