Must-Visit Nishiki Market in Kyoto: A Complete Guide to Food and Souvenirs
- byVic

讀後心得
Nishiki Market is a food and shopping paradise in Kyoto, combining modern creativity with the charm of traditional wooden architecture. Here, you can not only taste authentic Kyoto cuisine but also find unique souvenirs, including the popular "takoyaki" and "Maiko spicy powder." The snacks in the market are abundant, and the environment is clean and tidy, making it suitable for leisurely shopping for the whole family. After shopping, don't forget to visit Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine to pray for good luck. The best time to visit is in the morning, when the crowds are smaller, allowing you to better enjoy the atmosphere here.
At Nishiki Market in Kyoto, you can not only taste a variety of delicious food but also discover many creatively modern products. The market retains traditional wooden buildings, making you feel as if you are transported back in time. The food and products here are abundant, and the shops on both sides cater to every tourist's needs, offering authentic Kyoto delicacies and unique souvenirs. Nishiki Market is bustling with activity, and I recommend visiting in the morning when there are fewer crowds, allowing you to stroll leisurely, soak in the market's atmosphere, and experience Kyoto's daily life.
At Nishiki Market, you will see a very novel delicacy called "Tako Tamago" (octopus egg skewers), which is a super popular snack in the market! With a smooth exterior, it looks like raw food, but it is actually cooked. Each skewer has the head of an octopus filled with quail eggs, looking quite bizarre and very eye-catching. The Tako Tamago has a chewy texture and is especially delicious paired with egg yolk.
When you visit Nishiki Market, you absolutely cannot miss the souvenir "Maiko Spicy Powder," which is a type of Japanese seasoning with a slight spicy kick. This spicy powder incorporates lantern peppers and unique native Japanese chilies, with the spiciness and aroma of shichimi (seven-flavor chili powder) surpassing that of regular chili peppers, making it highly recommended for spice lovers.
At Nishiki Market, hairpins are a must-buy item that I highly recommend. In the shop Wargo, which specializes in Japanese hairpins, the craftsmanship is exquisite, with each piece embedded with sparkling gems, making them very beautiful. If you are not familiar with how to use a hairpin, the staff will gladly help you learn how to style your hair, insert the hairpin, and coordinate it, adding more dimension to your hairstyle and securing it well.
At the end of Nishiki Market hangs a row of lanterns, providing a clear view of Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, an important place for local residents and tourists to pray for success in academics and careers. Inside the shrine, there is a "Nuru-ushi" (a cow to stroke), which is said to bring wisdom and health when touched, hence many tourists come to touch its head for good luck.
The food at Nishiki Market is myriad and makes your mouth water. Although this is a historic traditional market, the environment is still very clean and tidy, completely odorless, making it enjoyable for families to shop. For those traveling freely in Kyoto, Nishiki Market is definitely a must-visit destination!
Nishiki Market Address: 609 Nishidaimonji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Business Hours: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm