Tsukiji & Hamarikyu Gardens

Located in Tsukiji [築地] is the Tsukiji Fish Market which is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. The market opens at 3 am for trading where over 400 different types of seafood exchange hands.
Tuna auctions take place at about 05:20 and end at 07:00-ish. Many gaijin tourists used to come to watch the auctions but due to a few lame individuals who cause trouble, tourists were banned from watching the auctions. I think they do allow tourists to go in depending on the season under supervision by security guards though.

The traders at Tsukiji welcome foreigners to come to learn about the Japanese food culture but there are some gaijin who just take the pi**. Below is a video of some gaijin licking and touching the tuna as well as riding on small trucks used for transporting the foodstufs.

More reports about gaijin being banned from the auction area.

You wont see any photos of the market in this post because Tsukiji Fish Market is closed on a Sunday and I would not have come on any other day - personally would feel that I'd be way of the traders who are working hard to make a living.

Even though the fish market is closed on a Sunday, the area around Tsukiji makes a lovely day out for a stroll. Here we are grabbing some grub before walking around for the rest of the afternoon.

Need to eat sushi at least once a week.

Kawa Ebi - deep fried prawns. Being brought up on food back in the UK, when I first came to Japan it took me a while to eat a whole prawn including its gooey bits inside - took the dive over time and can now eat Uni ^^;

Nothing better than a relaxing Sunday afternoon with some sushi and some Japanese green tea.

Tsukiji has some lovely architecture - the old rubbing along with the new.

The pylons and telecommunication wires add to the character of Tsukiji.

The cloth that hangs from the window is called Noren [暖簾]. They are usually hung from windows and doorways. They have slits in them to allow easy passage or viewing. Traditionally they have been used to keep out the sun, wind and dust. I remember buying some when I first came to Japan and put it up in my kitchen doorway back in London - its still there ^^;

Map of the Tsukiji Fish Market area.

About a 10 minute walk away from Tsukiji are the Hamarikyu Gardens [浜離宮恩賜庭園] where you can enjoy a lazy stroll while looking at many of the traditionally landscaped greenery.

If you want to get to Tsukiji then you can do so by getting off the Tsukiji Shijo station. Please do follow the rules that they provide and remember that the folks in the market have been up early trying to make a living ^^

As for the Hamarikyu Gardens, you can get off at Shiodome station.

Before you enter the park, you can pick up a portable terminal which contains voice and video that you can watch as you walk around the gardens. Depending on your location, you will be read or shown some history of the gardens.
The loan of the terminal is free and they have 50 sets available.

Wifey and I are going to relax for a bit now while we let you explore the rest of the gardens. Cheerio!



















































