Also known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, Nishiki Market錦市場offers all food related things from fresh seafood, produce, preserved vegetables, sweets, to utensils and cookware. Certainly is a place not to be missed by fellow foodies.
The direction is fairly easy. From the shopping street of Shinkyogoku-dori, keep walking until you find Nishiki Tenmangu錦天満宮on the right, an entrance with rows and rows of hanging white lanterns. Then to the left would be Nishiki koji (lane), where the Nishiki Market lies.
With over one hundred shops and restaurants stretching along the length of 400 yards, Nishiki Market can be easily distinguished from the other interlinked streets simply by its Nishiki flag or the traffic light colored roof. Once you are here, expect to spend at least half of your day as it takes time to properly scan all the items in each stall while being part of the slow-moving crowd. For those who would like to visit only a few stalls of their choice, this directory from Nishiki official website sure comes in handy.
Tsukemono 漬物 plays a noticeably important role in Japanese cuisine. These Japanese preserved vegetables, pickled using different ingredients and hence categorized after them, are often used in Onigiri, Bento and Curry Rice, just to name a few. It is therefore not surprising to find quite a number of stalls selling Tsukemono within Nishiki, the very traditional market. They would make meaningful souvenirs as you bring back the Japanese food culture as well.
If you are gastronomically adventurous enough like Cheeserland, you might find yourself ponder over these Shirako, be it from Tai (red bream/snapper) or Tara (cod fish). While it is considered affordable (300yen for 100g of Tara’s Shirako), try scouting for those pre-packed Shirako in black container with transparent cover (going for about 400yen) as they come with sauce and toothpick for easier on-the-spot consumption. After all it makes a better impression, especially for first timer.
Some may have not realized that Dorayaki (Doraemon’s favorite) is part of Wagashi, the general term for Japanese confectionery. Others include Daifuku (pounded sweet rice stuffed with red bean paste and sometimes one whole strawberry), Dango (small, sweet mocha skewered on a stick), Mochi (I believe this needs no introduction), Sakuramochi (glutinous rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in pickled cherry leaf), Taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) and many more.
Wagashi can be further categorized into Namagashi 生菓子(wet confectionery), Han Namagashi 半生菓子(half-wet confectionery) and Higashi 干菓子(dry confectionery) according to their production method as well as moisture content.
My favorite of all has to be Jōnamagashi 上生菓子, which share the same characteristic of 30% or more moisture under Namagashi. These delicate pieces inspired by nature thus vary according to season; sakura design is common during spring as chrysanthemum in autumn. However, do take note that due to its high moisture content; it can only last up to maximum 2 days from production date. Some may be best-consumed within the same day. The cost to pay for a single piece of Jōnamagashi from Kōfuku-dō 幸福堂 would be at a staggering 250yen yet it is priceless for an edible art.
Nishiki Market is also a great place to find some of the accessories for traditional clothing such as Geta (wooden shoes), Obi (belt) and folding fan.
KariKari Hakase カリカリ博士is the only store selling takoyaki within Nishiki. Tempted by its tagline of “crispy on the outside while remains pulp on the inside”, we thought no harm giving their Jumbo Takoyaki a try. Plus, we get to buy meal ticket from a vending machine. It would probably be my cheapest Takoyaki (in Japan) so far with its pricing of 180 yen for 6 pieces. If you are a member, you have the privilege of buying them at only 100 yen. The takoyaki was pulp, no doubt on that. But only half of the tagline was true to me. Nishiki Market Official Website (Japanese)
Operating time varies according to stores