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A central place of “Food Town, Tsukiji” with over 400 wholesales and retail shops.
Over 400 food shops and restaurants gather speciality shops. Suppliers, general shoppers for daily food, and tourists searching for specialty food always crowd even though after a change of the location of the central wholesale market from Tsukiji to Toyosu in October, 2018.
Stores in Tsukiji Outer Market sell various items including seafoods, vegetables, fruits, processed foods, dry foods, and kitchenwares. Restaurants serve Sushi, Seafood rice bowls, curry and rice, Ramen, set menu meals, and more, there is a endless queue of people out of the door in many shops.
In Tsukiji Uogashi opened prior to the moving of the central wholesale market, there are about 60 intermediate wholesalers of seafoods, vegetables, fruits, and more. Uogashishokudo located on the same premises provide market food in a food court style, in which general visitors can easily enjoy the atmosphere.
Open hours and closed day vary by a shop, many shops are closed on Wednesday, Sunday, and national holidays on which the central wholesale market is closed.
Many shops selling for business use open from the early morning to around 9:00 am, general visitors are recommended to visit after 9:00 am. The time between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm is a peak and an active atmosphere can be seen on the streets.
Intermediate wholesalers open their shops for fresh seafoods in Tsukiji Uogashi.
Taste a market food in the Uogashishokudo.
Enjoy the atmosphere of the market.
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Do you have foreign language support? (If it is available, what language is available?)
Varies by store
Q
Is parking available?
Yes, there is.
Q
Are coin-operated lockers available?
Yes, they are.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
The moment I saw the huge archway topped with the red “Tsukiji Outer Market” sign, my appetite and exploration radar instantly kicked into high gear! At the entrance, there was even a prominent sign prohibiting suitcases, because the narrow lanes were already packed solid with food lovers and tourists from around the world. The calls of vendors in Japanese mixed with the sizzling sounds of charcoal grills, making the whole place lively, noisy, and bursting with energy! Even though the wholesale market has relocated, Tsukiji Outer Market remains Tokyo’s most intense and passionate pilgrimage destination for seafood lovers!
Following the crowd into the lanes, I was met with an almost ridiculously dazzling array of seafood stalls! Beds of crushed ice were covered with freshly shucked jumbo oysters, each one plump, full, and glistening, while nearby were small mountains of richly colored monkfish liver. Without a second thought, I picked out a large oyster. The vendor deftly handed it to me with a bamboo skewer, added a few drops of lemon juice, and I slipped the whole thing into my mouth. The rich, sweet taste of the sea and its silky texture instantly exploded across my tongue. It was so fresh, without even a hint of fishiness—just pure sweetness and a satisfying crispness. After finishing it, I couldn’t help closing my eyes and exclaiming with delight!
After the oyster, I turned a corner and was immediately hit by wave after wave of irresistibly smoky charcoal-grilled aromas! The grill was lined with steaming white scallop shells, each packed with thick scallops and crab sticks. The most outrageous part was the thick layer of rich, golden sea urchin spread on top! As everything cooked over the intense heat of the charcoal, piping-hot juices bubbled and sizzled around the edges of the shells, while the sea urchin released an incredibly rich aroma. I took the luxurious charcoal-grilled seafood scallop and dug into a huge bite while it was still hot. The springy scallop and sweetness of the crab, paired with the intensely creamy flavor of the melted sea urchin, were incredible. The broth was so delicious that I couldn’t bear to waste a single drop. My mouth was filled with an extravagantly sweet taste of the sea, and the satisfaction was completely off the charts!
The most enjoyable thing about exploring Tsukiji is this laid-back rhythm of holding freshly grilled seafood in one hand while weaving through the narrow, traditional lanes. Besides oysters and scallops topped with sea urchin, both sides are lined with piping-hot, freshly cooked tamagoyaki, richly marbled Kuroge Wagyu beef skewers, and long-established traditional shops displaying plump tuna nigiri everywhere you look. Every shop seems to beckon to the stomachs of passersby. The thrill of feasting on premium seafood everywhere you turn makes this absolutely one of Tokyo’s most irresistible and unforgettable food paradises!
Seafood lovers definitely shouldn't miss Tsukiji Outer Market! It's packed with all kinds of delicious food, from fresh fish and seafood rice bowls to freshly grilled seafood. Everywhere you look, there's something mouthwatering, and just walking around makes you want to buy and try everything.
Of course, when visiting Tsukiji Outer Market, you have to find a chance to eat sushi! The fresh fish paired with soft, tender rice lets you savor the natural sweetness and freshness of the seafood in every bite. The simple preparation actually brings out the ingredients' flavors even more. It's truly satisfying for anyone who loves sashimi and sushi!
If you like seafood and sashimi, you definitely have to visit Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market~ It still retains the lively atmosphere and personal warmth of a traditional morning market, with everything from generously loaded, freshly prepared seafood bowls and fresh raw oysters to seared tuna skewers. As the saying goes, "The early bird gets the worm." Many popular shops open early in the morning, and arriving early not only helps you avoid the crowds but also gives you the widest and freshest selection of ingredients. It will definitely satisfy any food lover!
I recommend visiting Tsukiji Outer Market together with Tsukiji Hongwanji, since the two are very close to each other. You can visit Hongwanji first and then walk over to the outer market. Tsukiji Hongwanji itself is quite distinctive, so you can look at the architecture first and then head to the market to eat. It makes for a very smooth itinerary.
If you're visiting Tsukiji, I recommend not arriving too late. When I got there a little after 9:00, I could already clearly feel large numbers of tourists pouring in, and the market was quite lively. In particular, quite a few people were pulling luggage around with them. I personally don't really recommend doing that, because the market aisles aren't very wide to begin with, and once it gets crowded, large pieces of luggage really take up a lot of space.
Because I didn't stay very long this time, I wasn't able to fully explore all the food in the market. I just picked a few tamagoyaki shops to try. Once again, it proved that my stomach prefers Kanto-style tamagoyaki, and I had a very enjoyable time eating my way through them.
Although seafood is the first thing many people think of when visiting Tsukiji, once you actually walk into the outer market, you'll find so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming. In addition to fresh fish, sushi, and seafood bowls, there are also tamagoyaki, dried goods, fruits and vegetables, meat, and more. Although the main market has moved to Toyosu, even a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, and the location is convenient, so there are still many shops operating here. If it's your first visit, I actually recommend looking up several places you genuinely want to try beforehand. There are simply too many choices, and with the crowds, it's easy to see one place you want to try and then another, until you end up not knowing what to eat at all.
Also keep in mind that Tsukiji isn't simply a tourist food street. It's a district of specialty shops that developed out of a working market, so it's better not to eat while walking.
What I love most about Tsukiji Outer Market is its lively atmosphere filled with the aroma of seafood! The market has lots of fresh fish and seafood, and as you walk around, you can see all kinds of ingredients. Everything looks so fresh.
Besides being able to buy fresh seafood, quite a few shops also serve freshly grilled seafood. It’s really hard to resist buying some when you smell it as you walk through the market!
