You know that Miss Kitty is very big in Japan. We passed this on our way to the bus that would take us shopping! First stop was the .99 store, yes they have them in Japan too! a fabric shop, Nishiki Market and then onto Takashimaya department store.
Known to locals as “Kyoto’s pantry”, Nishiki Market is easily the best traditional food market in the city!
“Running between Teramachi and Shinmachi, one block north of Shijo, Nishiki Market is Kyoto’s largest traditional food market. While modern food shops and souvenir shops are starting to move in, there are still enough traditional shops to give you a glimpse of what a traditional shotengai (shopping street) must have looked like.
You’ll find all the major ingredients of traditional Kyoto cuisine on display here: tsukemono (Japanese pickles), fresh tofu, Kyo-yasai (Kyoto vegetables), wagashi (Japanese sweets), tea, and fresh fish and shellfish. Some shops sell takeaway food like skewers of yakitori or sashimi, and a few sit down restaurants can be found amid the shops. Those with sharp eyes or the ability to read Japanese might pick out whale meat for sale at a few of the stalls.”
This is just a sampling of the pictures that I took! I have since read that there are tours of the market, which someday when I go back I would like to do. Many stalls offered samples, but not knowing what things were, I was not brave enough to taste!
We had a few hours here and then we went to a shibori shop just outside the market area.
Pat seems like she’s in a lot of my pictures? Well she’s a great friend and usually hung out together, so she was often times right in front of me. I tended to walk a little slower as I was always looking for that perfect Kodak moment! Pat was a great mentor to me on this trip, since she had been to Japan before.
It was absolutely beautiful! We all shopped for remembrances for ourselves and for gifts.
Debby, Midori and Mary Alice! Debby was a great travel buddy and of course Mary Alice and Midori put this fabulous tour together!
We walked onto Takashimya and had the rest of the day to ourselves. Trust me, this was no ordinary department store!
Look at the gorgeous kimono and obi!
That afternoon after a busy day of shopping, Pat, Janet and I decided it was an American type lunch so we stopped at Burger King on the way back to the hotel.
A stop for me at Starbucks. I was told that the merchants in Kyoto encourage the wearing of kimono as these kimono clad ladies would recieve discounts on their purchases.
Many of us would start packing when we got back to the hotel as we had 2 weeks worth of treasures and memories to pack in those suitcases! Midori had a special evening planned for us with 1 more special shopping stop.
and for now I will say…sayonara
I absolutely loved the traditional markets. The department stores are fantastic. Oh, and my nephew just returned from Japan. A highlight was hiking to the top of Mount Fuji!
ooh that hike must’ve been very special indeed! Wow!
Thank you Vicki. Oh, those beautiful silks!! I used to travel but never to Japan. Now I sit in a wheelchair and enjoy trips like yours.
Your welcome Margaret! Glad you have been enjoying it!