About food in Japan: Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

We visited one of the most popular tourist spots in Tokyo, Tsukiji Ｍarket (築地市場) this week. It must be one of the most exciting experience for food lovers visiting Tokyo. It is same even for us who live in Tokyo and other parts of Japan!

Here for those who has never visited there, I do summarize about Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, in most cases known as "Tsukiji fish market" internationally.

About Tsukiji Market

- Opened in 1935 and one of eleven public wholesale markets in Tokyo.

- As fish and seafood market (魚市場, uo-ichiba), it is the biggest in the world

- Located central Tokyo, a five-minute-walk from Ginza which is known for the most luxury shopping streets.

- As already known, fishery products are mainly traded. In addition, fruits and vegetables section is also in the market.

- Basically the market is for professional buyers, retailers and restaurant operators (non-professional visitors are allowed to go into some area in the market)

- Close Sunday, national holidays and some Wednesday. Please check their business calender before your visit.

http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/etc/calendar/2011.html

It is in Japanese. At least the market is "OPEN" on the dates of clear or white colour box (開市日=Market open date) as well as a few dates in blue (臨時開市日=Occasional market open date)

Current issues around Tsukiji Market

- Tokyo Metropolitan government and Tsukiji Market are planning to move the market site to a new location in Toyosu (豊洲) area due to shortage of space and decrepit buildings and facilities while increasing business demand. It is still controversy by opponents of relocation because of land safety issues remain and so on.

- Large decrease of international visitors negatively impacting on the restaurant business in Tsukiji Market and surrounding, after the big earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku (東北)and Kanto (関東) regions on 11th March 2011.

- Serious damage on one of the largest fishery business area, Sanriku coast (三陸海岸) in Tohoku by tsunami has changed supplying activities and products appear on the market

What is expected for non-professional visitors, including tourists, at Tsukiji Market

... in order to avoid disturbing the market workers and having unexpected physical injury for both visitors and suppliers

Area:

Some area is restricted from non-professional visitors (tourists). Please follow the instructions by the market.

So far Tuna Auction (maguro seri, マグロのせり) area is NOT open to visitors after the big earthquake happened on 11th March 2011.

For the latest update, please visit its official site. Information in English is also available.

http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

Move around by a small group of 5 or less number of people to avoid blocking a passage.

Keep always watching your way around because the market workers are running around, often with "high-speed" motor wagon, on the site.

Photo:

According to the blog by Tsukijiro-san, a frequent visitor of Tsukiji Market and a popular Japanese blogger who kindly showed us around the market on the day and who consulted with security staff for this issue at the market,

Tsukijiro-san's blog in Japanese: http://tsukijigo.cocolog-nifty.com

NO FLASH please, where "cutting" knives are often used by workers, it is very danger to use flash light in front of staff working with a cutting knif.

It is allowed to take private photos in the market but please kindly pay enough attention and avoid disturbing market workers.

Some shops or restaurants set up their own photo-taken policy. (ex: no photo please, allowed only limited occasions etc) In that case, please kindly follow their instruction.

Uploading photos to websites or SNS is OK as long as it appears private photos and it is done under the photo-taken policy of each shop.

Other recommendations for visiting Tsukiji Market

"Dress code" - should be "compact" and "tight" (without big frill or long stole), no sandal or any kind of open-toe shoes. Big luggage should be left out from the market.

Let me post a sign boad at the entrance of Tsukiji Market for additional information. It appears clearly what is expected...

Time - around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m is a good time to visit the fish market. Around the time, the market is less crowded and the market workers are more relaxed toward their business closing time 11 a.m. However from around 10.a.m., some whole-sellers start clearning and closing their stands.

If you luckily have accommodation with kitchen facility in Tokyo, it is a good idea to buy some fresh fish or seafood at the market and bring them to your base for cooking. Some whole-sellers in the market are happy to sell their products to non-professional buyers. In that case, these shops are likely to display price tags besides their products.

We found fish from Morikoka (盛岡), Tohoku region

Jonai (場内) or Jogai (場外) ?

In addition to Tsukiji "Jonai" (場内, inside of the market), what I told as above, is basically for professional trades. On the other hand, out of Jonai area is called Jogai (場外, outside) which is a commercial area more for non-professional buyers. Even in the area, you will be able to enjoy visiting seafood or sushi restaurants and shopping around fresh food stores etc.