Alicia's Travel Guide
- Jul 26, 2020

Toyosu Fish Market Guide || 豊洲市場 || Tokyo, Japan

The Toyosu Fish Market opened in October 2018 and is located in the Kōtō ward. This is one of the most famous wholesale markets in Tokyo, replacing the old Tsukiji Market. If you've read online about visiting the fishmarkets, make sure the information is up-to-date as if you turn up to Tsukiji Market you will be majorly disappointed. The market is much larger than the previous Tsukiji market, making the Toyosu market the largest in the world.

The market is split into three markets; two for wholesale seafood and one for wholesale fruit and vegetables. Each market has its own building, so do pay attention to the signs when entering; the entire process from entry to exit is well signposted and really works in favour of tourists! The entire market is undercover, so perfect even as a rainy day activity.

Getting There

The market is encompassed by the Shijo-Mae Station on the Yurikamome line, although it is still quite a walk once you exit the station. You will likely be using the Tokyo station as a base or through-fare for most of your journeys, so I will use that as a start.

JR Yamanote Line from Tokyo to Yurakucho (one-stop)
Yurakucho Subway Line from Yurakucho to Toyosu (four-stops)
Yurikamome from Toyosu to Shijo-Mae Station (two-stops)

It's important to remember that trains only start running at 5:20 am, so if you're wanting to catch the Tuna Auction at 5, make sure you plan an alternative route (perhaps even stay in a nearby hostel or cheap hotel for the night).

Exploring the Market

Open 5 am- 5 pm you have the entire day to choose when to visit; just remember it's closed on Sundays and public holidays! If you want to watch the famous tuna auction, it starts at 5 am. You can either book a private tour or simply explore yourself; the areas for tourists are marked (if you aren't sure its best to ask!).

The Tuna Auction

The old Tsukiji Market's Tuna Auction was famous for its lively atmosphere and up-close experience for tourists. Unfortunately, this environment did not transfer over to the new market; it's much more official and although tourists can still watch the bidding, it's from an above viewing platform. Just make sure you pick up a free visitor's pass before entering. There is an exclusive viewing area on the lower deck of the auction but this is by application only! Applications open for about 10 days in preparation for the next month. I personally think that the viewing platform is a good idea as you can see the fish and the auctioneers clearly as well as the vast scale of the auction.

Once you've arrived at the viewing platform, keep an eye out for "Language Co-Talk Volunteers". They'll talk you through everything that's going on, including the hand signals the auctioneers use in English.

At around 7 am, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the fish being loaded onto the lorries and trucks, so if you do arrive a little later you can still see an important part of the Tuna auction process.

Buying Seafood

Unfortunately, you can no longer purchase seafood from the auction, only from a shop or restaurant. We decided to sit at one of the restaurants and have some sushi that the Sushi Master assembled right in front of us! There are a few different restaurant outlets, each with a small capacity, to choose from. Queues sometimes get quite long, so try and avoid eating at prime food time (i.e. lunch, or evening dinner).

The whole experience will likely take you two hours maximum unless you're waiting to see the auction, trucks loading etc. The whole experience is quite walking intensive, with only a few places to sit, so be sure to wear comfy shoes.

Rooftop

To finish your experience, head to the rooftop for views of Tokyo Bay, and even Mount Fuji on an extremely clear day. Although you can sit and relax on the grass, you cannot eat or drink so be sure to finish your refreshments before you go up. This is due to that fact that Japan is an extremely clean country, with almost no litter!