Jan 24, 2017 - 1 min read

Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo [Closed] [Closed]

One of the biggest fish markets in the world

By Gloria Ticconi

Community writer

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The tuna auction starts at 5:30am

Complete your visit with a breakfast in one of the restaurants in the market

Tsukiji market handles around 450 different kinds of fish every day

Around 2000 tons of seafood goes through the market each day

It's planned that the market will relocate to a new site in the near future

The market is not open every day: a schedule is available on the official website

Archived content

The location on this page has been reported permanently closed.

Last updated: Oct 17, 2020

In my personal ranking of places to see on a trip to Tokyo, the Tsukiji Fish Market is among the top places. A mecca for sushi lovers, it's one of the largest wholesale fish markets in the world, a perfect place to find any type of fish needed for your recipes.

Located about 1.5km south of Tokyo Station, this market opened in 1935, and is home to a famous tuna auction. The frenetic market activity starts very early in the morning: already at 3.00am wholesalers are laying out the goods in preparation for the start of the auction, examining the quality of the goods and estimating the prices.

The auction starts at 5.30, and only 120 visitors are allowed to watch each day, so if you want to be there, make sure you arrive early. By 10.00am the market is full of people, tradesmen, buyers for restaurants, visitors and shoppers.

During your visit, I suggest you stop to taste some of the delicacies cooked by the sellers in the stalls around the market: you won't regret it!

More info

Find out more about Tsukiji Market.

By Gloria Ticconi

Community writer

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Terrie Lloyd 7 years ago

Worth mentioning that although getting on to the auction floor is difficult, with people now lining up as early as 01:30am, it is easy to gain access to the outer markets and still get a feel for the place. Best time to go is in the morning after 07:00am or so. If you are like me and like to sleep late, then the restaurant areas around the markets are still bustling until mid- to late-afternoon.