Description of the attraction
Central Tokyo is home to one of the world's largest fish and seafood markets, better known as the Tsukiji Fish Market.
The first market in Tokyo, then called Edo, appeared in the 17th century. Near the Nihonbashi Bridge, fishermen from Osaka sold surplus fish, which they brought to supply the fortress at the invitation of Prince Minamoto Tokugawa Ieyasu. Today, the Nihonbashi Bridge is considered the main bridge in the country.
The central wholesale market was built in 1923 after the "rice riots", when residents of entire cities opposed food shortages and wholesale speculators. In large cities, by decision of the parliament, they began to build special establishments for the sale of food. The Tokyo market was built in March 1923, and in September of the same year it was destroyed by a strong earthquake along with the central part of the city. The market was rebuilt in the Tsukiji area.
Currently, the market sells about two thousand tons of seafood per day. Almost 90% of all wholesale seafood trade in Japan is concentrated in this place. More than 60 thousand people work here. The market consists of two sections, one of which is used for wholesale trading and fish processing. In the other, there are many retail stores and shops, restaurants where you can buy kitchen utensils, groceries and taste sushi. The market offers its customers several hundred types of goods - from small fish to giant tuna, from the cheapest products to the most expensive.
Life in the market begins at 3 am with the receipt of the goods, and by 1 pm the market is already closed. Most retailers are shutting down even earlier - by 11 o'clock. The best time for tourists to visit is from 5 to 6 in the morning. At this time, auctions are taking place, where intermediaries purchase goods for cafes, restaurants and retail stores. The market is closed on Sundays and public holidays. There is a special platform for tourists in the market from which they can observe all operations - for example, cutting a huge tuna with a band saw.
