Tsukiji Outer Market Tokyo (formerly Tsukiji Fish Market) Guide + Photos

Tokyo’s fish markets are legendary, from their early morning tuna fish auctions to the eateries serving up the freshest sashimi in Japan. One of the biggest and best known Tokyo fish markets on the outskirts of Ginza, Tsukiji Outer Market (formerly Tsukiji Fish Market) – 築地場外市場 is bustling with stalls inside and out.

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The food halls here have so many fresh fish dishes at inexpensive prices, you’ll definitely want to arrive on an empty stomach.

From what to eat to fishy vending machines, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Tsukiji Outer Market, a famous Tokyo fish market in Japan:

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Table of Contents

Getting there / directions to Tsukiji Outer Market

Located close to the upmarket Ginza Tokyo neighbourhood, the nearest station to Tsukiji Outer Market is Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya line (a 5 minute walk away) or Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo line (a 3 minute walk away).

Alternatively, the closest JR station to Tsukiji Outer Market is JR Shimbashi, a 24 minute 1.6km walk (or jump on a public bus).

You might like these Tokyo neighbourhood guides:
Akihabara
Asakusa
Ginza
Harajuku
Ikebukuro
Nakano
Odaiba
Ryogoku
Shibuya
Shimokitazawa
Shinjuku

Also check out our
Where to stay in Tokyo guide

Try this – The top Tsukiji Fish Market Tours and Tickets with Viator >

The history of Tsukiji Outer Market and recent changes

Tsukiji Outer Market has changed a lot in recent years, with much of the main fish market activities and auctions now moved 3km down the road to the much larger Toyosu Fish Market, near Odaiba.

This also means the tuna fish auctions alas no longer take place at Tsukiji Outer Market (the big tuna auctions in the early morning hours also moved to Tokyo Toyosu Fish Market).

Try this – Toyosu Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Market Tour by Gov Licensed Guide >

Tsukiji Fish Market as it was formerly known opened in the mid 1930s, replacing a huge fish market that had been destroyed in an earthquake.

Until 2018, Tsukiji Fish Market was the largest wholesale fish market in the world with almost 1000 stalls.

eel food stall at Tsukiji Outer fish Market tokyo

Since most of the fish market has now moved to Toyosu, Tsukiji has renamed itself Tsukiji Outer Market and several smaller fish markets and lots of fish restaurants remain. It is still very much worth a visit and you can still buy fresh fish and have it cooked onsite.

Incidentally, the name Tsukiji (築地) is derived from the Japanese for ‘reclaimed land’ as the area was constructed over the water in Tokyo Bay.

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Tsukiji Outer Market opening times / best time to visit

The best time to visit Tsukiji Outer Market is in the morning, as many fish stalls and food outlets close by the early afternoon.

Tsukiji Outer Market is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday from approximately 5am to 2pm. Individual business and restaurant opening hours may vary.

Try this – Tokyo: Guided Tour of Tsukiji Fish Market with Tastings >

What to do at Tsukiji Outer Market

The hustle and bustle, sights and smells of Tsukiji Outer Market make it one of the best free things to do in Tokyo.

Even if you are not a fish fan (sacrilege!), it is worth visiting just to see the comings and goings, especially all of the interaction with the stall-holders.

From eating sublime sashimi to having your own choice of fresh fish cooked the way you like it, there is much to eat and enjoy here.

Plus if you don’t eat fish, you’ll find other stalls here like rolled Japanese egg omelettes (tamagoyaki) or alfresco beer bars where you can enjoy an Asahi (or four) before lunchtime.

tamagoyaki rolled Japanese egg omelettes — *Tamagoyaki*

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Some of the best things and activities to do at Tsukiji Fish Market include:

Visit the fresh fish market and breath in the fishy air

Whilst not on the scale of nearby Toyosu, there are several smaller halls of fish stalls that you can browse, selling everything from sea-urchins to fresh octopus (man, those octopuses want to get out – you can see them escape from the barrels or just shoot out water).

As you’d expect from any wet-market, some of the sights you’ll see at Tsukiji Outer Market aren’t so pleasant (most creatures are still alive etc).

So if you are squeamish or don’t like the smell of fish, maybe just stick to the Tsukiji outer market stalls outside where everything is already prepared.

Try this – Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Half Day Tour with Klook >

Explore the Tsukiji food halls and BYO fish restaurants

We discovered multiple food courts and food halls in the floors above the Tsukiji fish markets themselves – a myriad of corridors and cooking places, here you can find individual fish restaurants where you can bring your own fish to be cooked, or just go with what they’ve got already.

It should be said that some tourists have complained that the fish market prices are sometimes a lot more than they expected or restaurateurs have charged more than they should so be clear about the pricing structure before you order.

Alternatively, there are a few food courts where there will be a dozen or so hole in the wall joints selling delicious food (often seafood and shellfish but not always). These can be very busy with locals and tourists alike so may need to wait a while in order to grab a seat.

Try this – Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market Food and Drink Walking Tour >

Enjoy cheap sashimi

One of the many benefits of visiting Tsukiji Outer Market (and Toyosu) is that inexpensive sashimi is a staple. You’ll find lots of sashimi stalls at Tsukiji Outer Market (generally the further out the sashimi stalls, the cheaper they become).

