Since the Edo period, the Tsukiji market has been a distribution center for food distribution in Tokyo, and over time it became one of the world's largest wholesale markets for fish products. The original site has been in operation for more than 80 years and has come to be known as "Tokyo’s kitchen".
For tourists who come to Tokyo to check out the food scene it is an absolute treasure trove for trying out Japanese cuisine. The original Tsukiji market is divided pretty much into two areas, on-site and off-site. The off-site used to be where buyers came for the fish auctions and which has now moved to Toyosu. The off-site area is where you can find gourmet restaurants and over 400 over-the-counter shops and stalls. The fish auctions may have gone, but there is still plenty to see, and eat, around Tsukiji
Most of the stores are still open as usual, and the crowds have barely gone down as there is still fresh and delicious food. So today, LIVE JAPAN is going to introduce 10 spots which can’t be missed when visiting this famous area. If you don’t come here to eat when you visit, then you will always regret it!
[Yamachou] Forget the fish, try these egg-based specialties!
Yuzu in Tsukiji is one type of food that is really unusual, and mouthwateringly good. Tsukiji Yamachou opened in September 2009 and is located at one corner of the Tsukiji market. A transparent glass wall allows you to see the staff in action and see how delicious their dishes look.
The way they cook, which is both skillful and slow, and simmer their original egg-based ingredients into a piece of hot and tempting thick omelete, is amazing. So the store is always packed with people patiently waiting to buy it. You can have it cut into whichever size you want, and choose between a sweet yuzu sauce or a slightly less sweet variety.
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Yamachou築地 山長
- Address 4-10-10, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 06:00~15:30
Public holidays: None
[Yoshizawa Shoten] Super Popular Fresh-cut Matsusaka Beef Croquettes
Yoshizawa Shoten is a very well-known store which sells seafood and meat in Tsukiji market. You can find fresh meat for dishes like shabu-shabu, roasts, and steak, but what is most popular with customers is their freshly fried Matsusaka beef croquettes!
The outside has been fried a golden crispy color, and the beef gravy has instantly locked in with the ingredients and it gives off a sweet gravy and the oily aroma.
The meat is both fresh and thick, but then on top of that the store’s homemade sauce is simply unbelievable! Fads can come and go, but something delicious like this is always worth waiting for, and boy is it worth the wait! Before long, after ordering, your very own hot fried croquettes are in front of your eyes and you can feast away!
In addition they have a similar croquette but one which is filled with potato, it is nonetheless delicious as well. It has the same golden crispy surface, and inside there is loose mashed potato, mixed with diced pork and beef! If you can manage two croquettes, then you have no excuse not to order both types!
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Yoshizawa-Shoten吉澤商店
- Address 4-13-15, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 6:00~13:00
Public holiday: Sunday / National holiday / Market holiday day
[Tsukiji Itadori Uogashi Senryou] Signature Seafood Dishes that won’t be easily forgotten
It goes without saying that there are a lot of seafood choices in Tsukiji. But one recommendation if you want to taste a variety of different Tsukiji seafood is a famous Tsukiji restaurant called Tsukiji Itadori Uogashi Senryou. On particular dish, hitsumanushi, is served in a wooden barrel-like bowl with white rice covered with more than 12 kinds of seasonally harvested ingredients, such as squid, shellfish, sea urchin and more.
Although, you don’t just get this bowl, they also give you soup and side dishes, and they recommend you eat your dish in three stages. The first stage begins with tasting the fresh and sweet flavor of the various seafood ingredients, then you add sea urchin and mix together the remaining ingredients with rice – to which you can also add mustard, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and other side dishes as you wish. Finally the third stage is to add a warm broth and enjoy a special seafood rice soup. After eating all this, your taste buds will be on the moon!
In addition, this popular and famous restaurant often features on TV shows and in magazines from all over the world. It’s so popular that you really need to come early to beat the queues!
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Tsukiji itadori uogashisenryou築地虎杖 魚河岸千両
- Address 4-10-14 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: Monday to Saturday, the day before national holidays 07:00~23:00 (L.O.22:30)
Sunday, national holiday 07:00~21:00 (L.O.20:30)
Public holidays: None
[Tsukiji Sushi Ichiban] Wonderful Tuna Sushi
One type of fish that Tsukiji is famous for, and has to be tried, is tuna – and in fact many people come to this area just to eat tuna. At the restaurant chain Tsukiji Sushi Ichiban you can enjoy the sight of the chefs cutting up the tuna, it is certainly one way to run up an appetite.
They have a free display in the restaurant showing how tuna is cut, and do this over 300 times a year. The chefs introduce everything about tuna to the eager diners, including the names of different parts and information about them.
Visitors can enjoy the freshest tuna sashimi which has a degree of freshness that is absolutely incomparable in other places, including parts which are quite rare. Though, speaking of rare, to see such a food display by the chefs here is rare too, and on top of that this restaurant is open 24 hours a day so you can eat late at night or early in the morning.
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Tsukiji sushiichiban築地 すし一番 4丁目場外市場店
- Address 4-13-5, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: Open 24 hours
Public holidays: None
[Tsukhi Sushi Sen] Taste the delicious sushi of staff with years of experience
This restaurant chain has four branches in the Tsukiji area, but the location of the Tsukiji Sushi Sen restaurant is very convenient as from Tsukiji Station it is just a 3 minute walk. Inside, the restaurant is very spacious and comfortable, and in addition to bar seats, there are many seating areas and small boxes.
