Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Outer Market is a shopping district and marketplace in Tokyo's Chuo ward where narrow streets are lined with fish shops, restaurants, and specialty stores. Fresh seafood, fish, vegetables, and traditional Japanese ingredients such as dried bonito flakes and seaweed are sold here, along with sushi restaurants and small eateries serving dishes to eat standing up.

The area was built up from landfill in the 17th century and named Tsukiji. After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 destroyed the original fish market in Nihonbashi, the market relocated to Tsukiji in 1935 and grew into a major food trading and shopping hub for Tokyo.

The name Tsukiji means "constructed land" in Japanese, referring to the soil built up from Tokyo Bay centuries ago. Walking through the market today reveals how food selection and preparation remain central to daily life here, with vendors and customers participating in age-old traditions of sourcing and enjoying fresh seafood.

The market comes alive from about 5 to 6 in the morning, with professional buyers dominating early hours and tourists ideally arriving from 9 onward. Most shops close around noon, so an early visit works best to avoid crowds and see the full selection of goods.

Near the market stands the Namiyoke Inari Jinja shrine, a small sanctuary believed to protect the area from waves and storms according to local tradition. This shrine reveals the deep connection between the market and protective customs that visitors can discover while walking through.