The narrow - colorful - covered - pedestrian alley known as Nishiki Food Market is exactly what one would expect from a Japanese food market in Kyoto. They sell everything, from processed and western foods, to traditional Japanese delicacies. Cooked, raw or still swimming, the choice is yours. The market has a long history in Kyoto and many of the family vendors have been running their stalls for generations. A great place to people watch and taste a wide variety of foods, it is also a wonderful place to visit periodically when you want to wander somewhere at a relaxed pace or even just to come in out of the rain.

I discovered a great little website at kyotofoodie.com that lists a great cross section of the shops and what they sell.

	Above: I believe this is Ayu, a relative of trout. As I've said, you don't have to like seafood to eat Japanese...but it helps. They have everything you could want that swims, scoots, shuffles, floats, or otherwise spends its time in the water, including my favorite - fish on a stick - Mmmmm. The reason the lad at left is so intent on the bucket in front of him is not just because it contains that evening's dinner, but because that evening's dinner is wiggling around in the bucket. Now that's fresh.

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Daren Willden, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.