Nishiki Market

The information about Nishiki Market is presented here. Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichi Market) is located on Nishikikoji-dori, which runs east-west parallel to Shijo-dori about 150 meters north of Shijo-dori. The eastern end of Nishiki Market is bordered by Teramachi-dori, which runs north-south (east side of Fujii Daimaru Department Store), and the western end by Takakura-dori, which runs north-south (east side of Daimaru Department Store). On the east side of Nishiki Market is also Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, the patron shrine of Nishiki Market.

• Spot Location Map ＆ Directions
• Spot Brief Overview and history
• Spot Events

【Nishiki Market Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Nishikikoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (between Teramachi-dori and Takakura-dori on)
Access (How to get there): Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (about 5 minutes on foot), Keihan Gion Shijo Station (about 10 minutes on foot), Subway Shijo Station (about 15 minutes on foot)

Nishiki Market is located north -northeast when viewed from Kyoto Station. If you are heading from Kyoto Station to Nishiki Market, the Subway Karasuma Line is recommended.

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: Shops are open from about 9:00 to 17:00.
Closed: Many shops are closed on Sundays or Wednesdays.

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Nishikikoji-dori is free

【Nishiki Market Brief Overview and history】

Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichi Market, 錦市場) is a 400 meter long shopping street located between Teramachi-dori on the east side and Takakura-dori on the west side of Nishikikoji-dori. Currently, Nishiki Market is home to about 130 shops selling fresh foods such as fish and vegetables, and processed foods such as dried foods, tsukemono (pickles), and obanzai. In Nishiki Market, the street is only about 3.3 meters wide in narrow areas, making it difficult to walk depending on the day of the week and time of day. Incidentally, Nishikikoji-dori was called “Gusokukoji” in the Heian period (794-1185) because it was a place where the armor (yoroi) and helmet (kabuto), known as gusoku, were removed when entering and leaving the imperial palace. It is said that “Gusokukoji” was later changed and was also called “Kusokoji”, but the name was changed to “Nishikikoji” in 1054 by the 70th Emperor Go-Reizei. Nishiki Market is said to have originated in the Heian period (794-1185) , when shops selling fresh fish and other items gathered at the Kyoto Imperial Palace using the abundant groundwater. The fish market is also said to have been established during the Enryaku period (782-805). The underground water was said to be Nishiki-no-Mizu, with a water temperature of 15 to 18 degrees throughout the year. The store at Nishiki Market has a “well (Furi-Ido),” that uses the underground water, and the underground water was used as a refrigerator to keep fresh food. There is an old document record in 1311, and it is known that there were several fish shops in Nishikikoji. Nishiki Market was officially recognized by the Edo Shogunate in 1615 and was counted as one of the three fish wholesalers along with Kami-no-tana and Rokujo-no-mise. In 1770, Bugyosho (magistrate’s office) authorized a vegetable market in Nishikikoji Takakura. In 1774, Bugyosho (magistrate’s office) recognized the Nishiki Market. Incidentally, in the 1770s, the painter Ito Jakuchu ran a vegetable shop and made efforts to keep Nishiki Market alive. In Nishiki market, the shutters of the shops are copied with the paintings of Ito Jakuchu. There is also a monument to Ito Jakuchu’s birthplace near the west entrance of Nishiki Market. In 1911, Kinjo-kai was formed mainly by the seafood industry, and in 1963, Kyoto Nishiki Ichiba Shotengai Fukokumiai was established, and in 1993, a new arcade was completed. In addition, Nishiki Market is known as the “Kyo-no-Daidokoro (kitchen of Kyoto)” because of its 1,300-year history, and is affectionately called “Nishiki” by the citizens. Nishiki Market has acquired the registered trademark of “Nishiki Ichiba” in order to strengthen its brand power.
★According to shrine legend, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine was founded in Sugawara-in, the birthplace of Sugawara no Michizane, in the early Heian period (794-1185). After the death of Sugawara no Michizane, Sugawara-in was changed Kanki-ji Temple. Later, Kanki-ji Temple was moved to the former residence of Minamoto no Toru, where it was enshrined as Tenman Daijizai Tenjin. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Kanki-ji Temple was donated to Zendo-ji Temple, known as Kankiko-ji Temple, and Kanki-ji Temple was changed to Tenmangu Shrine. During the Tensho period (1573-1593), Tenmangu Shrine, along with Kankiko-ji Temple, was moved to its present location on the site of Konren-ji Temple by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the Meiji Restoration, Tenmangu Shrine became independent due to the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism, and later Kankiko-ji Temple moved to Higashiyama Gojo, leaving only Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine.
*reference・・・Nishiki Market website

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kanko-sai (還幸祭) of Gion Matsuri Festival (祇園祭) is held every year on July 24th. On Kanko-sai, Nishigoza-Mikoshi (Nishiki-Mikoshi), one of the three Mikoshi (portable shrines) of Gion Matsuri Festival, parades through the narrow Nishiki Market. Nishigoza-Mikoshi is decorated with phoenix on a octagonal roof, and a red kesagake is hung. Nishigoza-Mikoshi weighs about 3.2 tons.

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-211-3882

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Nishiki Market is to go east on Shijo-dori to Ponto-cho. Like Nishiki Market, Ponto-cho has narrow streets, which makes it as popular as Nishiki Market. Ponto-cho also has many restaurants, so you can enjoy eating and drinking. By the way, Kamo-gawa River flows on the east side of Ponto-cho, and a walk along the river is also recommended.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】

If you plan to visit Nishiki Market, be sure to check the latest information.