Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
TSUKIJI FISH MARKET REVIEW - INCLUDING JYUJYU WAGYU REVIEW (MUST-TRY)...
TSUKIJI FISH MARKET REVIEW IS A BELTER: Grab your chopsticks and a strong stomach and covered nose in certain places, because Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is the chaotic seafood circus that has haunted my foodie Tokyo bucket-list dreams—sadly, minus the inner auction frenzy now shipped off to Toyosu like an unwanted stepchild. For you, my dear friends, I swapped hawker heat for fishy smells, sashimi and sushi, arriving at this Tsukiji Fish Market Tokyo beast feels like gatecrashing a Singaporean wet market on steroids.
I have always wanted to come here. So many of my food heros like Bourdain, those on the TV, have come and showed off just how bloody fantastico this place is – and now it is my turn to do so. And, holy moly did I, and the family absolutely LOVE IT. This is a must-try if you happen to be in Tokyo – you simply MUST!!! It is stuff of legend and should not be missed.
Picture narrow alleys crammed with stalls hawking tuna chunks the size of car tyres, knife shops sharper than a Japanese salaryman’s glare, and grannies haggling over sea urchin like it’s Black Friday at Bugis Street. It’s December 2025, and the outer market’s buzzing louder than ever—400-odd shops flogging everything from dried squid tentacles to tamagoyaki omelettes that wobble like jelly on a old Uncles’s girating Grab ride.
History buffs, take note: this lot kicked off in Nihonbashi back in Edo days, survived the 1923 Kanto quake by relocating here, and ruled as the planet’s biggest fish hub till 2018. Now it’s all street eats and souvenirs, but the vibe? Pure Tokyo madness, with pros and punters elbowing for the freshest uni before 9 AM. It is a foodie paradise and I was hooked immediately.
TSUKIJI FISH MARKET REVIEW: CONTENTS
The Setting — Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo
Wandering those packed lanes at dawn (hit it early or queue like you would at Disney Sea), you’re dodging fishmongers in rubber boots wielding hooks like samurais, the air thick with brine and that unmistakable “fresh off the boat” whiff that makes your nostrils tingle. Stalls pile high with Tsukiji Outer Market food—octopus balls bobbing in batter, grilled eel skewers hissing on coals, and fruit so pristine you’d swear it’s plastic till you bite.
Knife emporiums tempt with blades that could slice a hair lengthwise (I resisted buying as I had just bought and have a free one on the way—but, that was barely), while pickle jars gleam like jewels under neon signs. Namiyoke Shrine lurks at one end, all lanterns and prayers for safe hauls, and Tsukiji Honganji Temple looms with its golden stupa mocking the morning mist. It’s no sterile mall; it’s a living scrapbook of Tokyo’s fish obsession, where salarymen slurp ramen amid the slop and tourists snap Instagram selfies with tuna torsos. One whiff of that salty chaos, and you’re hooked harder than a mackerel on a line (damn that’s some good writing…).
Tsujiki Fish Market Review: Top Tips of where to eat
Now, the real gut-punch: Tsukiji sushi. Queue up at legends like Sushi Dai or Sushi Daiwa (yes, they’re related, no, they’re not sharing the line), where omakase flows fresh from Toyosu deliveries—fatty tuna melting like butter on warm rice, uni so creamy it hugs your arteries. We joined the mid-morning scrum outside Sushi Dai, shuffling forward like zombies for 90 minutes of nirvana: maguro nigiri that dissolved mid-chew, ikura roe popping salty bursts, and anago eel glazed sticky-sweet.
Plates stack quick—¥5,000 gets you stuffed—and the chefs grunt approvals without breaking stride. There’s a variety of 24-hour glowing restos that draw the desperate, slinging donburi bowls brimming with seafood rice that could feed a family. But, if you want the best sushi rush experience—pro tip: go solo, and go hunt what catches your eye – the choices are endless; Wifey did, and she took one bite at her chosen dining spot (standing up at a counter-where the chef just sliced her sashimi in front of her-and she was preaching the raw fish gospel to strangers immediately. You can’t really go wrong!!!
