Natsumi Nishiki Market is one of Kyoto’s most loved places to explore. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this narrow covered street has supplied the city’s homes and restaurants for centuries. Here is how to enjoy it like a local — and where to sit down for a proper lunch.
A short history of Kyoto’s Kitchen
Fish merchants first gathered here in the Heian period, and the market received official recognition in 1615. Today, Nishiki stretches more than 390 meters from east to west with around 130 shops selling vegetables, seafood, tofu, pickles, sweets and kitchenware — many run by the same families for generations.
Tips for visiting
- Go earlier in the day. The market is busiest from late morning to mid-afternoon.
- Do not eat while walking. Eating on the move is considered bad manners in Nishiki. Enjoy snacks at the shop front where you bought them.
- Ask before taking photos of shop owners and their products.
- Bring cash for small shops, though many now accept cards.
- Look up. Some of the best spots are on the second floor, away from the crowds.
How to choose lunch in Nishiki Market
Street snacks are fun, but after a morning of walking, many travelers want to sit down. Look for three things: a place where you can actually rest, a menu built on genuine local ingredients, and hours that fit your sightseeing plan.
Our recommendation: A5 wagyu upstairs from Kawaichi
Wagyu teppanyaki steak house Nishiki 雅 MIYABI is on the second floor above Kawaichi, a long-established greengrocer in the heart of the market. Step upstairs and the noise fades. We serve only A5-graded heifer wagyu — the Queen of Wagyu — including Kobe, Yonezawa and Yamagata beef, so you can taste the difference between regions in one meal.
- Open daily 12:00–19:30, no afternoon break (last order 18:30)
- Walk-ins welcome · 40 seats · English menu
- Halal-certified wagyu available
- 5-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station
Planning a later dinner? Our flagship 禅 ZEN, near Nishiki Market, offers wagyu teppanyaki, a glass tea room and a bar lounge.
About Arc
Arc is a group of wagyu restaurants in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hyogo, whose restaurants have been named Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2025. Our mission is to share authentic Japanese food culture with the world — through the producers we work with, the ingredients we choose and the hospitality we offer. In Nishiki Market, you will find us at 雅 MIYABI and 禅 ZEN. See all Arc restaurants.