In keeping with my tradition of accidentally visiting local markets (I highly recommend it), I once again found myself stumbling upon one, this time, right smack in the middle of Kyoto’s pantry—the 400-year-old Nishiki Market. While I’ve always meant to check it out (the same way I always say I will find my way to Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market at the crack of dawn), I didn’t really expect to come across it while trying to walk off a food coma.

I was hell-bent on finding myself some strawberry adzuki mochi after inhaling this really flavorful bowl of Ippudo ramen, when the colored panels on the ceiling caught my eye.

And just like that I was right inside one of Japan’s most iconic markets. And instead of strawberry adzuki mochi (turns out strawberries weren’t in season last October), I found myself stuffing my face some more by sampling row after row of the most delightful assortment of food.

Halfway into the market, because we were all feeling like Chihiro’s parents in the animated movie, Spirited Away, we decided to just check out the stores featuring dry goods and souvenirs.

 

In the end, I didn’t get my freshly-made mochi fix. I did end up buying a couple of boxes of the stuff to bring home—these, and a few bottles of sake for our last night in Kyoto, comprised my loot. :D