JyuJyu Wagyu Review - this is a MUST-TRY when visiting Tsukiji Fish Market
JyuJyu Wagyu at Tsukiji Outer Market is the Japanese Wagyu wizard of skewers, that will leave you moaning in wagyu ecstasy. I was already elbow-deep in Tokyo’s fishy frenzy, with enough Instagram and Tik Tok content for 48 months, when I espied this outdoor grill that seemed to be calling my name. Picture fat-marbled wagyu sizzling on a hot top, juices dripping like liquid gold, crowned with creamy sea urchin that melts into a savoury-sweet puddle mid-bite; it’s buttery heaven dissolving on your tongue faster than a Japanese salaryman’s lunch break.
One skewer splits easy between two (unless you’re a glutton like me), with that rich beefy depth clashing gloriously against uni’s oceanic kiss—proper indulgent, no filler nonsense. The stall’s a magnet for punters sniffing the smoke trail, and the quality’s no joke; it’s streetfood acting as fine dining, leaving sauce on your shirt and smugness in your soul. You simply must-try JyuJyu Wagyu.
Sharing a regular wagyu stick first with Jude Jude, we immediately got pure melt-in-mouth magic—tender chunks grilled just pink, pepper and wasabi at the counter turning it into a flavour bomb that mocks your hawker beef rendang back home.
Then, up the ante with the uni-topped beast, and you’re in luxury territory: the contrast zings like beef fireworks (if there was such a thing), beef’s umami hugging urchin’s custard creaminess till your eyes roll back and you feel the need to lay down in some foodie drug induced moment. Portions? Bite-sized brilliance—no need for a trough—and the open grill lets you watch the sizzle show, dodging queues that snake like determined eels. Jude Jude and I waddled off and immediately returned to plot a second hit, belly full but craving more—classic market streetfood madness.
JyuJyu Wagyu Sushi: best sushi ever...
Service is brisk Tokyo-style—no chit-chat- well I say that, but we had a lovely chat with the co-owner, just skewers slapped down hot—but that’s the charm in this fish-slop market chaos. Compared to plain skewers, JyuJyu Wagyu edges it up another level with that uni wow-factor, earning raves for “unbelievably good” from bloggers. For Tsukiji Outer Market food fiends chasing beefy highs without a full restaurant sit-down, it’s a banger—pair with a cold draft beer (also served here) to cut the richness, and thank me later. Proper legend in the skewer stakes; a lasting memory of Japan, and some!!!
JyuJyu Wagyu with Fresh Uni, you have to be kidding me right...nope...
Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo - incredible Japanese streetfood
Street snacks turn the stroll into a binge fest—tamagoyaki, those sweet-savory egg skewers fluffy as clouds and grilled just so, perfect for dodging queues. Kaki oysters, the size of small children,steam open on shells, drizzled soy that zings your tongue; wagyu skewers melt beefy richness onto your palate; groaning BBQ’s smoke proudly with their guests of abalone, oysters, King Crab, Hamachi collars and more. It is a food heaven dropped on the streets of Tokyo: it is intoxicating.
One YouTube punter nailed it: “massive portions of salmon roe don that leave you groaning happily”. Watch for the beef bowls—salty beasts if simmered too long, but offal versions simmer right for chewy heaven. It’s all handheld heaven, cheap enough to sample till your belt explodes in protest.
Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo - bring on the Sashimi
Beyond the bites, Tsukiji Fish Market Outer Market peddles kitchen toys that’ll jazz your home setup—woks gleaming like new pennies, bamboo steamers begging for dim sum trials, and those fabled knives from family forges. Fruit stalls flaunt melons pricier than gold (square watermelons? Tokyo tax), dried goodies like shiokara squid ferment that divides mates into lovers and pukers.
