Nishiki Market Kyoto (aka Nishiki Ichiba and it is veritably meant brocade market). It is a historical 400 years old market occupied by 130 shops and restaurants selling a wide variety of Japanese food and produce and items such as fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, knives and cookwares, pickles and sushi. Nowadays Nishiki Market is a really popular and must visit market in Kyoto and is constantly packed with tourists and locals alike. The market’s opening hours is from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The market is closed on Sundays. Also, One point for you to be aware of is that many shops are closed on Wednesdays. Go other days to avoid disappointment. Usually the peak hours are from 10am to 1 pm.

You can get to Nishiki Market by subway from Kyoto station. It is accessible easily by just a five-minute walk from Shijo Station.

After we visited Fushimi Inari Taisha (thousand Tori), we took the train to Nishiki market. We arrived quite early way before the opening time (9am) and the arrival of the tourists. We strolled leisurely and peacefully through Takomasu, Termachi Street and Shinkyogoku shopping street before we reached Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine located opposite the Nishiki Market entrance. The shrine is dedicated to Tenjin, the god of scholarship. Don’t forget to touch the bronze ox to get blessing for wealth good luck. We were pleased that we arrived early to see the shop owners and staff preparing the food and displays without any distractions. Of course I took plentiful eccentric photographs of the shops and food joyously. We could not try too much food cause we had a reservation at Kyoto Yoshitsugu (a traditional Japanese tea and sweets cafe) at 10am.

There are some shops in the market that are popular amongst tourists and locals.

Kimura Fresh Fish is a shop where you can taste fresh produce like squid, oysters, sea urchin, tuna etc

If you love oysters and dare to try pufferfish then stop by Watahanis, you won’t be disappointed.

Tanaka Keiran is a shop where you can try the famous Tamagoyaki, aka fried egg omelette in square shape. The tamagoyaki is cooked in a rectangular pan called a makiyakinabe or tamagoyakiki. Also don’t miss the eel and egg roll at Ajisaino Toyo.

Although many people like Tako Tamago (aka octopus egg). A hard boiled quail egg is stuffed in the octopus head and then grilled to perfection. Though many people tried and loved the octopus eggs, we find it weird to look at and eat these odd looking octopus.

Karikari Hakase specializes in serving Takoyaki.

If you fancy meat cuisine or snack, then you go to Torisei Takoyakushi. This vendor is well known for serving yakitori (grilled chicken). Also you can try Inumaeya jumbo chicken yakitori at 1000 yen, bone-in chicken 1500 yen.

Last but not least, many people stop by Aritsugu, a knife and kitchenware crafter.

More bonus tips: for a different culinary experience : don’t miss out these 2 tofu shops. Try the yummy soymilk cream croquette and the light and fluffy tofu doughnuts at Konna Monja. Also try the thick hot tofu drink and soy milk hotpot set at Nishiki Soya (if you fancy a vegetarian meal). There is a hidden gem : a Michelin star Gyoza and King fried chicken by Thunder God hidden in the alley. Well try all these restaurants next visit then.

Before we visit the Nishiki Market, we did research on the customary behavior in Nishiki market or other markets or any public places in Japan.

It is considered inappropriate for you eating your food (whether takeaway food or food to be immediately consumed) while you are walking around.

It is rare for you finding a trash bin in the city though littering is a very unacceptable behavior in Japan. So it is advisable that you bring a plastic bag with you when you go out sightseeing or shopping.

Never offer tips to your servers at restaurants because it is viewed as an insult to them.