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Tsukiji Outside Market

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The world’s largest wholesale market! Tsukiji

Tsukiji is located in the middle of Japan in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The Tsukiji Market, where seafood and vegetables from all over Japan are gathered and auctioned, is the world’s largest wholesale market in terms of transaction value. It is conveniently located just a few hundred meters from Ginza, Japan’s most prestigious shopping district, and the freshly traded products are wholesaled to famous stores in Ginza and other areas. However, due to aging facilities and other reasons, the wholesale market, known as Jainai, will be relocated to the neighboring Toyosu area in the fall of 2016, so there are only a few days left to enjoy the current Tsukiji Market. We hope you will enjoy the bustle of the Tsukiji Market while you can.

What is the Tsukiji Outside Market?

Although the auctions are basically held inside the facility called the inner market, the outer market area is lined with shopping streets, restaurants, souvenir shops, and various other stores. The outside of the market is open to the public, so let’s take a stroll around. Since it is a market, cars carrying goods run around in all directions. Be careful not to get into an accident. Also, never enter the off-limits area so as not to disturb the business.

Tsukiji is all about fresh fish!

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Open 24 hours a day! Enjoy sushi at Sushi Zammai

No matter what anyone says, you can’t leave Tsukiji without eating sushi. Sushi Zammai’s main restaurant, located in the outer market, is open 24 hours a day! Whether it’s early in the morning or after a night of drinking, you can enjoy delicious sushi any time of the day. There are counter and table seats, and a tatami room on the second floor. We recommend the upstairs tatami room for a large group, and the counter for a small group. Of course, the ingredients are fresh and reasonably priced, making you forget that you are in the middle of Tokyo.

Kawagashira no Jogai-don (bowl of rice topped with fish)

Kawagashira Sashimi Bar is a great place to eat fish, and since it’s a bar, you can have a drink or just a bite to eat. It is open for lunch as well, so you can come in without any worries. The specialty is the “Jigai-don”, which is a bowl of rice topped with seafood. You will be surprised when you see it for the first time. It looks overwhelming, but it is surprisingly easy to eat. There is also a full lineup of a la carte snacks, so it’s not a bad idea to choose what you want to eat while sipping on your sake.

Sashimi & Ramen!

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Ramen is good in the morning! Inoue

Inoue is a ramen shop along Shin-Ohashi Dori. This place is open from 5:00 in the morning and is very popular among those with strong stomachs who can eat ramen in the morning. The menu consists only of Chinese noodles. It’s like a traditional Tokyo Ramen, with lots of pork. Although the restaurant is open until after 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, you might want to stagger your visit because of the long lines.

Access to Tsukiji

Tsukiji is in the middle of Tokyo, so access is excellent. If you are coming from Tokyo Station, take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Ginza Station, transfer to the Hibiya Line and get off at Tsukiji Station. From Narita Airport, take the Keisei Skyliner to Keisei Ueno Station, transfer to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and get off at Tsukiji Station. From Haneda Airport, take the Keikyu Line to the Toei Asakusa Line and get off at Higashi-Ginza Station. If you are driving, get off at the Ginza Exit on the Metropolitan Expressway Inner Circular Route and drive a few hundred meters. Since Ginza is so close, I recommend walking along Ginza-dori and getting hungry before you go.

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