Tsukiji fish market, Former fish market in Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji is a former wholesale fish market in central Tokyo, Japan, whose outer section with narrow lanes, stalls, restaurants, and shops remains open to visitors. The lanes run between small storefronts selling kitchen knives, dried seafood, and prepared dishes.
The market opened in 1935 after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed much of the city and a new site for the fish trade was needed. In 2018, the wholesale operations moved to the newer Toyosu market, while the outer section stayed open.
The name comes from Japanese words meaning reclaimed land, pointing to the fact that this ground was once part of Tokyo Bay. Today, many chefs and food lovers visit the remaining stalls in the outer section to buy fresh ingredients or kitchen tools.
The outer market stalls open early in the morning and most close by early afternoon, so arriving before midday gives the best experience. The lanes are narrow and shared with delivery vehicles and other visitors, so it is worth moving carefully through the passages.
Before the wholesale trade moved away, early morning tuna auctions took place here where a single fish could fetch a price that made headlines around the world. Some of the small restaurants still operating in the outer section have kept their menus and cooking methods unchanged for decades.
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