Tsukiji Kanno at Tsukiji Outer Market Tokyo — *Tsukiji Kanno*

There are so many choices but we saw lots of elderly locals and salarymen / business people eating at Tsukiji Kanno – so we grabbed the last spot right next to the counter and enjoyed a Maguro Salmon Don bowl (fresh AF) for only 700 Yen each including tax.

Our bowl has akami (lean tuna), salmon and Japanese omelette (tamagoyaki) which included miso soup. So much fresh fish and sublime sashimi for less than £4 / $4.50 USD.

sashimi donburi at Tsukiji Kanno at Tsukiji Outer Market Tokyo

We also spotted a very popular branch of Sushi Zanmai at Tsukiji, complete with a statue of the founder Kiyoshi Kimura, best known as Japan’s “Tuna King” (who has been known to pay $3 million plus for rare tuna catches).

Sushi Zanmai Tokyo Japan — *Sushi Zanmai*

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Have an early beer – Kapo

Kanpai! As many of the workers start work at 5am and finish at 2pm, it is a common site to see people enjoying beers here at lunchtime, often with fried foods like chicken karaage or seafood and oysters.

There are several alfresco food stalls and carts selling beers plus the famous Tsukiji Outer Market Fisherman’s Bar – bring your own fish and enjoy ice cold beers.

Otherwise in all the side-streets around the market, you’ll find izakaya style Japanese bars that stay open much later than the market. Cheers – and you’re welcome!

Love beer? Check out Japan’s oldest beer hall, Tokyo Ginza Lion near to the market >

Fishy Japanese Vending Machines

We at Plan My Japan are big fans of weird and wonderful Japanese vending machines – so much so, we wrote about our most unusual Japanese vending machines.

Tsukiji Outer Market is no different and you’ll find fishy vending machines, selling everything from fresh or cured salmon to mosuke dango vanilla and matcha mochi style desserts.

vending machine at Tsukiji Outer fish Market tokyo

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Street Food Stalls

There is so much street food and fresh fish to enjoy around the stalls dotted around Tsukiji Outer Market. Some of the best Japanese foods and drinks to try (or catch even) include:

Donuts
Tamagoyaki – Japanese rolled omelette
Matcha ice cream
Grilled wagyu beef
Dried fish flakes
Tuna platters – Lean tuna bowls start from 1,500 Yen through to a three taro bowl for 3,400 Yen
Sake

Eel stick (300 Yen)
Japanese raw oysters (700 Yen each)
Scallop sautéed butter (500 Yen)
Grilled squid (600 Yen)
Fish roe
Dried mushrooms
Salmon roe (on rice)
Snow crab (3,000 Yen)
Abalone (2,500 Yen)
Sakiika – dried shredded squid

wagu beef skewers at Tsukiji Outer Market tokyo

We also really looked like the look of Tsujiki Toboya, a sleek and shiny food cart selling tuna steak skewers and a draft beer as a combo for 1,000 Yen.

Try this – Tsukiji and Asakusa Food and Drink Cultural Walking Tour (half day) >

Buy cheap as kitchen utensils, ceramics and chopsticks

It isn’t just fish and food stalls – there are even some very charming ceramics and homeware stalls where the prices are pretty inexpensive compared to say nearby Ginza or more tourist markets.

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Tsukiji Cooking / Cookery School

If you are feeling inspired after exploring Tsukiji (or just want to do a Tsukiji Outer Market walking tour and try some cookery after), there are several cooking tours available.

You can book a Tokyo Tsukiji Outer Market tour and rolled sushi class with Viator or Get Your Guide.

Namiyoke Inari Shrine

Just a short walk from the Tsukiji Outer Market, this small Shinto shrine is a nice way to escape the manic market and spend a few moments of solitude.

Called Namiyoke meaning ‘Protection from Waters’ in Japanese, the shrine was built in the 17th century on the water’s edge before the land reclamation project began.

Many traders at the market visit here and it has become a sign of prosperity and good fortune for Tsukiji Outer Market.

Look out for the torii gate at the entrance and the two lions guarding the shrine. Despite being incredibly heavy, these ‘roar-some’ lion heads are the focus of a regular festival at the shrine where the lion heads are paraded around the fish market and Tsukiji streets.

Try this – Tsukiji Market Eating Tour, Authentic Sushi & Sake Comparison >

Other things to know about Tsukiji Outer Market / Fish Market in 2024:

There is a small Tsukiji Tourist Information Office just outside the market, with lots of local Tokyo maps plus some cute gifts including fishy cartoon characters.
There are signs all around the market asking visitors to not eat or drink whilst they are walking. They also request you must eat takeaway food outside stalls you bought it at and not wander off.
There are free toilets at Tsukiji Outer Market plus elevators / lifts to the higher floors.
The rooftop garden at Tsukiji really isn’t worth visiting.
Plan My Japan tip – Hamarikyu Garden is just a 15 minute walk from Tsujiki and one of the best gardens and parks we visited in Tokyo.
Tsukiji Outer Market is free to visit – there are no admission costs (correct as of May 2024).

Toyosu Fish Market vs Tsukiji Outer Market

Which is best – Toyosu Fish Market or Tsukiji Outer Market?

The experience is quite different as Toyosu Fish Market is much larger (twice the size of Tsukiji) and is more wholesale, whereas Tsukiji is a little bit more accessible and tourist-friendly (it is so close to the Ginza neighborhood).

If you can, try to visit both of these Tokyo fish markets as both offer delicious fresh fish dishes and sublime sashimi and sushi sides.