Disc Golfer
Amazing photos as always. I need to take my LX3 out more often.
Student
Wow, such beautiful pictures and man I want to eat that sushi...
Saber's Knight of One
http://www.ultima-i.com
I love these photos, they are so lovely
大学生
Really awesome photos!
Amazing pictures.. GREAT QUALITY!!
student
public sleeping? :3
Student
http://twitter.com/Saerianne
Nice photos! The garden looks so peaceful and relaxing. Food looks yum too!
student
http://listlessink.wordpress.com/
That crab looks lovely.
Student (Bachelor of Asian Studies, specialising in Japanese)
http://autaku.com/
Love the composition of this shot - very nice.
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
"Why you looking at me like that? What are these onions doing in here?"
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
"I'm having the worst day..."
study
what the people saying in auction keep speaking like crazy?
Student
I could understand why the Japanese decided to ban the fish market to foreigners. I would have done the same if I was in their position. The people there are there to make a living and its absolutely obstructive and insulting to have foreigners treat it like a theme park.
The foreigner from the first video really pissed me off. He was utterly disrespectful and kept on saying "It was fun" when he got scolded.
I wouldn't visit the fish market if I'm in Tokyo, simply because I shouldn't be there. And I don't think the people there appreciate the sight of tourists either.
University Student
http://vgmlounge.de/
Couldn't say it better. Maybe it's interesting to see the world biggest fish market but the ways are rather small and if I would work there all the tourists would go me on my nerves sooner or later.
~Undine~
http://bluebluewave.wordpress.com
Plus, if you would have visitors that are actually interesting in learning about the trading or culture then it'd be different, these were just drunk troublemakers. A shame again a minority of idiots sheds a poor light on everyone (in this instance the Japanese having a bad image of foreigners).
???Confused???
Like the pond area...nice place for a nap...
http://projectyamada.blogspot.com
Such a beautiful garden. I love it.
Student
I love this photo. It's very beautiful.
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
http://ejump.wordpress.com/
thanks Danny for the Tsukiji coverage.
I skipped that one last year as I do not understand japanese, and went ronery'ing to tokyo instead.
I will not skip it this year..
I think Danny should introduce a 'Photography' tag/category, as his scenery shots are not your regular P&S shots. And also implement EXIF plugin, so visitors can learn more on photography as well ( ゚ o゚)☝
Student
Yet another article Danny! I loved it!
Prepress Operator, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
Danny on left with the purse and wifey on the right? XP
Das Wunderbar.
Had some uni in hokkaido... They cut it open and removed all the stuff and served it to us in the shell with a spoon...
It was super fresh.
When I came back to america, the uni was horrible compared to the average fare in hokkaido.
Student
Tuna or a whale?
midwife
maybe,Tuna.This part is delicious even if it burns or it boils.
The whale : now of little appearance.
Prepress Operator, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
Great outing there. Question about gaijin in the fish market though; all of gaijin or just people that look gaijin? ^^; Either way that was quite disrespectful. Probably not a place I'll visit anyway though.
Student
Sushi around here is twice the price than shown in the pics X.x;
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
Awesome picture!
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
That looks so good! *is hungry* XD
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
"Oi! This isn't my tail!"
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
The road looks so clean and well-maintained, unlike the ones here in my neck of the woods~
Human
http://toshogu.blogspot.com
Attention gaijin, please do not kiss the tuna when visiting Tsukiji.
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
Onion onsen bath? ^^;
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
looks amazing!
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
Some people have no respect for others. I think it's best that they keep the fish market tourist-free since it would just disturb the workers. I did want to visit the place though TT__TT
宇宙ぐんじん (学生・軍人)
There's a word for people like that... D*ckh*ads. -_- Why must people ruin everything for everyone else? Shame. It's not about fun or anything, just would be cool to stand there and observe, learn what these folks do day to day. They make all foreigners look bad.
宇宙ぐんじん (学生・軍人)
Almost forgot... Amazing photos Danny. Thank you, as always, for showing us another slice of Japan!
Student
These photos are really relaxing to view, man I feel relaxed now.
maintenence
http://joey1058.wordpress.com
This is great when heritage can be preserved. Japan has become so Westernized in it's appearence, it's scary!
The crab is taking a bath~
Yum!~... oh wrong place^^;;
Hmm~ Donburi :D
Student
http://payuki.deviantart.com/
