Kyoto City Central Market Opens Tour Area of New Fisheries Building to the Public.

Kyoto has a unique food culture holding many drawcards for lovers of fine Japanese cuisine and it is the ingredients that make every dish special. Whilst Tokyo's Fish Market is high on many Japan traveller's to-do list, Kyoto is about to give foodies and seafood lovers an equally delicious alternative with the opening of the new fisheries building at the Kyoto City Central Market complete with exhibition and tour areas for visitors.

The Kyoto City Central Market, which opened in 1927 as Japan's first central wholesale market, has catered to the dietary habits of locals and promoted the world-class "Kyoto food culture" to travellers for more than 95 years. To continue to meet the evolving needs of both locals and travellers, a facilities development plan was formulated in 2015 which has resulted in a number of new developments and improvements, including a “salted and general” area opening last year, following the opening of the “fresh fish” area.

The new fisheries building, which is 29,200 square metres in size, is expected to be fully opened by 22 March 2023.

A new “tours area” is scheduled to open on 1 April 2023 and will feature an area for exhibitions and auction tours introducing the role and functions of the market, allowing travellers and locals to see, learn and appreciate food in a way that fully aligns with the Code of Conduct for Sustainable Tourism in Kyoto rolled out by the Kyoto City Tourism Association 2 years ago.

Some of the goals behind the above-mentioned initiatives include:

• Coming into contact with the depth and splendour of Kyoto's food culture will lead to its further inheritance and development.
• Learning the importance of production areas and ingredients will result in the promotion of food education and the reduction of food waste. 　
• Promotion of food culture represented by “Japanese food” which is a registered UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Kyoto's ongoing commitment to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting tourism in harmony with Kyoto's local communities and residents to enhance the visitors' experience and encourage the inheritance and development of traditional and contemporary culture, protect the beautiful townscape and natural environment, and nurture the economy.