Tsukiji Fish Market Walking Tour by English Speaking CPA

Tsukiji Fish Market Walking Tour by English Speaking CPA - Top

Tsukiji Fish Market - it is the cultural treasure of Japan although it is surprisingly international today. One-third of the marine products traded and auctioned today at the fish market comes from foreign countries. It has an extremely organized trading system for fishery, which cannot be seen in any other countries.

You may be able to watch lively auctions of Maguro (tuna) if and only if you wake up early! (It starts at 4:30!)

Officially, it is not a tourist attraction/sightseeing spot but a public auction/trading facility by the Metropolitan Government for registered wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers. And only fish shop owners and/or Sushi chefs, restaurant owners may enter and purchase fishery from intermediate wholesalers.

However, you may still visit and enjoy the lively activities in and out of the market, purchase Omiyage (souvenirs) of cool T-shirts, AND taste the freshest Sushi in the world at the cheapest price at Sushi stands in Jonai Market (restaurant rows)! (Obey the rules, though.)

April 1, 2008

Effective April 1st, 2008, the Metropolitan Government, the operator of the market, introduced a new rule which should affect the rising foreign tourists in the fish market. The foreign tourists are expected to tour in a group of 5 or less and watch the auctions at a designated observation area in the Frozen Tuna auction facility between 5:00am and 6:15am.

This was due to the serious concern of the market players that the overwhelming presence of foreign tourists in the past years had resulted in a rather unfortunate situation. Some of them with bad manners had used camera flashes although they were asked not to because it would make hard for traders to identify hand signs to tell prices. Some others had dared to touch the marine products without permission or in the worst case even hugged a big tuna when they take pictures of them. The businesses and lives of the traders have been jeopardized greatly.

We love and live with the market; therefore, we have the right to refuse any participants who neither follow the market rules nor respect the businesses and lives of those who work there.

We appreciate your understanding and corporation.

Thank you.

Kokopelli