Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

We’ve been wanting to go to Tsukiji Market for a while. We first knew of its existence from Clean Bandit’s – Rather Be music video and then we watched the documentary film Jiro Dreams of Sushi which also featured the Tsukiji fish market. Tsukiji is the one of the most famous wholesale markets in Tokyo also one of the world’s largest fish markets.

The market holds tuna auctions that are open to visitors, with a limit of 120 visitors per day. The 120 visitors will be split into two groups, the first will be allowed to watch the auction between 5:50 and 6:05 and the second group between 6:05 and 6:20. Other than that, tourists could also visit the wholesale area, which is open for visitors after 10am. The market is usually closed on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays.

Since we were in Tokyo on a Sunday, we decided just to visit the outer markets as we heard that its a good place for breakfast. The place is only one station away from our hostel is located just in front of Hatchobori station.

We arrived at around 8am and the outer market is already busy with people selling all kinds of food. Some of the seafood are still raw, but we could get it cooked right there if we’d like.

 

 

 

We also met this little girl

Then we headed to the fish market. But since its on a Sunday, we only get to see it from outside

 

 

 

So we went back to our hostel to pick up our stuffs to continue our travel to Toyama

Website: http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm
Address: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to 104-0045, Japan
Hours:
Outer Market: Varies by shop, typically 5:00 to 14:00
Wholesale Area: open to visitors after 10:00am
Tuna Auction: 5:50-6:20am

Notice: 
Tsukiji Market is expected to move to a new site in Toyosu in the near future. It was originally scheduled for November 2016, but then delayed indefinitely. The current move schedule is 11 October, 2018.

How to get there:

From Tokyo station:

Take the Marunouchi Subway line to Ginza station then transfer to Hibiya Subway line and get off at the Tsukiji Station (¥170)

From Shinjuku Station

Take Oedo Subway line to Tsukiji Shijo station (¥270)