Things to see in Tokyo -The Fish Market
5th July 2006
1. The fish market at Tsukiji.
The size of an international airport filled with every fish and other creature from the sea that you did not know you could eat. Dead and alive. See the workers cutting up two meter tunas using axes and circle saws. Have an early lunch at one of the restaurants serving the best fish possible. Easy accessible by the Tokyo metro. Station Tsukiji on the Hibiya line. Right in the centre of Tokyo.
Make sure to find your way all to the back where the inner market is located. There is no need to be there too early. At three am they auction the fish to the wholesalers. You can watch this, but not buy anything. It is really not worth coming this early. It is better to arrive at nine o’clock. By then most chefs are done shopping and the very narrow isles are not so crowded. The inner market is a large banana shaped building. Start at the short end and walk through the whole place by one of the narrow isles. Be careful at the intersections. Bikes, moped and loaders traffic the building in high speed. Try not to block the isles for the pros. The buyers generally wears rubber boots and a rectangular basket to carry their purchases.
You will find the people here generally friendly, but please remember that they work here. How would you feel having tourists in your office taking pictures of you making a phone call? Everyday. As long as you do not obstruct their work taking photos is usually fine. You are still also a customer. Here you can get your favorite seafood at a very good price. No matter if it is tuna or oysters.
After checking out the catch it is a good idea to taste the stuff. Find one of the small restaurants located between the inner and outer market. They have only a few seats each along a bar and are not very stylish. It is the fish they serve that is good. Usually there is one or to really popular with a line of people waiting outside. Wait in the line, it will be worth it.
After this make your way through the outer market on your way back to the metro. Here it is usually very crowded. Narrow streets with shops selling mostly food and kitchen goods. Check out the prices and you will find that you made a good bargain at the inner market. When you have done this you are probably very tired. Sit down at Starbucks next to the subway station and relax. Maybe you will meet me there. I take all my visitors to Tsukiji. It is always popular with them and even though I have been there myself many times it is still as fun every time I come. Sadly there are plans to close the market and move it. Very likely the new fish market will not be as accessible and charming as the current one in Tsukiji. So, if you have a trip to Tokyo coming up soon. Do not miss this one.
Link:
Official site
