12. Nishiki Koji Market 錦市場 or 錦小路 (Downtown Kyoto)—Ken
If you don't mind a super-dense crowd in a narrow walkway for 3 blocks, then walking through the Nishiki-Koji food market is a real treat. I happen to love it. The competition is fierce. The samples are everywhere. The market branches off of the Teramachi covered arcade. Or vice versa? It's parallel to Shijo-dori, just a block north.According to this site it's the Nishiki Market (錦市場) or Nishiki-koji Street (錦小路), and it runs from Teramachi Street (east) to Omiya-nishi-hairu (west). The history of the street can be traced back to the Enryaku Era (782-806).
I'm going to let my pictures tell the story.
Dreid fish. Tofu.
Gobo & bright orange Kabocha.
Tsukemono are Japanese pickles, and they're the most common item.
The Sake Lady gave me a free sample—yum! The Chestnut Men were color coordinated.
More Tsukemono near the flower stall. I almost fell over a bucket getting this shot.
The Peanut Brittle Man made it look so easy, but every one is made by hand. Drawn out on the hot plate and then pressed flat by the irons.
Did I mention the tsukemono? Warning: Pickles could make you pucker.
Seaweed and dried fish.
Mr. Beans and his arch nemesis: Mr. Beans 2. "I taught him everything he knows about dried beans, and then he goes and opens a stall across from mine." (Writer's embelishement).
Not everything there is edible.