Nishiki Market (錦市場) is a narrow shopping street lined with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Often called “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” it offers everything related to local food - fresh seafood, sushi, local produce, knives, cooking tools, and more.

Shops range from tiny stalls to larger two-story stores. Most specialize in a very specific type of food, and nearly everything sold here is locally produced. It’s considered impolite to eat while walking, so it’s best to stop and eat near the stall.

The market has a history spanning several centuries, with many shops operated by the same families for generations. It originally began as a wholesale fish market, with the first shop believed to have opened around 1310.