What happened to Tokyo Live Bloggers on the front page?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Will be back after http://tsubuyaku.fm is officially up
The fish head to be put on the desk?
US Navy Sailor
http://punynari.wordpress.com/
Yup, the reasons you say are why I haven't been to the fish market till this day. I just know that if I'd went, the Japanese would be thinking that I had no business in there. Not without good reason of course. It is a work environment after all. Not a playground for ignorant people.
Not all foreigners are ignorant btw. But 1 or 2 bad ones create the impression that they all are like that. ^^;
Nice pics btw. What a nice day for a walk. ^^
Otaku
Hmmm, It upsets me when I see Gaijin disrespecting Japanese traditions and cultures. And my friends wonder why some of the Japanese hate Gaijin, it's because previous tourists have given them a bad example! and ruined it for those of us who do love the culture and traditions :(
pwn3d by four big and a whole bunch of itty bitty dolls.
http://msgeek.insanejournal.com/
Yeah, and being American I have a really bad rep following me around. They don't talk about the "Ugly American" for nothing. (headdesk)
Lovely photo~
Student
http://foxkey.blog126.fc2.com/
I'd imagine the places at Tsukiji use only the freshest ingredients. Simply divine.
Hamarikyu garden sure has a few rules. ^^ Looks like a very tranquil place to be though.
Wage Slave
Nice pictures as always :)
I went to the fish market a couple of years ago and thankfully no one in our group (or any of the other groups we saw at the time) behaved badly whilst we were there. We worked under the rule that people were there to work so it was best to keep out of their way and just observe (and be amazed that the guys on the little motorised carts didn't crash every 2 minutes). When we were there you couldn't go into the tuna auction itself but could view from outside of it's area. The sushi we had at 6am afterwards was absolutely excellent to :)
Admittedly at the time we were all pretty stunned and suffering a bit from culture shock (and jet lag). We'd arrived in Tokyo (for the first time) from the UK the previous afternoon and then got up at 5am to catch taxi's over to the fish markets area. Of the three taxis our group took our one dropped us off in slightly the wrong place so we spent 20mins wandering round lost in a strange city with only a tenuous grasp of the language ... it was quite amusing really (even a the time, we figured if we couldn't find it we'd wander around a bit and then we could always get a taxi back to the hotel) ...
Web Designer & Game Developer
http://www.tubbygaijin.co.uk/blog/
Hamarikyu Gardens is such a nice place, did you go in the tea house?
Otaku-in-training
http://aim-ali.blogspot.com/
*drool*
Fish.....
Otaku-in-training
http://aim-ali.blogspot.com/
OM NOM NOM.
Otaku-in-training
http://aim-ali.blogspot.com/
"Sucks to be me".
collector of stuff
http://www.tristanforsyth.com
LOL...have you undone your pants to lie down?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
?!
Bottom of jacket desu ^^;
Student, Dreamer, writer?
I can't imagine how beautiful those gardens must look during spring/summer.
and that Gaijin video pissed me off >.< wanted to strangle those guys.. People work so they can earn a living, show some respect for it. No wonder that "Gaijin" aren't really liked
yeah,.. some people just ruin it for everyone...
usually about 400 yen a piece for the cheap ones and up to around 700 for the more expensive ones in Denmark.. Always buy a set though, it's way cheaper.
a fine rule,.. I should live by that as well
oh man, I miss japan.
Student
http://johndiew0107.com/
Kagami is back!!
Tech Support Officer - Network/Security Engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
What beautiful scenery - oh yeah, the river and buildings are nice too
Student and full-time otaku
Wow, such a beautiful park...=3 Really love those pics.
Too bad the gaijin had to misbehave (again)....now I can't watch the market when I get to JP -_-
Tech Support Officer - Network/Security Engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
I AM BUILDING FACE. HEAR ME ROAR!
University Student
http://vgmlounge.de/
Somehow this pic looks like out of a video game.
Student
This adds character. :3
Student
o_O..is it tasty? I've never eaten it :-(
Student
Yes, very. You should really give it a try if you get the chance. (^_^)
Student
ok, thanks ))
One-Winged Angel
hey, who's taking this pic then?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Nanoha
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
like this photo!
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
nice photo!
the food make me feel hungry ...
Student
I love the light in this picture ^^
Student
Great photos, the garden looks great
neet/single parasite
flip flops not allowed!
neet/single parasite
now that would be a nice place!
neet/single parasite
left outside for stray cat ^_^
meow!
neet/single parasite
oi chotto matte you cant take pictures here!...
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
Kawaiiiii!
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
How incredibly clean!
Druggist/Student
yeah..i love it!
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
