Monday, December 3, 2012

Tokyo Trip - Tsukiji Market 築地市場

This is a series of the places I have visited in Tokyo when Kless and I were there in October.

Tsukiji Market 築地市場, is a large wholesale market fish market for fish, fruits and vegetables in central Tokyo. It is the most famous of over ten wholesale markets that handle the distribution of fish, meat, produce and flowers in metropolitan Tokyo. Tsukiji Market is best known as one of the world’s largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day.

Tsukiji Market consists of an inner market where most of the wholesale business and the famous tuna auctions are taking place, and an outer market whose retail shops and restaurants carter to the public.

Visiting the tuna auction
The number of visitors to the tuna auction is limited to 120 per day, the maximum number which the market's infrastructure can accommodate. Tourists, who wish to see the auction, have to apply at the Osakana Fukyu Center (Fish Information Center) at the Kachidoki Gate, starting from 5:00am on a first-come, first-serve basis. A first group of 60 visitors will be admitted to the auction between 5:25 and 5:50, while a second group of 60 visitors will be admitted between 5:50 and 6:15.

Expect that the maximum number of visitors is likely to be exceeded on busy days, and that some later arriving visitors may not be able to see the auction. Successful applicants will be able to view the auction from a designated visitor area. It is not allowed to view the auction from anywhere else or to use flash photography or to interfere with the business action in any other way.

How to get there
Tsukiji Market is just above Tsukiji Shijo Station on the Oedo Subway Line. Alternatively, it can be reached in a 5mins walk from Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line. The closest JR station is Shimbashi, from where you can walk to the market in about 15mins.

From Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Subway Line from Tokyo to Ginza (3mins) and transfer to the Hibiya Subway Line to get to Tsukiji Station (3mins). The fare is ¥160.

From Shinjuku Station, take the Oedo Subway Line directly from Shinjuku Station to Tsukiji Shijo Station. The one way trip takes about 20mins and costs ¥260.

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Walking from the station towards the inner market, you can already feel the vibe that is emitting from everywhere and everyone.

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A local fish stall owner looking super cool on the vehicle that is used to transport the marine products.

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Once we were inside the inner market, I was quite surprised that the smell wasn’t as bad as I thought.

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A lot of the owners are busy preparing the fish for sale.

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Check out some of the products. Super fresh seafood!

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Look at how he cuts the fish that was frozen as hard as a rock.

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Some of the owners actually were cutting the fishes and taking a bite at the same time. The benefits of being an owner. The fish sashimi looks so nice right?

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After walking round the market, we finally reach the outer market where the restaurants are lined up waiting for hungry visitors like us. Expect the queue to be quite long. But it is all worth it to queue for good food.

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One of the best sashimi restaurant is this 大江户. The prices are slightly more expensive than the rest but the quality is guaranteed to be one of the best.

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Since Kless do not eat sashimi at all, we decided to visit the stall next door. It was equally good I guess, looking at the long queue too.

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The sashimi chef busy at work. Preparing THE BEST sashimi I have ever tasted in my life.

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Just look at it! Even now looking at the photo, I am brought back to that very moment when I first tried that fresh, tender, melt-in-the-mouth, sweet salmon sashimi and tuna sashimi. OMG!
My only regret, I should have ordered 2 portion.

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After the meal, we stopped by this coffee place that is so old-fashion but the toast and coffee is very good.

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Before you leave Tsukiji Market, drop by one of the shops to buy your souvenirs.

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Tsukiji Market is one of the must visit places in Tokyo.

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