Four Centuries of Kyoto's Kitchen

A Market Born from Necessity

Nishiki Market's origins trace back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333), when the area beside the Nishiki River served as a cool, clean storage site for fresh fish. The natural underground water — unusually cold and pure — made it ideal for preserving perishables in an era before refrigeration.

By the Edo period, the market had grown into the official supplier of fish and produce to the Imperial Palace. This royal patronage attracted Kyoto's finest culinary craftspeople — knife-smiths, tofu makers, pickle merchants — transforming the single-purpose fish market into the rich, diverse arcade it remains today.

Who We Are Today

Nishiki Market is one of the few remaining traditional covered marketplaces in urban Japan. More than 100 specialist vendors — many family-run for five or more generations — continue the traditions that predate modern Japan. We are committed to preserving this cultural heritage while welcoming visitors from across the world.

Our Mission

To preserve and share the living food culture of Kyoto. We support our vendors, respect our traditions, and welcome every visitor — tourist or local — with the warmth that has defined Nishiki for four centuries.