Tsukiji: Japan’s Kitchen
Although the public viewing of the tuna auction in Tsukiji Market is organized under strict rules, you’ll be overwhelmed by the energy of the auction and tremendous amount of tuna once you get in.
Going to a market is always the best way to see local life, and Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market is not an exception. A place of bustling and shouting workers, crates rolling in the dim light before dawn, people regard this market as the world’s seafood hub. With sales exceeding 565.7 billion JPY (the equivalent of US $7.07 billion) annually, Tsukiji is recognized almost as the epitome of fresh seafood, and more than 13,000 visitors come to the market every day from every corner of the world to experience a wide aspect of Japanese culinary culture. Freshness determines the value of the products and visitors can witness firsthand the intensity and magnitude of seafood trading while having a regular stroll inside the market.
Tsukiji Market is most famous for the amount of seafood commodity traded per day, and the auction of giant tuna, one of the top diets among Japanese, is the highlight for visitors. Enormous size and high value of tuna make the auction so unique and remarkable. However, the increasing number of visitors has caused some serious problems at the market, making the market official reluctant to accept public viewing. Aside from reasons of safety for both visitors and workers, ignorant behavior of visitors could harm the quality and the value of seafood products. To maintain safety and product protection, tuna auction viewing is strictly controlled by the guided tours and market rules.
While the market’s main building is off limits to ordinary visitors, many retailers in the area called Jogai Ichiba, the Outer Market, are very entertaining for shopping. It is almost like a Japanese food museum; seafood products, sushi-related products, cooking tools, tableware, tea equipment, agricultural products, meat, coffee, food ingredients and many other items found in a chef’s kitchen are sold. Gourmands, creative amateur chefs and curious shoppers can easily spend a few hours there.
The Outer Market is also occupied by restaurants, and for top quality sushi, this is the place to go. Since their main clientele are seafood professionals, their sushi must be of superior quality. Of course all restaurants access the best and freshest fish right at the market. Market workers start the day very early in the morning, as do the restaurants to fulfill the hunger of energetic market workers. Even for general visitors, their business hours are convenient for sushi brunch or lunch. So when visiting Tsukiji, as restaurants are small and long lines can easily form, with most of the hustle and bustle of the market fading out by midday, catch the best of what Tsukiji can offer and go as early as possible.
Jogai Ichiba (Outer Market) bustles with lots of vendors selling not only fish and vegetables but also dishes using the freshest ingredients from Tsukiji Market.
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Great Ways to Explore Tsukiji Market
In-depth opportunities to see what goes on daily at Tsukiji Fish Market can be experienced by special tours:
1) Auction Viewing Tour
In order to protect the safety and quality of fish, a view of the tuna auction is restricted to small guided tours with strict rules and guidelines.
- The market organizes two viewing tours per day at 5:25am and 5:50am.
- Each tour has a maximum capacity of 60 people on a first-come-first-served basis.
- No reservations are taken, so you must register at the Fish Information Center on the day of the tour. The registration starts at 5am.
(http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm)
2) Tsukiji Fish Market Guided Tour
There are many types of Tsukiji guided tours that vary in length, destination spots, and attractions available. English or Chinese guided tours are also offered. You can apply online, but they fill up very quickly, so you should plan ahead of time.
Tsukiji Information Center
Tsukiji KY Building 2F
4-7-5 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045 JAPAN
TEL: +81-3-3541-6521 / www.tsukijitour.com
3) Tsukiji Outer Market and Sushi Workshop
Get hands on experience and learn to make sushi with a professional instructor from Tsukiji Kiyomura Sushi Zanmai, creating your own sushi lunch. Tour leaves at 9:00am from Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal by subway and ends at Tsukiji Market at 1:30pm. For available tours on desired dates please see the JTB organized tour.
B-kyu Gourmet 