I envy the people who believe in cleanliness culture and discipline... but that's just me :)
art director
今度ここヘロケハンに行こう。
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
ロケハン?
Student
Beautiful picture!
Student
I cannot look at crabs without thinking of Deadliest Catch anymore...
Man, what irresponsible jackasses those gaijins in the first video are. It's really all thanks to these pricks that Japanese tend to view foreigners in an antagonistic way.
Part-Time Blogger of Moderately Useless Jibberish/Fiction Writer
http://www.k-jessop.co.uk/
No Sailboats? :/
Student
Fantastic photos, thanks for posting them!
I kind of thought the video with the sea urchin was kind of scary though. I don't know if I could eat that.
graphic designer/ illustrator
http://www.zerodegreedesigns.deviantart.com
For a second there, I thought this was a giant big-mouth billy bass. Be cool if it was! =)
graphic designer/ illustrator
http://www.zerodegreedesigns.deviantart.com
The sun reflecting off the high buildings looks great. Nice shot
graphic designer/ illustrator
http://www.zerodegreedesigns.deviantart.com
Now to put this in someones bed, like in the codfather. sorry, sorry XD
Prop Armor Craftsman :D
You must construct additional pylons ^^
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
Scary ;_; My girlfriend always makes fun of me when she eats prawns. She has them all the time ^^;;
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
I'll have 500, please.
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
It's like the city grew around it... So pretty.
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
Geoffrey?
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
Just sometimes is ok though ;)
Sentai Ranger
http://morganlamia.blogspot.com/
;_;
Student,Business IT (eCommerce)
Nice is hard to notice!
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
lol ^^
Student
Thank god i saw the auction summer of last year! A saw one of the men selling the fish, stick his finger in the raw fish and taste it! Me and my aunt we like, "WHAT?!"
While there, we tried to have the utmost respect for the people working and we kept our hands away from any of the fish. We did ask to take a picture with the fish and the seller and he handed me the fish to hold! I wasn't expecting that, but that was a great experience.
Blogger & photographer
http://ghostlysubstance.swgbex.com/
Nice experience. Make sure to keep remembering it now ^^.
Student
http://cream77.deviantart.com/
Is this salmon roe?
If so, my favorite.^_^
Student
http://cream77.deviantart.com/
I've always found photo's like this so pretty.Something about a water's reflection just makes me like it.
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
maybe it's the mystery of the other side...
Young Grasshopper
http://miragestrike.blogspot.com
Rivalry between the two buildings..
broke college student
http://www.shoutlife.com/bloodboughtsamurai
If I ever get to visit Japan I'll have to try and walk through there to see the blending of the old and new buildings.
Student
...love this... (would have said - lovely - but without the accent it would sound awkward...)
Upcoming College Student and Otaku
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/Patches418?ref=profile
Where be the hamachi?
Student,Business IT (eCommerce)
Wow, in the video during the fish auctions so many gaikoku-jin taking photos and crowding around instead of buying fish! If I were the seller i would be angry!
Tsukiji Market is really an awesome place though, wonder if they would charge a fee to go in for foreigners (Then again, the question would be how to identify fast, and the swiftness of authentic buyers going in.)
Student
http://padraigfahy.com
I have to say Danny. When I read your blogs on Google Reader, it makes me smile every time I see a awesome high quality image of Japanese Life. I really love "Img ID#91006" because night life MUST be amazing.
And the roads looks so brilliant!
I love what you are doing and keep up the good work. I really respect you as you are my only connection to be able to see what Japan is really like. Well Done Danny :)
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Thank you ^^;
Student/ Professor in Common Sense
http://www.sekaikun.wordpress.com
Danny rather than taking a picture you should be helping this person go up they look old and shriveled
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
They was jogging up the stairs ^^;
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..
So much space over there...only wish it was the same here....
http://quentinlau.blogspot.com
Danny, I heard there are a lot of strong rumours that Tsukiji fish market is subject to move soon or later due to toxic chemicals in the local soil (e.g. arsenic). Is that true?
Not surprisingly there would be a lot of objection to the move, but I have a feeling that Tsukiji fish market as a symbol of the Japanese culture may be a matter of being history.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Hmmm. Not heard anything on this end.
http://quentinlau.blogspot.com
Really? I have heard about it for years (and even some tourist guide books I have saids so too). The tentative date for the move is apparently 2012, but it doesn't seem to be confirmed/fixed.
