There’s an abundance of food and shops! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit despite it being busy with tourists. We appreciated the various food stalls and gift shops along the way. Bring a lot of cash (between 100-1,000 yen for samples!) It was crowded when we visited, but it was manageable. We tried dumplings, tempura sweet potato, sake, and more! We also purchased many gifts from the various stores.
We visited twice as it can be quite overwhelming to the senses. There’s so much to see and numerous visitors. It was wonderful the second time because we could take our time. If you need to pause, just step aside and take your time... What a fantastic introduction to Japanese food culture. It’s still a thriving legendary market offering a glimpse of Kyoto in feudal times. I opted not to take a tour as I believe it should be experienced independently. However, tours are great for tasting regions like this.
A pleasant place to browse for souvenirs, but better dining options can be found a few blocks away from the market. The food stalls are nice, but they seem tailored for tourists. There's a solid selection of barbecue and ramen shops. It's very crowded, so try to go as early as you can to avoid the throngs.
A large shopping district and street food market area in Kyoto. It is full of tourists, making it very busy. Be cautious as the street food tends to be overpriced for tourists. Price differences can be quite significant; for example, one stall sold fresh oysters for 600 yen while another charged 800 yen for the same. There are ample shops available, and you can find plenty of souvenirs. Make sure to compare prices as some shops charge more for identical items. Keep your eyes ahead to avoid bumping into others!
We had heard much about this marketplace, but I must say I was quite disappointed. We visited on a weekday around 11 AM, and it was already packed, making it hard to navigate. While some stalls had genuine food, much of it seemed like tourist junk. I had a better experience in the nearby consumer mall. You can find the same or better food elsewhere without the maddening crowds.
