THE Nishiki Market Guide | Real History, Local-Approved Eats, and Fun 🐙🥩🍓

@PiQtour Japan

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Explore Kyoto's 400-year-old Nishiki Market, known as "Kyoto's Kitchen," with a local guide. Discover traditional foods, hidden gems, and local-approved eats beyond the usual tourist traps.

8 places

1
Nishiki Market
Market · Kyoto
4.3 (53,488)Open now
Creator's voice
Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen," this 390-meter street has been around for almost 400 years, featuring about 130 stores selling fresh fish, ingredients for Kyoto cuisine, processed foods, snacks, and souvenirs. While it can feel like a tourist trap, it's also home to many local-approved spots and older, traditional stores. Most stores open around 10 AM and close around 5 or 6 PM. The best time to visit is around 10 AM when everything is fresh and ready.
Nishiki Market, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8055, Japan
- Tako Tamago — A famous social media sensation: an octopus with a quail egg inside. The octopus is chewy, and the sweet and salty sauce makes it even better. The egg part is particularly delicious.
2
Hani Kioa
Cafe · Kyoto
4.5 (717)Open · until 6 PM
Creator's voice
This store sells special Kyoto olive oil, reportedly used by Michelin chefs, but the real draw here are the croquettes. They offer unique flavors like soy milk and cream, chicken and matcha, and a more traditional curry croquette.
Hanayori Kiyoe, さしあのビル 1階 399番地 Funayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8051, Japan
- Soy Milk and Cream Croquette — This croquette is super crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. You can still taste the yuba, giving it a delicate, soft flavor that isn't overwhelming. It tastes like lightly fried tofu and is a must-try, especially since yuba is a Kyoto specialty. It's also vegetarian.
- Chicken and Matcha Croquette — Surprisingly good, with a very green appearance. The matcha flavor is gentle and not overpowering, making it enjoyable even if you're not a huge matcha fan.
- Curry Croquette — A more traditional croquette, this one is freshly crisp and lightly fried. The curry flavor is gentle, not too strong or overpowering, allowing you to appreciate the other flavors.
3
Hiro
Yakiniku restaurant · Kyoto
4.1 (1,558)Closed · opens 5 PM
Creator's voice
Originally opened its main location 50 years ago on Sanjo shopping street, but this Nishiki Market location is the only one that allows both eat-in and takeaway. It's a great spot to try high-quality beef dishes.
Yakiniku Hiro (Kyoto Station), 510-1 Shiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8212, Japan
- Gyutoro Sushi · ¥450 — A luxurious blend of marbled wagyu beef, seared to look like fatty tuna. It's incredibly buttery with a great texture, earning a 10 out of 10 recommendation for beef lovers. Costs ¥450.
- Beef Skewer Cutlet · ¥290 — A super popular street food using locally sourced wagyu beef. It's really crispy on the outside and buttery inside, with layers of beef and onion. At ¥290, it offers great cost performance, especially if you're on a budget.
4
Taiyaki Stall
Japanese confectionery shop · Kyoto
4.3 (1,001)Open · until 11 PM
Creator's voice
This stall specializes in taiyaki, a sweet fish-shaped pancake. They offer four types: red bean and butter, matcha, plain red bean, and custard. The red bean and butter taiyaki is served hot and is meant to be eaten within one minute.
Naruto Taiyaki Honpo, 6 寺町東入-6 Ishibashicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8036, Japan
- Red Bean and Butter Taiyaki · ¥250 — This taiyaki is served piping hot, with a slightly crisp outside and a warm, comforting mixture of red bean and butter inside. The butter takes it to another dimension, making it incredibly yummy and easy to spill. It has a unique round shape with Japanese characters "e" and "chi" on it. Taiyaki was invented in Tokyo at the end of the 19th century.
5
Kyo Fukudo
Souvenir store · Kyoto
4.4 (116)Closed · opens Thursday 10 AM
Creator's voice
This historic shop has been selling wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) since 1868, right after the Edo period. It's a testament to their quality that they've survived such a long and tumultuous history. There's often a line to get their sweets.
Gomafuku-do, 205番地 Kajiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8053, Japan
- Strawberry Daifuku — A seasonal treat featuring soft mochi, sweet red bean paste, and a fresh strawberry. The mochi is smooth, the red bean soft, and the strawberry adds a delightful texture. It's a perfect mix and ranks among the best strawberry daifuku.
6
Sake Shop
Liquor store · Kyoto
4.3 (81)Open · until 9 PM
Creator's voice
This long-standing sake shop offers a great selection of local Kyoto matcha beers, locally made wines, and rice wines. It's a good place to find unique alcoholic beverages to take home or enjoy on the spot.
SAKE CUBE, 343 Nishidaikoku-cho, Nijyo-dori, Nishinotoin, Nishiiru, 343-2 Nishidaikokucho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0063, Japan
7
Kon
Japanese restaurant · Kyoto
4.1 (158)Closed · opens 5:30 PM
Creator's voice
This shop sells fish cakes, which the creator describes as like a "hot dog but fishy." It holds nostalgic value for the creator as it was the first place they got food at Nishiki Market five years ago.
Kon, 570-6 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074, Japan
- Tako Shiso Fish Cake — An octopus fish cake with perilla leaf. It's very yummy and highly recommended for those who enjoy fish. The shop offers various fish cakes to try.
8
Takoyaki Stall
Takoyaki restaurant · Kyoto
4.2 (449)Open · until 11 PM
Creator's voice
A fun place to drop in for takoyaki, which are little round doughy balls with a piece of octopus inside. They are known for having some of the biggest takoyaki the creator has ever seen. You can order using a ticket machine. Takoyaki originated in Osaka in 1935.
Kyoto Takoichi - Shijo Aburanokoji, 34 Fujimotoyoricho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8495, Japan
- Green Onion and Mayonnaise Takoyaki · ¥950 — These takoyaki are huge and served with green onion and mayonnaise, along with a sweet sauce. Be careful when biting into them as the inside is like molten lava. The inside is squishy and soft, which is how it's supposed to be, not undercooked.

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