Atmosphere amps the fun: barkers yell specials, scooters zip fish crates through crowds, and the odd cat eyes your unattended skewer. It’s family-run grit meets tourist trap, with Tokyo pros sourcing breakfast and a late lunch, amid your random munching. By noon, the frenzy peaks and stalls shut—beat it or join the sardine pack (you like that?).
Tsukiji Fish Market: what to do in the fish market
For the full Tsukiji Tokyo seafood immersion, time your assault: 5-9 AM for peak freshness, dodging the tuna demo trucks (now rarer post-move). Public loos are clean but queues form; wear comfy shoes for the concrete slog. Cash rules—ATMs lurk nearby—and if lines daunt you, hit Sushizanmai’s chain for quicker seats. History whispers everywhere: Edo origins from Tokugawa’s fishermen summons, post-quake rebuild in 1935 turning Tsukiji into a postwar boom beast. Now, with Toyosu handling the heavy lifting, the outer bit thrives on eats and vibes, drawing chefs, and me, worldwide for ingredient and food adventure hunts. Nowhere like it compares.
Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo - is there Wagyu as well...?
The Tsujiki Seafood Market has charm—raw, relentless, ridiculously good charm.
Tsukiji ain’t changed much in decades—still the spot where fish flies faster than your Grab fare spikes, and your wallet thins quicker than sashimi slices. I emerged from our foodie adventure haze, pockets lighter but belly triumphant, plotting a return for that Wagyu high. Singapore’s seafood pales here; no hawker compares to maguro fresh enough to slap back. Families? Tots love the skewers; solo souls graze endlessly. Any downsides? Not really. Queues could test saints-but what do you expect from the World’s busiest seafood market. Prices can pinch tourists, but the Yen is not doing so well, so I found it very amenable.
Wrapping this fishy fiasco, Tsukiji Fish Market Tokyo remains Tokyo’s beating heart for seafood fiends, a riot of rice, roe, and razor wit. From JyuJyu Wagyu’s throne to alley skewers that steal your heart, it’s the ultimate gut-busting bash. Brian’s verdict: drag your mates and family on a Tokyo food pilgrimage, stuff faces till stagger, and thank the Edo ghosts later. Swap Sentosa buffets for this anytime—your tastebuds will high-five you. Sláinte to slimy scales and zero regrets. It could not have been better.
We ate like Kings, Queens, Pincesses and Princes. Everywhere you turn and look at Tsukiji Seafood Market there is something to devour. It can’t get any fresher, it just can’t. Then boom it’s on a BBQ, hot plate, or straight to your plate with air still in it’s lungs. It’s an incredible foodie experience that will be very hard to match in my lifetime.
Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo - Seafood BBQ
Tsujiki Fish Market Review, Tokyo: Final Thoughts
So, after weaving through Tsukiji’s fishy frenzy like a salmon dodging hooks, it’s time to reel in the final thoughts on this Tokyo seafood spectacle (I love writing these blogs, I truly do)—and blimey, what a riot it was. Wifey was still picking roe from her teeth and dreaming of that melt-in-mouth maguro that makes Singapore’s sashimi stalls look very amateur. Yes, she was in her element.
Tsukiji Fish Market Tokyo isn’t just some polished tourist trap; it’s a proper pristine produce, where the outer market’s alleys throb with enough energy to power Shibuya Crossing. From dawn queues at Sushi Dai that test your bladder more than your patience, to tamagoyaki skewers fluffy enough to pillow a nap, every corner delivers full bellies. Tsujiki Fish Market exudes magic—raw, relentless, and ridiculously addictive magic. Families emerge sauce-smeared and smiling, solo grazers plot repeat visits, and even jaded chefs bow to the freshness gods. You can’t help yourself, but fall in love with this place.
