This page was conceived as part of the Internet World Expo, Japan Zone. We
wanted to take a very Japanese experience and digitize and
make it available to people visiting this server. We hope these
pages leave you feeling that you have experienced a "moment in the market".
- The Fishers.
The present area now known as Tsukiji is wholly made of reclaimed land, which work was commenced after the great fire of 1657 during the early period of Edo. At first, Tsukiji was called Tsukijihama and became the cradle of the Navy at the time of Shouhei Angeishu residence early in the Meiji era, where the Naval Ministry and its academies built their headquarters and dormitories here during those times, and at one point, due to the navy's presence, the Akashichou area thrived with foreign people settling in residence. It was in 12th year of Showa when the wholesale market including fruits and vegetables was made an welcome addition at Tsukiji market. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, the Nihonbashi fish market relocated to Tsukiji and the marketplace as we now know it was completed.
The beginning of the day in Tsukiji is announced with the sound of the trucks gathering for the day's business, and the big powerful voices of the people often seen in markets. If you really want to find out and understand what Tsukiji is all about, you need to be an early riser to catch up with all the activities (we went there at 4 am on a Friday)!
The Tokyo Metropolitan TsukijiI Central Wholesale Market, which is as officially known, houses approximately 35,000 vehicles containing roughly 2,700 tons of fish from around the world to be sold and bought to feed the hungry. A typical day in this great market begins with the "auction". At 5:30 am, 60,000 people start their work at the same time in this huge area. Of course some sell fruits and vegetables, but Tsukiji market is synonymous with its dealings in seafood. As you can imagine, almost everyday, fresh fish from all around the globe arrive one after another to fill the enormous stomach of Tokyo. If you want to experience this liveliness, book the observation course. Then you can enjoy the "auction" and see the buying and selling in Nakaoroshi. But don't muck about; you might seriously get hurt!
The Outer Market sells some of the fresh food wholesaled in the Inner (Tsukiji) market to the public. Of course, you get more than fresh fish and spices, china, lacquer wares, oribako (a Japanese style lunch box made of thin wood or cardboard), knives and various goods for Japanese style meals are available at a reasonable price. It is not necessary to go early since the outer markets starts to gather people around 9 am - 1 pm but one has to be careful depending on your shopping needs, since some shops on the outer market close early. There are many ramen, sushi restaurants and coffee houses lined up also that are open from around 5 am, serving the people working in the inner market and the customers of the outer market.
To Go to the Market:
Via the subway, take the Hibiya line to Tsukiji station ( a further15 minute walk), or take the Asakusa line to Higashi Ginza station (also a 15 minute walk), and another course is taking the JR line to Shinbashi station (a 20 minute walk from the station) .
By bus, take the one leaving JR line Shinbashi station, going to "Central Wholesale Market ", which is the last stop.