How to Enjoy the Tsukiji Fish Market
Explore the heart of Japan’s thriving seafood market: Tsukiji Market, tsukiji jogai shijo, which was, until 2018, the largest fish and seafood market in the world. Although the wholesale section of the Tsukiji Market, formerly known as the ‘inner market,’ closed in 2018 and relocated to a new facility in Toyosu, this spectacular marketplace continues to amaze domestic and international visitors alike. Nestled in central Tokyo between the Sumida River and the upscale Ginza shopping district, the Tsukiji Market is home to a range of specialized shops, restaurants, and street food stands and has contributed to the city’s culinary culture for generations.
Food
© TOKI, Inc 2025
Japan is a country renowned for its abundance and diversity of delicious seafood, and there are few better places to experience the best of Japan’s markets than Tsukiji. From the popular fatty tuna to the rare delicacies of uni (sea urchin) or ikura (salmon roe), Tsukiji offers a plethora of opportunities to try the vast range of Japanese seafood offerings. The outer market of Tsukiji is filled with vendors offering street food, fresh vegetables, and fruits; incredible restaurants are a simple turn down the alley. In the bustling, narrow market lanes is a vast trove of culinary treasures.
One of the staples of the market is kaisen-don, a variety of seafood bowls. Topped with fatty tuna, ikura, salmon, squid, and other of the market’s best offerings, this popular dish is best for those hoping to taste a broad range of Japanese seafood. Other stalls offer various types of sushi, a Japanese dish so iconic that it needs no introduction, or peddle fresh shellfish, grilled to order. For those looking for a rest, plenty of sit-down restaurants in the narrow alleys of the market offer a broad range of seafood bowls and other delicacies. From the wide selection of different cuts of tuna to the rarer delicacies of sweet shrimp, scallop, or octopus, there is certainly a taste that will appeal to everyone at Tsukiji Market.
Knives
© TOKI, Inc 2025
For those looking to recreate the flavors of Tsukiji Market in their own homes, Tsukiji Market also houses several specialty shops of hocho, or Japanese kitchen knives. Rooted in centuries-old blacksmithing traditions and sharing a history with the Japanese sword, these knives surpass mere tools and instead embody the artisan spirit, creating a harmony between the chef, the blade, and the fresh ingredients used. These specialty shops have been passed from parent to child, boasting a five-generation legacy reflected in the impeccable craftsmanship.
The knives of the Japanese kitchen are each tailored to a specific need. While the gyuto and santoku types serve as an all-purpose chef’s knife, these expert craftsmen also forge a larger range of knives specialized for different purposes. For those hoping to create similar dishes to the market’s stalls in the comfort of their own home, these works of art can be bought at Tsukiji Market. Some of the specialized styles for sale include the yanagiba, used for slicing sashimi; the deba, a thick-bladed knife used to break down a fish; and the maguro bocho, a long, sword-like blade used to fillet tuna and other large fish.
If you plan to invest in this remarkable piece of Japanese craftsmanship, we recommend allotting time for the knife to be prepared for you after selection. Most shops will sharpen the knife after purchase so that it can be used as soon as it is brought home; this service takes approximately thirty minutes to complete, allowing one to wander the market in the meantime and learn more of the cultural history of this incredible place.
Shrines
© TOKI, Inc 2025
A stone’s throw away from the main market area, tucked into a small patch of greenery amidst the bustling market area, is Namiyoke Shrine (波除神社), the name of which literally translates to “protection from waves.” This sanctuary amidst the livelier market claims a nearly four-hundred-year history in the Tsukiji district. After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 destroyed much of the area, the shrine moved to its current location, where it has stood for the last hundred years. While it is formally dedicated to the fox-god Inari, patron of agriculture, fertility, and industry, the shrine also stands as a guardian of the market and its frequenters.
Two statues of shishi, or lion-dogs commonly erected at the entrances of shrines, greet visitors as they pass through the Torii gate. These statues are remarkably large, both weighing over fifteen hundred pounds. Every three years, the statues are hoisted up on the shoulders of worshippers and carried about the district in a mikoshi, or portable shrine festival.
After praying at the main shrine building, visitors can visit the various Tsuka (塚) lining the outer edge of the shrine grounds’ wall. These stone sculptures are dedicated to various bounties of the sea—shrimp, seaweed, fish, and others—that serve as the lifeblood of the market.
Access
For those hoping to explore this historical market district, it is easily accessible by both the Hibiya and Toei Oedo lines. As a point of caution, however, please take note that the market is open from 6 am but closes early, with most shops shuttering at 2 pm; in addition, on Wednesdays, Sundays, and national holidays, shops open at 10 am, significantly shortening the hours of the market’s operation. Visit Tsukiji Market for a unique glimpse into the world of Japan’s seafood market and its cultural history, incredible craftsmanship, and culinary delicacies
RELATED EXPERIENCES
