For most tourists that visit Japan, the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo is high on their list of places to go and experience. Tsukiji is indeed excellent but it is getting harder and harder experience as parts are now closed to the public.
The ‘undiscovered’ Kyoto Central Wholesale Food Market is a great alternative to Tsukiji. It is about 1/5th the size of Tsukiji, but it does offer the same sights to see, just on a more intimate and friendly scale. The market here in Kyoto also has an area devoted mainly to Kyo-yasai, or Kyoto traditional vegetables. Vendors at the Kyoto market are noticeably more friendly than many of the people I have tried to talk to at Tsukiji.
Early Morning Fish Auction
The Kyoto Central Wholesale Food Market is open to anyone that wants to visit and is located in the center of town, just a few minutes walk south from Tambaguchi Station on the JR Sagano line.
I didn’t get to the market early enough to see the maguro tuna auction, it starts at 5 am, but I will try to get back and get some photos and details about that and update this article in the near future.
If you are going and intend to see the tuna auction you will probably have to go by taxi to get to the market before 5 am. Ask your hotel to book a cab for you the day before. I arrived about 6 am and took these photos.
The one downside to the Kyoto market is that it doesn’t have the numerous sushi restaurants in the neighborhood that Tsukiji has. Kyoto sushi (KyotoFoodie article) is different from Tokyo sushi though. If you like sushi, be sure to try Kyoto sushi while you are in town.
Early Morning Fish Auction
Early Morning Fish Auction
Early Morning Fish Auction
Maguro Tuna
Kyoto Wholesale Food Market's Best Maguro Tuna Dealer
Maguro Tuna
Maguro Tuna
Young Tuna on Ice
Ayu Sweetfish
Favorite Summer Fish of Kyoto Gourmets: Ako (Hong Kong Grouper)
Hamo Pike Eel
Cleaning Unagi Eel
Cleaning Unagi Eel
Tachiuo (Largehead Hairtail)
Uni Sea Urchin
Assorted Shellfish
Kyoto Favorite: Guji (Tilefish)
Chirimen Jako (Dried Baby Sardines)
Crabs on Ice
Fruit Auction
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables):Mangan-ji Togarashi Pepper
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Kyoto Kiku Kabocha Squash
New Ginger
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Mangan-ji Togarashi Pepper
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Mizuna Boxes
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Eggplant
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Mangan-ji Togarashi Pepper and Peas
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Shishigatani Kabocha Squash
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Shishigatani Kabocha Squash
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Fushimi Togarashi Pepper
Kyo-yasai (traditional Kyoto vegetables): Uri
Summer Matsutake Mushroom
Location
The Kyoto Wholesale Food Market is located just south of the intersection of Gojo-dori and Senbon-dori streets. If you are going by taxi, you want to tell the driver to take you to ‘Kyoto Chuo Oroshi Ichiba’ (京都中央卸市場). If you are coming from the station, simply walk south on Senbon-dori Street. There is no central entrance to the market. I will make a map in the near future.
Map
View OpenKyoto/KyotoFoodie Map in a larger map
[...] Chirimen Jako – Uncooked This is what the dried sardine fry look like before simmering. (image from this OpenKyoto article) [...]
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Interestingly, it appears that the Mizuna you have pictured came from Shiga! (note the picture of Lake Biwa on the box, it says “Omi no Yasai” on the upper left)
A lot of the Mizuna sold in Kyoto comes from Shiga these days, despite its reputation as a Kyo-yasai.
Hello adania, Yes, that is correct. I did notice that and thought about it. I figured that whether grown in Shiga or Kyoto, mizuna is still a traditional Kyo-yasai. For our readers that are not familiar with the geography of Japan, Shiga is just over the mountain from Kyoto – very close. Much of Shiga is still rural, but Shiga can claim to being the capital of Japan even before Kyoto. Shiga’s culture is also very interesting and developed.
[...] Hiro, then sake at Nihonshu Bar Asakura then sumashi ramen at Takaraya. A few days later we did the wholesale food market and Kyoto-style sushi lesson at Kichisen with Chef [...]