The Tokyo Wholesale Fishmarket, Tsukiji

Looking for something to do while in Tokyo at 4:30 am?  Well, the Tokyo Wholesale Market is the place for you!  The Japanese are a vracious seafood-eating nation.  It's a staple of their diet (although it has been in a decline in the last few years) and there are over 900 local fish markets all around Japan, with the Tokyo Fish Market, Tsukiji being the center of the fish universe. Tokyo Bay used to be the major source of fish.  Nowadays most of Tokyo's fish production comes from the outer islands, such as Izu Oshima and Hachijojima.

The fish market starts very early in the morning, preparing to supply the city residents with all their fish needs.  After taking a taxi from our hotel, we arrived at the entrance to the entered the market at 4:30 and were given our florescent tees to wear.  We waited in line until 5:30 and then were brought, dodging mini-forklist truck that shift the produce around, to the tuna auction area, where for 1/2 hour we observed the men preparing the frozen tuna for auction.

The inspectors check the tails of the tuna for freshness and quality.  A high quality tuna can sell for between 6,000 and 10, 000 dollars! 

The sound of a bell marks the beginning of the auction where a whole floor of tuna is sold in minutes. 

Sushi Chef at Tsukiji  (Photo By S. Kopecki)

I love the tuna sushi! (Photo by S. Kopecki)

After our time observing the tuna auction ended, we made our way to some sushi stalls for a breakfast of sushi, miso soup, a tasty egg dish and green tea.