Tsukiji Outer Market
The wholesale auctions moved to Toyosu in 2018, but the outer market never left — and it is the better place to actually eat.
What stayed behind
When Tsukiji’s wholesale fish market relocated to Toyosu in 2018 a lot of visitors assumed the whole thing had gone. It had not: the outer market — the several streets of retailers, knife makers, dried goods sellers and small restaurants that grew up around the wholesale operation — stayed exactly where it was and still trades every morning. For a visitor this is the better half. Toyosu has the auction and a viewing gallery; Tsukiji has the tamagoyaki made in front of you, the scallops grilled on the street and the sushi counters.
Explore Tsukiji Outer Market on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
What to look for
Eat as you go, then buy something to take home.
🍣 Eating
- Sushi counters, some with queues from before opening
- Grilled scallops, uni, tamagoyaki and wagyu skewers on the street
🔪 Knives
- Several long-established makers who will engrave while you wait
🍵 Dry goods
- Dashi, dried bonito, nori and pickles — the best souvenirs here
Getting to Tsukiji
Central, and a walk from Ginza.
🚇 By train
- Tsukiji on the Hibiya line, or Tsukijishijo on the Oedo line
🚶 On foot
- 10 minutes from Ginza
- 20 minutes from Tokyo station
🕒 Hours
- Trading from about 5am; most stalls wind down by early afternoon
When to come
A morning market — arriving after lunch means arriving after it ends.
🌅 Early
- Before 9am for the freshest counters and the shortest queues
- By 11am the lanes are difficult to move through
📅 Closures
- Closed Sundays and most Wednesdays, plus New Year — check before going
🚫 Avoid
- Afternoons, when the best stalls have sold out or shut
Visitor intelligence
A working market that has adapted to visitors, with clear expectations.
🍡 Eating
- Eat at the stall — the lanes are narrow and walking while eating blocks them
💴 Money
- Cash is still preferred at many stalls
🐟 Auctions
- The tuna auction is at Toyosu, not here — different site, and it needs booking
📷 Photography
- Ask before photographing a vendor or their produce
Frequently asked
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