Tokyo’s Tsukiji Outer Market Comes Back to Life

The Tsukiji 4-chōme intersection of Shin Ōhashi and Harumi avenues. From here shoppers enter Monzeki-dōri, a long line of shops bordering the western edge of Shin Ōhashi avenue.

Namiyoke-dōri, running from Namiyoke Shrine to Shin Ōhashi avenue, marks the southern edge of the outer market area. If you are lucky you may be able to see a tuna carving demonstration.

The Odawarabashi Building on Harumi venue. The stairs on the right will take you directly to the Uogashi Shokudō food court on the third floor.

Main entrance to the Kaikōbashi Building in front of Namiyoke Shrine. The building is connected by a third-floor passageway to the Odawarabashi Building.

The shops offer a rich assortment of fresh seafood, meat, and fruits and vegetables.

At Tsukiji Uogashi, Kitani Suisan sells bluefin tuna brought in directly from the Toyosu Wholesale Market. (Photo by the author)

Choice cuts of Ōma blue fin tuna and nakaochi scrapings are on sale at reasonable prices.

Store attendants display their popular offerings of Ibuki iriko (dried sardines) and Sōda katsuo (auxis or frigate tuna) fish stock flakes.

An array of fish flakes, dried kelp, and laver from well-known localities throughout Japan.

Outdoor seating is available at the Uogashi Shokudō food court on the third floor of the Odawarabashi Building.

The former Tsukiji Wholesale Market site viewed from the roof of the Kaikōbashi Building.

Plat Tsukiji is located roughly midway along Namiyoke-dōri. The facility also has rest areas and smoking booths.

The Tsukiji Outer Market is a bewildering maze of shops. Make sure to pick up a map at the information booth. Yamazaki Yoshiko, the booth’s manager, is at left.

Some of the original items sold in the gift shop.

A mouthwatering variety of tamagoyaki. The Ajikurabe assortment of four different kinds of kushidama, priced at ¥820, makes a nice gift item.

Kushidama omelet sticks are a great snack to munch on while you explore the Tsukiji Outer Market. Due to the COVID-19, eating while walking about is currently forbidden. Try out your favorite kushidama in front of the shop.

The quaint little La Créme au Beurre is an unexpected feature of the Tsukiji Outer Market.

Macaroons of all colors make for a festive showcase.

Tsukiji Sanokiya’s maguroyaki pancakes, with honmaguro in the foreground and chūtoro maguro in the back. (Photo by the author)

The front entrance of Nenohi adjacent to another famous tamagoyaki shop, Marutake.

An attendant shows some of the sword-like knives kept in the far back of the shop.

Tonboya is located on Monzeki-dōri at a site that was devastated by fire just a few years ago.

Fat drips off the skewered tuna steaks as they are braised with a gas torch.

People flock to Monzeki-dōri even on weekdays.