Super crowded between 1:30-3 pm and all stands still cooking. Many serve similar foods but at different price and quality levels, so I would recommend starting at one end, seeing what looks good, and figuring out the price point and quality you prefer before going back to the places that looked best. We tasted wagyu beef skewers at 2 different places and quality varied wildly. We also tried eel tempura, fatty tuna sushi, roll chicken on a skewer, strawberry and red bean paste mochi. Not all places let you take photos, and you're expected to eat at the stand where you buy the food--do not walk and eat. They had other shops too but the freshly cooked food is the big draw. Super touristy but fun.

Great food, easy to order, almost anything you can think of in the way of Japanese street food. We stoked through on a Tuesday about 3 or 4, perfect time, much less crowded than Sunday evening. Bring lots of cash.

I went around 9:30 on November 24 (Sun), but the traffic was sparse as the shops were still almost open We first visited the "Nishikitenmangu Shrine" at the end of the market, had breakfast at a nearby cafe, and came back after 10 o'clock to find it crowded 　 I bought Kyoto pickles, sake, tea, etc., but even if there are many people, shopping at a lively market is fun It just felt like there were fewer and fewer old fast food restaurants for locals and more fast food restaurants for tourists I feel a little lonely as it transforms from "Kyoto's Kitchen" to a major tourist attraction in Kyoto.

I feel for the locals. This beautiful series of long covered laneways with stalls and food vendors alongside is currently swarming with tourists. As independent travellers, it’s quite a challenge to navigate your own way carefully past hordes of group tours as well as other tourists wheeling their suitcases along alleys no wider than two abreast. If you are lucky you might get to see some of the produce and work on display, or even browse quickly without being mowed down by a heavy suitcase or selfie-toting group tour. Signs everywhere ask tourists to eat at the stall and not while walking outside, but clearly that polite request goes unnoticed or uncared for. I’d advise going when few others are there so you can enjoy the experience.

We had a great time with our family enjoying the various vendor stalls and partaking in the street food. It was a crowded and festive scene that we throughly enjoyed. We had real challenges getting into a restaurant throughout the city (all the dozens of places we tried were full for the evening or had an hours long wait) and this was the one place we could easily find some good food.

A visit is essential. It is a very lively place, very large and a large part dedicated to food and particularly seafood products. Many stalls serving their cooked products and the mere sight of them will make you have a good time. It's usually crowded. To eat on site, almost no place to sit. You have to like eating standing up... King crab, oysters or giant prawns are quite expensive. And we also find abalone which is so difficult to find in France.

Great market for foodies and people looking to immerse themselves into the local culture. Lots of seafood, tempura, sake, sweets and souvenirs at reasonable price on offer. Recommend trying wagyu gyozas, fresh salmon sashimi and black sesame ice cream! Go early in the day before lunch to avoid crowds.

We walked through this market shortly after it opened, which is probably the best time to avoid the crowds. In less than two hours, it became packed, and we could barely move through the aisles, especially near the entrance. Take advantage of the side streets if you need to move quickly from one end to the other or if you want to reach a specific store. There are plenty of food stalls, but most have standing room only. Waste bins are not plentiful, so it's best to dispose of garbage where you make purchases. Finding public restrooms can also be challenging – we had to locate the nearest convenience store like FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, or Lawson's. Overall, it's a great experience, and you can find nice souvenirs. The further you venture into the market and onto side aisles, the better the deals tend to be. I noticed that prices for food and souvenirs were generally higher near the entrance. To summarize: Go early to avoid crowds Use side streets for quicker navigation Be prepared for limited seating at food stalls Dispose of trash at point of purchase Find restrooms at nearby convenience stores Hunt for better deals deeper into the market Despite the potential challenges, it's definitely worth exploring this vibrant market for an authentic local experience and great bargains on souvenirs and street food!

Very busy market with loads of stores of all different types, including food and drink. It is huge. My terrible navigation skills meant the great shop I saw yesterday would not be found the next day. That was disappointing! It is really busy here, which is the main pain point. If you go around 4pm, crowds seem lighter than other times.

I love this market. So much to see so much to eat and not enough time. We came to the market the first day we arrived in Kyoto. by the time we navigated our way around to the market, it only left us three hours to enjoy the market. Definitely not enough time. This is a place to go first thing in the morning and spend most of the day wandering up and down all the side passages as well.