Tag Archives: market

While in Hiroshima, I decided to take side trip to Miyajima, is a sacred island and is home to Itsukushima Shrine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Mt. Misen, the highest peak on the island.  Only accessible by ferry, as you walk off the ferry towards the shrine, deer surround you, feeling at home with the hundreds of tourists that visit the island daily.  After visiting the shrine and witnessing a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, I decide to make the hike up Mt. Misen.  I go part way using the ropeway (gondola) and then walk the rest of the way to the peak.  It is not an easy climb, but as grandmothers make their way past me, I’m determined to make it to the top because what awaits me at the bottom is a main street full of omiyage (souvenir) and food shops!  The main street has a mix of food stalls, everything from grilled oysters to sweets like miyajima’s famous momiji manju – a cake in the same of a momiji (Japanese Maple Leaf) and filled with anko, red bean paste, delicious!  Here’s a sample of what I had that day…..

Main street on Miyajima Island

Grilled oyster stall on the main street.

Miyajima specialty – deep fried momiji manju!

Momiji Manju – here’s what it looks like not fried.

Apple jam filled momiji manju! What will they come up with next!

Traditional street food – fish cakes!

Bacon wrapped fish cake on a stick – perfect for walking and eating!

Located in Kyoto, Nishiki Market is a fun place to discover, see and taste some really unique Japanese foods.  The market is located in downtown Kyoto, a short metro ride from the central JR (Japan Rail) Kyoto Station.  The market is a narrow covered alley that runs along 4 blocks.  It is stall after stall of small food shops offering anything from fresh produce to ready-made dishes to bring home for dinner.  One of the most unique items I found was “chocolate croquettes”!  Croquettes are really popular in Japan, I grew up eating my mom’s croquettes which are made out of potatoes (mashed), ground beef, onions and flavoured with curry powder.  They are then shaped into rounds, breaded and deep fried.  I don’t know how they did it but when I bit into the chocolate croquette, it was like eating chocolate pudding which was somehow rolled into a ball, breaded and deep fried!  Genius!

Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto.

The stall selling all different kinds of croquettes!

Gooey chocolate croquette! YUM!

A stall offering traditional Japanese dinner dishes.

A stall selling japanese style fish kebabs.

A stall dedicated to misozuke - form of pickling vegetables using miso.

A stall selling a variety of fresh fish cakes!

If you were to ask me to list my top favourite things to do in Japan, wandering through a depachika would be near the top of the list.  Every department store in Japan has a “depachika” – “depa” is short for department, “chika” means basement. The lower floor depachika is dedicated to all things food and you know when you enter it as you notice the increase in noise level and foot traffic.  Japan is a country full of convenience and its food completely reflects this need for convenience.  However, they are not willing to forego quality hence the popularity of ready-made foods where busy salarymen/women can pop into their depachika always located at major train stations and easily pick up lunch/dinner.  I’ve spent a few days visiting depachikas and the photos here were taken at the depachika in Takashimaya located at JR Nagoya Station.  I’m getting hungry!

A shop dedicated to all things maki rolls - one of my favourite foods I love to indulge in!

Chirashi - my favourite japanese dish, sashimi over a bed of rice. Available at the depachika sushi shop.

A shop making all types of fish dishes.

Steamed bun stuffed with pork.

A shop in the depachika dedicated to making croquettes.

Various ready-made dishes.