Tsukiji Fish Market Tour
One of the famous, must-see destinations in Tokyo is the fish market district of Tsukiji. Although the actual wholesale fish market has moved to a modern facility at Toyosu, the outer market at Tsukiji is a fascinating place to visit.
History
Tsukiji Fish Market opened in Tokyo in 1935, replacing the Nihonbashi fish market destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Its roots stretched back to the early seventeenth century, when seafood traders supplied Edo, as Tokyo was then known. Over the decades, Tsukiji became internationally famous for its bustling wholesale trade, tuna auctions and extraordinary variety of seafood. In October 2018, wholesale operations moved to larger, modern facilities at Toyosu. However, Tsukiji’s outer market remained, preserving its culinary traditions through independent shops, restaurants and food stalls. Today, it continues to attract visitors seeking fresh seafood and traditional Japanese flavours.
Getting There
The two closest stations are Tsukijishijo and Tsukiji . Each served by different train lines, so it will depend where you are coming from on which one you use. It’s only a short walk from either on to the outer market.
Guided Tour
We chose to take a guided tour of the area because of the insight a guide would provide as well as being taken to a range of different retailers.
Starting at a small restaurant, the chef explained the different cuts of meat available from tuna, as well as demonstrating how to cut and prepare them. The tour then moved to a private room where we sampled two types of sushi and three different cuts of tuna. Our guide explained how the taste and texture differed depending on where they came from and the fat content. This was followed by sea urchin and tuna roe.
Once this was finished, we spent an hour walking through the markets, where our guide took us to a variety of outlets. Again, we were able to sample different types of produce, from octopus and scallops to sweat desserts.
Simply wandering the streets was an experience, with the crowds of people, locals and tourists buying food from the huge number of outlets. The variety of seafood available was simply amazing to see. Even if you don’t take a guided tour, this is something a visitor to Tokyo should see and experience.
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