Information of Shops

Konnyaku Shabon

“Wow, it’s so bouncy!” People strolling along Nishiki are often surprised by the colorful, foamy soaps and stop to have a touch of the massive lump of lather. The soaps are Konnyaku Shabonn (from the French word “savon” for soap) made from the starch of konjac yam. The products were created by focusing on the ceramides and scrubbing effects of konjac. It leaves the skin moist and smooth.

• household goods

Karikari hakase

This popular takoyaki shop has a line of people waiting in front of it anytime one passes by. Why are there so many couples? Perhaps it is because the young and cheerful staff makes it easy to enter the shop. That may be one reason, but it may also be because of the delicious and reasonable price (280 yen for one pack of takoyaki). The crunchy takoyaki live up to the shop’s name (“kari kari hakase” ≈ “Doctor Crunch”).

• deli
• restaurant

Terawaki

"A stationery shop in Nishiki Market?" you may think. The family running it had been greengrocers since the Edo period (1603-1867), had opened a greengrocery store in Nishiki Market during WWII, and 30 years later, the store became a stationery shop because there was no one to take over the greengrocery business. "The slightly retro stationery is surprisingly popular," they say.

• household goods

Hanayori kiyoe

The Kiyoe Olive Farm is located in South Australia. Kiyoe is the highest quality olive oil made from the ripe olives harvested there. This store sells Kiyoe olive oil and deep-fried foods made with Kiyoe olive oil. It is very popular among both locals and tourists.

• deli
• restaurant
• seasoning

Maruya

Although the shop is located in Nishiki Market, the owner says that he is not particular about produce from Kyoto. "Since we are not in the business of selling wholesale to restaurants but just retailing, we think it's best to source new and inexpensive produce from nearby regions. We go to the wholesale market to choose producers who we feel are good, and we try to purchase produce from their farms."

• Fruits and Vegetable

Nishiki Gyoza

Nishiki Gyoza aims to make customers smile with their tasty gyoza.
Their gyoza (Chinese-style dumplings popular in Japan) feature hearty, tightly packed filling. This was born from the personal touch of the chef Ryota Fujioka.
“I made it as a token of my appreciation to cheer up the staff at my own restaurant, and these dumplings with more filling than usual made them smile.”
Fujioka’s experience led him to further pursue gyoza, and he finally opened Nishiki Gyoza. “I want to make customers smile with my gyoza.” Fujioka’s new endeavor to pursue perfection with gyoza begins here in Nishiki Market, Kyoto.

• restaurant

Nishiki Soya

Nishiki Soya is located by the Ito Jakuchu monument at the west entrance of Nishiki Market. It sells tofu and runs a restaurant serving tofu dishes. The shop offers set meals for lunch only. You can enjoy a healthy lunch with main dishes such as tofu hamburger steak, okara soy pulp croquettes, and mapo tofu soymilk hot pot with seasonal side dishes. A wide selection of tofu, Kyo-age fried tofu skin, fried silk tofu (soft and smooth tofu), soymilk, nama-fu (raw wheat cake), hirousu (deep fried tofu mixed with vegetables, etc.), okara tofu pulp, etc. are available for purchase.

• soy food
• deli
• restaurant

Sankyo Suisan

The company was founded in Osaka's central market. During the war, the owner returned to Kyoto, his grandfather's birthplace, and opened a store in Nishiki Market. Sankyo Suisan wholesales and retails dried swordtip squid, which has been its main product since its Osaka days, as well as salted and dried seafood such as cod roe and chirimen baby sardines, and delicacies such as karasumi (dried salted mullet roe pouch) and konoko (fermented salted sea cucumber intestines). They continue to focus on delivering delicious domestic seafood at affordable prices.

• dried salted fish
• processed fish
• delicacy

Sundrug

When you suffer from a physical ailment while traveling, you may wish to seek advice on over-the-counter medicine. This is a large drugstore that carries a wide range of products, including not only pharmaceuticals, but also cosmetics and health food products. It is also helpful when you want to replenish your regular supplements and cosmetics during your travels.

Yamasho

Appetizing skewers are lined up in front of the shop. Many people take pictures of them. This is a fresh fish store opened by its previous owner in 1950. Yellowtail, sea bream, Spanish mackerel—the seasonal fresh fish are all freshly selected by the knowledgeable owner, who has been coming to the market for 50 years. Sardines and mackerel are cooked with ginger, and white fish is seasoned moderately and cooked in the back of the restaurant, making the most of each fish's unique flavor.

• fresh fish
• processed fish
• deli