If you love fish or want to get your hands on the freshest sushi of your life, you must go to Tsukiji Fish Market. It is Tokyo‘s (perhaps Japan‘s) largest wholesale fish market but they also sell fruits and vegetables. In here you may see a live tuna auction, eat sushi for breakfast, or shop for trinkets.
If you want to see the famous tuna auction at Tsukiji Fish Market in person, you’ll have to wake up super early as you’ll have to fall in line to get in. They will only allow 120 people in for the tuna auction. It is a first-come, first-serve basis so some people try to be there at around 3 a.m. or earlier to have a higher chance of being let in. The good thing about this is that admission to the tuna auction is FREE!
For those of you who are not early risers like I am, you can go there as early as you can to eat sushi for breakfast. The first time I had sushi was in Canada and I did not like it at all and never bothered to try it again until I went to the Tsukiji Fish Market where I had the freshest, melts-in-your-mouth sushi. My ultimate favourite being the red tuna nigiri. Expect to pay at least ¥2,000 for a decent breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market. There are also options for those vegans in Tokyo so don’t fret!
After having breakfast, take a walk and explore the wholesale market, which is open to the public after 10 a.m., and the outer market, which is typically open from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can buy sushi magnets, street food, kitchenwares, desserts, and all kinds of stuff.
Do take note that Tsukiji Fish Market is closed on Sundays, some Wednesdays, and on national holidays so plan accordingly.
How to get there: If you’re taking a train, you can get off at either Tsukiji station or Tsukiji Shijo station. Remember to bring your Suica or Pasmo cards for convenience when travelling using the metro. Alternatively, a friend suggested that it might be a better idea to check in at a capsule hotel or accommodations close to Tsukiji to avoid waking up super early to go to the tuna auction and since trains won’t be running at the wee hours of the morning, you won’t need to take a cab (which is crazy expensive!).
Location: 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
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Not a huge fan of fish if I’m honest, but it looks like a fascinating place to wander around to soak up the atmosphere. And the woman in one of those pictures didn’t look too pleased about her photo being taken!
Great photos, showing the atmosphere of the place.
Yessss! I LOVE the fish market in Tokyo. I didn’t get to see the tuna auctions but I did see a fruit auction and it was amazing. Great pics!
Shaun
http://www.thislifeintrips.com
Thanks for sharing this, it has come at the right time! I am visiting Tokyo in a week and was wondering if it’s a good idea to go here. Now I know 🙂
The main reason I was to visit Japan is the food and your post is showing just how amazing the food culture is there. Wish I could go right now!
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I could not get up early enough to get to this market when I was in Tokyo earlier this year but I am completely with you on loving sushi in Tokyo and Japan in general. It was the loveliest texture I could imagine, melt in your mouth, buttery fresh fish. Sushi just isn’t the same. Great post and information!
OMG Tsukiji Fish market is so awesome. I loved all the food there. In my opinion, Japan perfected food -everything just melts in your mouth. I ate so much I was surprised I didn’t gain any weight! I would have been fat if I ate that amount of food here in Canada.
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This looks amazing! I would be in foodie heaven. If I get to visit Tokyo this has to be my first stop! Your photos made me so hungry.
Fishes and I love them. But fishes in India is different from that in Japan. Would definitely like to visit the fish market there.
I’m not a huge fish person, but I do like shrimp and sushi! This would be so fun to explore! That dessert looks so delicious also!!
I love everything sushi. This is a must stop for us now on our trip to Japan. This market seems really fun and interesting. Fresh sushi is always the best. I don’t know if I can genuinely say I have had fresh fresh sushi. I may have to go to Japan to try it.
Though I am vegetarian and haven’t heard much about fish, but I amazed to read about the famous auction, The auction of tuna fish! That’s amazing, I would love to experience it once.
Ahhhh I LOVE Tsukiji! One of my favorite places to visit when I was in Tokyo. Everything is so fresh! Loved this post – it made me nostalgic 🙂
This looks amazing!!
I love sushi. It is super popular in Russia, but things are a bit different from japan.
But the market, oh. I would enjoy it there. Fresh sushi for breakfast, that the best you can wish.
I wish we had something similar here in Finland.