The head of Tsukiji Sushi Sen has more than 30 years of experience with fish, and of course sushi. All their sushi dishes are strictly selected from the freshest in-season fish which are delivered directly from fishermen. The menus, including also tempura and barbecue, are all affordable, and the restaurant’s staff are very friendly and welcoming, They are very popular with international customers and have menus in Chinese, English, Korean and Japanese.
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Tsukiji sushisen築地すし鮮 総本店
- Address 6-23-12, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 10:30~15:30 (L.O.15:00)
Public holiday: None
[Tsukiji Yoshino Kichiya] A Specialist Restaurant in Conger Eel
Tsukiji Yoshino Kichiya is a restaurant in the vicinity of Tsukiji market, which is famous for its high quality conger eel. Conger eels have less fat and a great fine meat quality, so it is actually quite popular to eat this along with a nice white wine. In addition, this restaurant serves up conger eel in a variety of different dishes with different flavors. For example, one dish called Bakashiai lets you taste two different flavors of sweet sauce. While another dish to try is their luxurious seafood rice bowl made with a combination of conger eel, squid, and other fish. The taste of the conger eel tempura is one to die for!
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Tsukiji yoshino kichiyaつきじ芳野 吉弥
- Address 6-21-5, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 10:30~15:30 (L.O.15:00)
Public holiday: None
[Yonemoto Coffee Shop] People from all around come here for a nice coffee and a bit of nostalgia
Yonemoto Coffee Shop is a well-established café that has been in operation for nearly 60 years in Tsukiji market. Because it is located on the outskirts of the Tsukiji market for a very long time it has been the café of choice for people working nearby, as well as people who live in the local area.
This means that it has a relaxed and energetic atmosphere compared to other cafes in the general neighborhood. The coffee beans that can be tried here come from many regions around the world, such as Brazil and Colombia. In addition to the normal drink menu you absolutely have to try the popular Black Honey Macchiato (comes hot and cold), which also has a high nutritional value and health benefits. It is a slightly bitter coffee, but its taste and aroma will make you fall in love with it.
In the summer you absolutely must try Yellow Soy & Black Honey Cream, you get a large bowl of soybean powder with the creamy aroma of vanilla cream. This is then topped with sweet black honey and sprinkled with soy bean powder. It is quite cold so it is perfect for fighting off the summer heat and cooling down.
In addition, if you like a particular flavor of coffee bean then this café can sell the beans according to how you want to drink it, including individually packaged filter-type coffee and cold-blend non-woven bags of iced coffee that can be placed in the kettle.
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Yonemotokohi米本珈琲本店
- Address 4-13-4, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 06:00~16:00
Public holidays: Sunday / national holiday
[LIVE COFFEE Tsukiji] Hand-made bakery and cafe
LIVE COFFEE Tsukiji is a bakery and coffee shop located on the outskirts of the Tsukiji market where it is quieter and more relaxed than the main thoroughfares. This café, which has been in business for more than 30 years, is very popular among local residents and office workers. The coffee beans sold here come from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya and other more, and are grinded in-house.
Their high-quality coffee is carefully prepared, and can even be bought to take home. So if you find a flavor which you absolutely love, then you can buy them and taken them home. In addition to coffee drinks, the store also offers a variety of light snacks such as squid sandwich bread, egg salad, Japanese fried noodles, and more. If you want to get out of Tsukiji market for a while and relax, then this café is the perfect place to go to – sit down and enjoy some exclusive Tsukiji coffee!
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Live Coffee Tsukijiライブコーヒー 築地店
- Address 1-9-8 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: Monday to Saturday 7:00 to 20:00 / National Holiday 8:00 to 18:00
Public holidays: Sunday
[Sorakki] Tsukiji’s famous strawberry dessert
When travelling in Japan one fruit which you can’t miss are strawberries, they are simply incredible, and if you want to try a super delicious strawberry dessert, then boy does Tsukiji have something to offer you!
Sorakki specializes in Japanese-style fruit and their Strawberry Daifuku is to die for. This features a special kind of cake filled with a variety of flavors, such as red bean paste, strawberry yogurt, kashida sauce, and chocolate. You can even add peach, mango, matcha, etc., and then on top of that is a fresh strawberry.
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for something beautiful or delicious, this dessert gets ten out of ten for both!! After eating amazing seafood in Tsukiji the next best thing you can do is taste a sweet Japanese dessert, though you will certainly be full after that!
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Tsukiji soratsuki築地そらつき
- Address 4-11-10, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 8:00~15:00
Public holiday: irregular
[Sanokiya] A unique Tsukiji store
At this store the famous Japanese sweet Taiyaki has changed into the shape of tuna, which is quite suitable for Tsukiji considering that the tune auctions used to be held here. This special Tsukiji version of Taiyaki is served either crispy, as Hon Maguro, or soft as Cho Toro. The shape is very popular with visitors because of the deep connection with this area and tuna, plus this dessert is really good! The Hon Maguro has sweet bean paste while the Chu Toyo has sweet bean paste and an apricot inside it.
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Sanokiya築地 さのきや
- Address 4-11-9, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 7:00~15:00
Public holiday: Sunday / National holiday / Market holiday day
Although the market in the Tsukiji has been relocated to the new site of Toyosu, many people think that the original site of Tsukiji has faded away into the past, and that all the famous stores and restaurants have moved to the new market. However, it is still there and thriving, every day it is crowded with people visiting the hundreds of stores, which are both delicious and great to visit! We recommend that anyone who wants to taste authentic Tsukiji seafood come here, to Tokyo’s kitchen.
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*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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