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A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

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Plenty more fish…

April 19, 2020 | Michael Turtle | 17 Comments

LOCAL MARKET

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

Not surprisingly, it’s busy inside the world’s largest seafood market.

It’s just turned nine o’clock in the morning at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market and the early rush is over… but that doesn’t mean things have stopped.There are more than 900 stalls crammed into the giant steel-roofed building and they’ve all got more to sell.

As the sun rises over Japan each morning (except Sunday), Tsukiji is the epicentre of the country’s fish trade with the important auctions to secure the best catch of the day.

Things are so hectic during this period that tourists aren’t allowed in until things have calmed down a bit at 9am. That’s when I get my chance to see the market for myself.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

All around, people are whizzing past on electronic trolleys, carrying boxes, chopping fish, and negotiating deals with buyers.

There are more than 400 types of seafood on sale here and everywhere you walk there are new and interesting wares to discover.

Once you’re inside, it’s easy to get lost because the rows of stalls seem to stretch on in very direction. With no direct sunlight coming in, there’s an eerie feeling amongst the crowds.

The smell of fish is everywhere.

It’s estimated that more than 8 billion US dollars worth of seafood is sold every year. It’s a huge figure but that’s the kind of trade that’s needed to sustain Japan’s fish diet.

This is a country where seafood is critical to so many of the national dishes and that’s why such a large space is needed for a market like this.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

There are plans to relocate the market somewhere else because it takes up so much prime real estate on the water in a city where land is a commodity in short supply. I hope if it does get moved to a more modern centre it will still retain some of the charm of Tsukiji.

For those of you who prefer just to quickly browse, here’s a collection of the photos. As you’ll see, there’s a very unique look to the markets where natural light breaks through only occasionally and it’s hard to gauge the time of day.

You’ll also notice how colourful some of the seafood for sale is. A lot of the product is still alive when it is sold so there’s almost a feeling of being in a huge aquarium at times.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION AT TOKYO STATION

Tokyo is a huge city and there are lots of different areas you could stay. For tourists, I would recommend either around Tokyo station or Shinjuku.

BACKPACKER

If you’re looking for a backpacker option, you can get comfortable dorm beds at the great Wise Owl Hostel.

BUDGET

Tokyo is expensive but APA Hotel Ginza-Takaracho is a good price for a nice hotel near the station.

BOUTIQUE

For a trendy modern hotel close to the station, I think you’ll like The Gate Hotel Tokyo by Hulic.

LUXURY

And for one of the best hotels in Tokyo, I would recommend The Peninsula.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN TOKYO: SHINJUKU

Staying in Shinjuku puts you in one of the busiest parts of city, which is great for exploring during the day and at night.

BACKPACKER

For backpackers, you can get good dorms beds at the cool Imano Hostel.

BUDGET

An affordable hotel in central Shinjuku is IBIS Tokyo Shinjuku.

BOUTIQUE

If you’re looking for a cool design hotel, then Bespoke Hotel Shinjuku is a great choice.

LUXURY

And for a luxury stay, you can’t go past the gorgeous Park Hyatt.

Tokyo Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT TOKYO?

Here are some of my top stories about Tokyo:

  • The perfect 3 day Tokyo itinerary
  • The best things to do in Tokyo at night
  • Visiting the most important shrine in Tokyo
  • How to see the famous Tokyo fish markets
  • Why the war memorial presents a different history
  • This is Tokyo’s only World Heritage Site
  • Play with some cats at one of the original cat cafes
  • Or, for something different, visit an owl cafe
  • The strange museum of parasites in Tokyo
  • How to experience an earthquake in Japan

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a tour in Japan, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours in Japan.

You could consider:

  • Japan Express (9 days)
  • Backroads of Japan (11 days)
  • Discover Japan (14 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Maria |

    April 17, 2013 at 10:58 am

    Reply

    Michael, love it! The audio track truly is the perfect match.
    Your transitions are timed well and the organization of your pics creates a good flow. Kudos!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:33 pm

      Reply

      Thanks. It was a little bit of an experiment but I might try to do some more in the future.

  2. Adelina |

    April 17, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    Reply

    Loved the video with the audio track. It gives you a real sense of the place.

    Can’t wait to check out the fish market when I head to Japan!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      Reply

      You should definitely check it out – it’s an incredible place. I hope the audio gives you a realistic feel of what it’s like… that’s how it was for me, I feel.

  3. mel brackstone |

    April 17, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    Reply

    Your photos are remarkable, Michael, and the video is so well done! Kudos!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      Reply

      Thanks, Mel. I don’t consider myself to be much of a photographer but I’m trying to learn some new things and experiment a bit.

  4. Jennifer |

    April 23, 2013 at 8:06 am

    Reply

    That is incredible! Seafood and fish doesn’t get any fresher than that.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 3:17 pm

      Reply

      And there are some great restaurants around the market where the food is as fresh as it gets. But there were big queues for the popular ones!

  5. Alyce |

    April 23, 2013 at 3:17 pm

    Reply

    We’re an Aussie expat family living in Chiba for 3 years (one down, 2 to go) and my husband has visited here, but I haven’t been yet – can’t wait to go though! And we’ll time it for lunch 😉

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Reply

      Oh, you should definitely go! Unless you’re in a pre-arranged tour or something, you won’t be able to get into the main market area until after 9am. But it’s an easy place to get to on the subway and then walk around for a bit. Definitely have a meal there, though. There are lots of good options for lunch around the perimeter.

  6. Andrew |

    May 1, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    Reply

    Somehow I find the intimate pictures of fish more creepy than the enormous penises at that festival you wrote about.
    I love markets and tend to try to go see them as we travel, but the idea of a room that size smelling of fish would turn me off.

    • Michael Turtle |

      May 10, 2013 at 2:12 am

      Reply

      The stink was incredible. You could smell it as you got off at the subway station – and that was underground and a couple of hundred metres away!

  7. Mike (Nomadic Texan) |

    May 17, 2013 at 6:56 am

    Reply

    Michael,
    I didn’t make the market last March (2012), when I visited my oldest son, who resides in Japan. Maybe next time! We did scarf down our fair share of Sushi and Sashimi! Saludos!
    Mike

    • Michael Turtle |

      May 25, 2013 at 5:22 am

      Reply

      I reckon it’s worth going – it’s a pretty huge and remarkable place. They say the sushi and sashimi is really good at the restaurants around the edges… but I think there are plenty of great places all across Japan!

  8. Chanel | Cultural Xplorer |

    April 20, 2015 at 8:18 am

    Reply

    Great photographs of Tsukiji, it seems like we might have visited the market around the same time 😀

    • Michael Turtle |

      May 17, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      Reply

      Oh cool! Did you enjoy it as well? There’s so much cool stuff to see there, isn’t there?!

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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