Truth be told, Tsukiji Outer Market food holds court as Tokyo’s cheekiest chow-down, outshining Toyosu’s, now quite sterile auctions with street eats that slurp, snap, and sizzle in equal measure: with food theatre smacking oni the eyes at every turn. Those best sushi Tsukiji spots like Sushi Zanmai sling omakase worthy of sonnets—uni creamy as forbidden love, ikura bursting like fireworks on rice—and the knife shops tempt you to lug home a blade sharper than you’re regret.
JyuJyu Wagyu skewers smelt beefy dreams onto your tongue, mochi flops sticky-sweet rebellion, and the odd pickle jar gleams like buried treasure amid the chaos. Find your poison, folks, and dive in head-first, it doesn’t get much better.
Downsides? Peak-hour sardine scrums and wallets weeping for premium uni, but counter that with early birds and cash-only smarts. It’s family fodder for kids on skewers, honeymoon fuel for romantic rolls, and blogger bait for endless Instagram, snaps. Compared to hawker precision, Tsukiji’s glorious mess wins every time—sloppy, salty, sublime.
In the end, drag your mates to Tsukiji Tokyo seafood central before the next quake reshuffles the deck; stuff faces till stagger, swap stories over icy cold beers, and emerge converts to the piscatorial and wagyu faith. Skip the Sentosa seafood slop, chase this instead—your tastebuds will demand “return” or your soul.Tsukiji doesn’t whisper; it roars with rice-wrapped rapture. Proper legend-stuff, with zero fishy business. Cheers to scales, cows, slurps, burps, and the stalls that stole our hearts-you know who you are-ENJOY!!!
Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo Opening Hours
- Weekdays & Saturdays: 8 AM – 2 PM (or 9 AM – 2 PM for many).
- Sundays, Holidays, Some Wednesdays: 10 AM – 2 PM
What's the address of Tsukiji Fish Market?
People also asked about Tsukiji Fish Market
Q: Tsukiji Fish Market Opening Hours: Tsukiji Outer Market hums along from about 5 AM till 2 PM most days, with stalls firing up at staggered hours to sling fresh seafood and street eats galore—though the big wholesale frenzy shipped off to Toyosu years back. I am advising you hit it early for that sushi breakfast or lunch fix, when the uni’s still gasping and queues haven’t turned into human origami yet. Weekends? Brace for sardine-pack crowds that make Singapore rush-hour MRT look spacious – see what I did there? Sardines, fish market…
Q: Tsukiji Fish Market Reviews: What can I say folks, but look no further than the above. What more do you need?
Q: Tsujiki Fish Market New Location: The big Tsukiji Fish Market packed up and shipped out in 2018 to the shiny new Toyosu Market down in Tokyo Bay, where the legendary tuna auctions and wholesale madness carry on without missing a beat. Noting how the original spot soldiered on as the Tsukiji Outer Market—a buzzing hive of eateries and stalls peddling streetfood and fresh bits and bobs, now fully detached from the heavy-duty fish flogging.
Top Tips for Tsujiki Fish Market, Tokyo
Hit it at dawn (5-8 AM): Stalls fire up early for peak freshness—sushi’s still twitching and tamagoyaki’s hot off the grill—but crowds swarm post-9 AM, turning alleys into sardine tins. Weekends? Multiply the chaos by ten; go solo or midweek to snag seats without elbow wars.
Stuff your pockets with yen: ATMs lurk nearby, but hit one first or risk fumbling for coins mid-skewer. Small bills rule for quick street bites; no one’s breaking a ¥10,000 note for your oyster fix.
Scope first, scoff second: Wander the full loop (it’s compact, 20-30 mins) eyeing stalls before committing—there is such a choice, but for Wagyu I highly recommend JyuJyu Wagyu – totally exceptional.
Wear grippy shoes and layer up: Concrete’s slick with fish slop, rubber boots zip past, and Tokyo December mornings chill your toes before the sun cranks the steam. Comfy kit dodges the sweat-fog later, plus backpacks snag less in the scrum.