Yokohama central wholesale market

Yokohama Central Wholesale Market is a large market facility with separate sections for seafood, fresh produce, and cooking supplies spread across its grounds. The different areas are arranged so that retailers and restaurants can purchase their goods daily from the various vendors.

The market was founded in 1931 and is among Japan's oldest wholesale markets. Over the decades, the facility has grown and modernized while maintaining its role in the region's food distribution system.

The market displays traditional Japanese trading methods through daily auctions where buyers negotiate prices for seafood and farm products. Visitors can watch this active business unfold in ways that have remained largely unchanged for decades.

The market is accessible from Yokohama Station on foot or by public bus, with travel taking about 20 minutes total. Visiting in the morning works best when daily activity is busiest and most vendors are actively trading.

The market's storage facilities maintain extremely low temperatures to keep seafood and other perishable goods fresh for extended periods. These refrigerated spaces are technically impressive and essential for protecting the quality of products moved through daily.