Tuna for Sale at the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo
The Tsukiji Market in Tokyo is definitely worth a visit, if for nothing else than to see the early-morning tuna auctions. The complex is enormous (it makes the old Fulton Fish Market in New York City seem like child’s play) and contains hundreds of vendors selling tremendous quantities of super-fresh fish.
One of the most famous activities of the Tsukiji fish market is the tuna auction (located in the back corner near the Sumida River). It will be helpful to use our map of the Tsukiji market, highlighting the location of the tuna auction when you arrive at 5 in the morning. 
Many guidebooks indicate that tourists are not allowed to view the auctions, but this is patently false; there is, however, a protocol:
- The tuna auction begins at 5:30 am, but you can certainly get there by 6 am and have plenty of time to see the auction in action.
- Stay in the designated “visitor” section
- Refrain from taking flash photography and smoking
- Be careful to avoid the fast moving forklifts
- Enjoy!
After spending the morning walking around Tokyo’s famous fish market, take your breakfast at Daiwa Sushi (located in the stalls circled in red on our map), the quintessential place to go for a reasonably priced sushi breakfast. There are only 8 seats, but it is a great and totally unique experience.
If you are visiting Kyoto and Nara while in Japan, consider using our travel guide to the Wooden Temples of China and Japan as a reference.
