VOL.209 NOVEMBER 2025
ENJOYING JAPAN’S MARKETS
Historic Street Markets Rooted in and Passed Down Through Life in Kochi
A scene from the Sunday Market, the largest of Kochi City’s street markets (gairoichi). The market is held across two lanes of the roadway.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
In Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, street markets are so deeply ingrained in daily life that the city is often called the ‘City of Markets.’ We spoke with an official of the department responsible for preserving these historic markets and supporting their continued growth in Kochi City.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
Kochi City, the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the Pacific coast of Shikoku,1 developed as a castle town centered around Kochi Castle. Its street markets (gairoichi) have long been held along the city’s roads to support the daily lives of local residents and are said to be the largest street markets in Japan conducted on public roads, operating from morning to afternoon.
The origins of the gairoichi date back to 1690, when YAMAUCHI Toyomasa,2 the fourth lord of the Tosa Domain (present-day Kochi Prefecture), who governed the area at the time, authorized regular markets at designated locations and on specific days as part of domain policy. For more than 300 years since, these lively markets have been passed down through generations. IKENOUE Azusa of the Street City Representative, Commercial Promotion Division, Kochi City, explains the historical background of the markets.
The Tuesday Market, where stalls are uniquely set up on boards laid across a roughly 2-meter-wide waterway.
Photo: Kochi City
The Thursday Market is held in front of Kochi Prefectural Office. It is the second-largest market after the Sunday Market and is popular for its prime location amid government offices and office buildings.
Photo: Kochi City
The Friday Market is held beneath the JR railway overpass. Located in a residential area, the market mainly attracts local shoppers.
Photo: Kochi City
“According to historical records, when the markets first began in 1690, they were known as Higiri-ichi—markets held on fixed dates each month. Later, with the adoption of the solar calendar and the introduction of Sunday as a public holiday for government offices, the markets began to be held collectively on Sundays from 1876, marking the start of the Sunday Market. In 1926, the structure of the weekly markets was formalized, and today they are held every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday,” says IKENOUE.
“The locations of the markets have changed over time in response to the city’s development as a castle town and its postwar reconstruction. Today, the largest of Kochi City’s street markets, the Sunday Market, is held along Otesuji Street, which runs east to west below Kochi Castle. Stretching for about 1 kilometer with more than 350 stalls, it is one of the largest street markets in Japan, attracting as many as 20,000 visitors on busy days. Both historically and today, the market features a wide variety of shops—from fresh produce to processed foods, wooden crafts, pottery, and cutlery. Its extensive selection, often described as an ‘open-air department store,’ offers nearly everything needed for daily life.”
Originally established as a vital part of the local community’s daily life, the street markets have in recent years also become a key tourism resource.
“You can enjoy simply seeing the wide array of local specialties, seasonal vegetables and fruits, and processed seafood products. Speaking with the vendors offers visitors a chance to learn about Kochi’s ingredients and how they are prepared, which we believe is a major attraction for tourists,” explains IKENOUE. The number of visitors from abroad, as well as Japanese tourists, has been increasing year by year.
“We often see foreign tourists visiting shops that sell Tosa-uchi3 knives and kobutsuten4 (antique stores). They are particularly drawn to items that reflect Japan’s unique culture. It is also common to see them enjoying interactions with foreign vendors living in the prefecture.”
Some vendors sell plants, handmade crafts, and antiques.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
The street markets, with a history of over 300 years, continue to support the daily lives of local residents while offering numerous visitors a valuable opportunity to experience Kochi’s culture, energy, and everyday life firsthand.
- 1. A region in southwestern Japan that includes Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi prefectures.
- 2. Born in 1641 and died in 1700. As a domain lord, he implemented reforms aimed at achieving financial stability for his domain.
- 3. Metalware crafted in eastern to central Kochi Prefecture. Characterized by free forging, where heated metal is hammered into shape, these products include knives, axes, and hoes. The name comes from the old provincial name, Tosa.
- 4. Shops that buy and sell used goods, antiques, and unwanted items; also called kobutsusho.
By TANAKA Nozomi
Photo: Kochi City; ISHIZAWA Yoji