- 2023.12.29
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A local’s guide to Kochi City’s Sunday Market
The Sunday Market in Kochi City has been going on almost every week for well over 300 years (since 1690)! Everyone comes together along the 1.3-kilometer stretch to enjoy the delicious street food, seasonal produce, festive atmosphere, handmade souvenirs and more! Check out this guide below so you know all the tips and tricks to make the most out of this epic weekly event
What time to visit? 8AM to 12PM is best!
Although the Sunday Market technically opens earlier and closes later than this time frame, 8AM to 12PM is the best time to visit because you can pretty much guarantee that all the shops are fully set up, popular items have not sold out yet, and people have started to gather (this community vibe is definitely part of the fun)!
Where to find what?
In a very general sense, you could categorize the Sunday Market into three sections: 1) produce, fresh ingredients, side dishes, etc. in the east (closest to Kochi Station), 2) street food in the middle, and 3) crafts, souvenirs, and household goods in the west (near Kochi Castle). You can start from either direction (east or west) depending on where you’re coming from, but it’s totally acceptable to do as many laps as you need to make sure you’ve hit every spot you wanted!
See it all before you start buying
With over 300 stalls to see, you will probably have many things you will want to purchase, but I recommend scanning it all before you start shopping (it’s best to avoid a scenario where you’ve bought something, and then wish you hadn’t because there was something even more attractive waiting for you a couple stalls down). Once you’ve seen all of your options and dialed in exactly what you want, you can purchase them on the way back.
Bring a reusable bag
If you’re anything like the rest of us, you will probably be buying several different things, so being prepared with a reusable bag is always handy (and more environmentally friendly).
Chat with locals
Besides the food, shopping and lively atmosphere, the Sunday Market is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the local community. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, you never know the kind of connection you might make with the friendly people of Kochi.
Not just Sundays!
If you can’t make it to the Sunday Market, no worries! The following map shows the locations of the Tuesday (yellow pin), Thursday (orange pin), and Friday (green pin) markets: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1IkRM1xVWazYQ_15405x8Bsw4hXc&femb=1&ll=33.562782534406146%2C133.5320664634164&z=14
Your must-eat list
Kochi-style tacos at MASACASA TACOS
Imoten (fluffy, sweet potato tempura)
Inaka-sushi (traditional veggie sushi)
Aisukurin (dairy-based sorbet)–especially perfect for the summer months!
Imo-mochi (rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste)
Shiawase-no-warabi-mochi (sweet, jelly-like mochi)
…and so much more!
Learn more about the Sunday Market here: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/sundaymarket
What time to visit? 8AM to 12PM is best!
Although the Sunday Market technically opens earlier and closes later than this time frame, 8AM to 12PM is the best time to visit because you can pretty much guarantee that all the shops are fully set up, popular items have not sold out yet, and people have started to gather (this community vibe is definitely part of the fun)!
Where to find what?
In a very general sense, you could categorize the Sunday Market into three sections: 1) produce, fresh ingredients, side dishes, etc. in the east (closest to Kochi Station), 2) street food in the middle, and 3) crafts, souvenirs, and household goods in the west (near Kochi Castle). You can start from either direction (east or west) depending on where you’re coming from, but it’s totally acceptable to do as many laps as you need to make sure you’ve hit every spot you wanted!
See it all before you start buying
With over 300 stalls to see, you will probably have many things you will want to purchase, but I recommend scanning it all before you start shopping (it’s best to avoid a scenario where you’ve bought something, and then wish you hadn’t because there was something even more attractive waiting for you a couple stalls down). Once you’ve seen all of your options and dialed in exactly what you want, you can purchase them on the way back.
Bring a reusable bag
If you’re anything like the rest of us, you will probably be buying several different things, so being prepared with a reusable bag is always handy (and more environmentally friendly).
Chat with locals
Besides the food, shopping and lively atmosphere, the Sunday Market is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the local community. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, you never know the kind of connection you might make with the friendly people of Kochi.
Not just Sundays!
If you can’t make it to the Sunday Market, no worries! The following map shows the locations of the Tuesday (yellow pin), Thursday (orange pin), and Friday (green pin) markets: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1IkRM1xVWazYQ_15405x8Bsw4hXc&femb=1&ll=33.562782534406146%2C133.5320664634164&z=14
Your must-eat list
Kochi-style tacos at MASACASA TACOS
Imoten (fluffy, sweet potato tempura)
Inaka-sushi (traditional veggie sushi)
Aisukurin (dairy-based sorbet)–especially perfect for the summer months!
Imo-mochi (rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste)
Shiawase-no-warabi-mochi (sweet, jelly-like mochi)
…and so much more!
Learn more about the Sunday Market here: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/sundaymarket
