Sunday Market (Nichiyo-ichi)

Overview

The Sunday Market (Nichiyo-ichi) is a historic street market in Ote-suji, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, boasting over 300 years of history. Based on the "Genroku Daiteime" (Genroku Great Regulations), a feudal law enacted in 1690 (Genroku 3), which stipulated the days and locations for street markets, it's believed to have existed for at least 300 years. Initially, it wasn't held on a weekly basis but on specific days, known as "Hikiri-ichi" (fixed-day market), and was held in Renike-cho and Asakura-cho. The shift to the current weekly system happened in 1886 (Meiji 9) when the government adopted the solar calendar, making Sunday a holiday and Saturday a half-holiday. Later, in 1904 (Meiji 37), an advertisement for the opening of the Obiyamachi Market appeared in the Toyo Newspaper, leading to the Sunday Market's relocation to its current location on Ote-suji. After the move, the sales of shops in Obiyamachi increased dramatically, with Sunday sales nearly matching the total sales of the other six days of the week. Today, it's held every Sunday (excluding New Year's and the Yosakoi Festival period), with approximately 300 stalls offering a wide variety of goods, including fresh vegetables, fruits, dried goods, metalware, forged blades, and plants. It's immensely popular with both locals and tourists, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The Sunday Market is a fantastic tourist spot to experience Kochi's traditional culture. You can buy fresh local produce and crafts, soak up the lively market atmosphere, and interact with locals to truly immerse yourself in Kochi's culture.