Tokyo Guide : Tsukiji Fish Market (Outer Market)
This vlog introduces the Tsukiji Outer Market (known as Tsukiji Fish Market) in Tokyo. Tsukiji Outer Market is one of the best places to eat fresh seafood in Tokyo. My family and I visited there on the weekend morning and tried several foods. Please check thie Vlog to see what the Tsukiji Fish Market looks like in the summer of 2020 and the foods we recommend! To enjoy this Vlog more, please also read the article down below.
Where is Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場)?
Tsukiji Outer Market is located a short walk from either Tsukiji Shijo Station on the Oedo Subway Line or Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line. The closest JR station is Shimbashi and it takes about 20 minutes on foot.
Nearby is the Hamarikyu Gardens, which I visited before. When you get full at Tsukiji, why not take a short walk and visit the garden? It’s also good to try matcha and seasonal Japanese sweets for dessert.
About Tsukiji Outer Market
Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場, Tsukiji Jogai Shijo) is an area adjacent to the former Tsukiji Wholesale Market*. There are several blocks of retail stores and restaurants that are crowded along narrow alleys.
*The Tsukiji Wholesale Market, which was also known as the “Tsukiji inner market” and was famous for its tuna auctions, closed in October, 2018 and moved to a new site in Toyosu where it reopened as Toyosu Market (豊洲市場).
Here you can find freshly processed seafood as well as dried seasonings and also food-related products such as knives.
The Tsukiji Outer Market is a popular place not only for tourists but also for Japanese tourists visiting Tokyo. People who live in the neighborhood or work near the market also eat sushi for breakfast or lunch.
In addition, it is a place that is trusted by people involved in “food” such as chefs and cooks. I myself like to go there and get dried ingredients such as giant kelp and freshly grated bonito flakes.
Please note that the shops in the outside market open at 5am and are almost closed around noon or 2pm!
3 Things to do at Tsukiji Outer Market
1. Try various street foods while walking and discover the unique shops and restaurants in the market
2. Get the high quality dried Japanese ingredients and Japanese knife as for souvenirs and/or for yourself.
3. Eat fresh and one of the best quality SUSHI in the world!
Foods I recommend
– Japanese omelet at Yamacho(山長)
If you want to eat omelet at the outside market, this is the place to go! At Yamacho, which has a long history, you can buy freshly made omelet at the store and eat it while walking. It may be sold out, so it is recommended to go early in the morning.
The omelet is fluffy and thick and with 2-3 eggs are for 1 serving, so I was lightly full. There are many other omelet with different fillings, and also you can take them home with you, so it’s a good souvenir.
– Octopus cracker at Asahiya Honten (あさひや本店)
This is a genuine octopus senbei shop from the Enoshima Island area in Kanagawa prefecture. The octopus senbei, which is carefully baked one by one in front of you, is a huge size that you have never seen.
Their octopus crackers made from potato starch are very light and have a moderate saltiness, so you might not be able to stop eating (like my son and me!). You can bite it boldly, or you can break it up little by little and eat it. It’s a perfect snack to share with family and friends on street.
– Sushi at Sushizanmai (すしざんまい)
Tsukiji Market is a place where you can eat fresh and delicious sushi. Don’t leave Tsukiji Market without eating sushi! This time, my family and I had sushi at the Sushizanmai(すしざんまい), which is especially very popular among international tourists.
There are several set menus, but since my family has different tastes, we ordered it separately. I ordered the fatty tuna called Otoro(大トロ). Just after I eat this sushi, it melted into my mouth right away. And what surprised me was the nigiri sushi topped with sprout green onion. I was shocked by the unexpected flavor and texture. This is definitely my favorite veggie sushi!
Thank you for reading!
