Nemo, Jaws…some fish don’t need an introduction – and neither do some fish markets. Tsukiji fish market(pronounced ‘skeejee’) is the big one. The one you’ve heard about; the one you needed to go to at 5 am if you wanted to see those ever-so-famous tuna being auctioned off to the highest bidder. And while you can do that at the market’s new Toyosu location, we think it’s better to get some shuteye on vacation and enjoy it at a slightly more civilized hour.
Instead, we’ll set you up with an insider at 7 am to experience Tokyo’s fish markets like a local. First, you’ll make like a restaurateur and gain exclusive access to the wholesale section of Toyosu to shop for Michelin-grade seafood. You’ll actually get to meet and interact directly with the fishmongers that have worked in the city’s markets their entire lives, learn how the fish are killed, chat with tuna salesmen and sample the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. Then you’ll be whisked away in a private van to the atmospheric site of the original Tsukiji fish market, where old-fashioned stalls still buzz with locals buying their favorite snacks.
Finally, you’ll head to a private kitchen where a master Japanese sushi chef will teach you how to prepare and fillet that incredible fish you purchased earlier, and demonstrate the knife skills needed to create beautiful pieces of sushi. Oh, and then you get to eat it all, of course!
Want to enjoy more activities to continue exploring the city like a local? Make sure you check our full list of Tokyo Signature Experiences.