The Tsukiji Outer Market is a dense grid of food stalls, restaurants and shops beside the site of Tokyo's former central fish market. The wholesale market itself moved to Toyosu in 2018, but the outer market stayed put, and it is still one of the best places in Tokyo for a morning of grazing on seafood, grilled snacks and sweet rolled omelette. Walking around is free, and you pay only for what you eat or buy.
What the Tsukiji Outer Market is and why go
For decades, the Tsukiji wholesale market was famous for its early morning tuna auctions. Around it grew an outer market where chefs, restaurant owners and home cooks bought knives, dried fish, seaweed, pickles and kitchen tools. When the wholesale operations moved to the new market at Toyosu, the outer market remained, and it now serves both professionals and a large number of visitors.
It is above all a place to eat. Small counters serve sushi and seafood rice bowls, stalls grill scallops and eel, and shops sell tastings of tamagoyaki on a stick. Between bites, the kitchenware and knife shops are worth browsing.
Getting to the Tsukiji Outer Market by metro
The nearest station is Tsukiji on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, a walk of only a few minutes to the market streets. Tsukijishijo on the Toei Oedo Line is on the other side of the market and is just as close.
- The Hibiya Line links Tsukiji with Ginza, Roppongi, Ueno and Akihabara.
- Higashi-ginza, on the Hibiya and Toei Asakusa lines, is a walk of about 5 to 10 minutes.
- From central Ginza, it is an easy walk of 10 to 15 minutes.
Opening hours and when the market is open
There is no entry fee. The market is a morning place: many shops open very early and close by early afternoon, and some restaurants serve only until they sell out. Sundays, public holidays and many Wednesdays see a large share of shops closed, because those days follow the wholesale market's schedule. Check the market's official calendar before you go, especially if you are building a day around it.
Prices vary widely, from inexpensive skewers to premium sushi sets. Many stalls take cash only, so bring some yen.
Best time to visit the Tsukiji Outer Market
Go in the morning, ideally between around 8 and 10. Earlier than that, many shops are still serving trade buyers and it can be hard to move around. Later in the morning, the most popular stalls have long queues, and by early afternoon many are closing. Weekdays are noticeably calmer than Saturdays.
Allow one to two hours to wander and eat. If you want a sit-down sushi breakfast at a well-known counter, expect to queue and plan your time around it.
Market etiquette
- Eat next to the stall where you bought your food, not while walking. Many shops have small standing areas for this.
- Do not touch produce unless invited, and ask before taking close-up photos of shops or staff.
- Keep moving in the narrow lanes, and watch for delivery carts and small trucks.
- Take your rubbish back to the stall or carry it with you. There are few public bins.
Highlights of the Tsukiji Outer Market
Tamagoyaki
Several long-established shops make the sweet, layered Japanese omelette and sell slices on a stick to eat on the spot. It is one of the market's signature snacks.
Sushi and seafood bowls
Small restaurants and counters serve fresh sushi and kaisendon, rice bowls topped with sashimi, from breakfast time onward.
Knife and kitchenware shops
Specialist shops sell Japanese kitchen knives, often with engraving and advice on care. Check your airline and home country's rules for carrying knives before you buy.
Namiyoke Inari Shrine
A small shrine at the edge of the market, traditionally prayed to for protection, with large lion head carvings.
Nearby on the same stop
- Tsukiji Hongwanji: a Buddhist temple in an unusual Indian-inspired style, right by Tsukiji station, with a café.
- Hama-rikyu Gardens: a traditional garden on the bay with a teahouse on a pond, about 15 minutes' walk.
- Ginza: department stores and flagship shops a short walk north.
- Kabuki-za: the kabuki theatre at Higashi-ginza, where single-act tickets are sometimes sold on the day.
Discover more around this station on the Tsukiji Outer Market page, or explore the full Tokyo metro map.