Homeless, lifeless and now with a hernia
http://satoman.blogspot.com
uhm.. かにみそ? I pass... :p
Working in the IT field
Interesting photos:)
ABIS-ASST student by day, Alchemist by night. ^^
http://www.facebook.com/ffmuse
kinda reminds me of Yuko Ichihara's place.. :D
ABIS-ASST student by day, Alchemist by night. ^^
http://www.facebook.com/ffmuse
i like this one..^^
Druggist/Student
..great photo.
Druggist/Student
I would have to be here! ^^
Apprentice
I wish our parks were like this.
Apprentice
I would be here every morning, if I could.
Graphic Designer
u have made me crave sea urchin very much right about now. And some fresh oysters to go with that. *drool*
This pic must have turned out even better than you imagined. On the spot, it must have looked like another grimy fishmonger's ally. But the blue tint, low sun, and long shadow really reveal the beauty of the image.
It's lovely. :)
Serves me right for buying that all-expenses-paid trip to the spa off eBay.
Is this a fruit blossom tree? This trellis must be beautiful in the spring.
Thanks for the reverse shot featuring the pavilion. I wonder who has the better view of the garden, the people by the lake...or the people up in the tall buildings behind it.
I wouldn't say the architecture in this area is pretty. But there are some interesting features, such as this strange bridge.
I wonder what this is. Is that a bunker?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Sharp eyes ^^
I am having a major headache, but my backache seems to have vanished...
Is this a true color image? Are the street lights on this road really green?
Japan...where the roads are made of green asphalt.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
The LX3 gives off much green during night shots depending on the settings. I kinda like it ^^;
Student
I would literally sit here and just relax for the rest of the day. X3
Student
I seriously want some right now.....
Student
http://holy-star-ocean.livejournal.com
Beautiful building with trees =p
Chinese/Viet restaurant waiter, no post secondary
Man, those people are a-holes for just fooling around.
For the other tourist, I understand why they would show up there cause I do have that Lonely Planet guide book, and it does make the fish market seem interesting. But when I go next month, I'm pretty much not doing anything the book mentions other then visiting the Ghibli museum.
Chinese/Viet restaurant waiter, no post secondary
let me correct my first line. Those tourist are a holes for fooling around.
Its late, im tired.
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
I usually stay at this Korean inn when I stay in Tokyo and many Koreans who traveled from Korea wishes to visit Tsukiji when it opens. Then they usually wake up later than they are suppose to and ends up not able to go lol. I myself never visited there yet, I would like to go but going there myself is kind of let down >.>
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
I think this floor was custome made... doesn't match the rest of the duilding
Customer Service Drone
Ah now i can't unsee that.
Web programmer
http://www.micky2be.com
I also went to the Hamarikyu Garden. It was in spring, it's really beautiful.
Student, Game Artist, Designer and Programmer...
http://jakel168.blogspot.com/
love the angle... and the black & white... this is beautiful!!!
Dreamer, does that work?
This looks like a jumbled mess. Wonder what the utility company pays for headache medicine...
Student
http://chingaruna.deviantart.com
Img ID#90995
Wow! Mr. Danny, this picture is very beutiful......
Student / Software Engineer
http://www.paulkloos.name
I like the subtle environment changes between nature and the city.
No more NEET, enineering student now...g
http://saiseki.blogsome.com/
Nice boated fish .__.
Student
http://volzel.net/
Explosions?
Student AT= Game,wallpaper,music,program,script writer,site design,manga,PC.
http://forgottendestiny.smackjeeves.com/
Gaijin being banned from the auction area.
I hate ( Gaijin ) this world is disgust my....
general contractor- remodeling
http://www.curiousjapan.blogspot.com
Thanks for the photo spread, Danny. Certainly looks different at Tsukiji on Sunday than on the weekdays. I've been there twice and it is an amazing flurry of activity. You really have to pay attention so as not hinder the workers. Hamarikyu koen is a surprisingly serene place. My first time there was in the spring. It is gorgeous and certainly feels removed from the frenzy of Tokyo. If you haven't been there in the spring, I highly recommend taking a look.
student
sumimaseenn... wasabi onegaishimasuuu.....
student
japanese sure love to kill whales, and american sure love to kill people (even though there is no whale nor people in this photo)
Student, otaku
Is this wooden carve?
graphic designer
Here in Venezuela we eat prawns too. they are delicius, raw or cook
Deadbeat
A group of tourist trying to make a break for it.
Deadbeat
Gaijin garlic wreath
Deadbeat
Danny Choo's missing wanted poster.
Deadbeat
Where's Godzilla?
Deadbeat
Future spot reserved for "No GaiJin"
Deadbeat
ROLMAO :D
Customer Service Drone
So good!
困った留学生 ( ゚Д゚)
http://sushidelacasitos.blogspot.com
I understand forbidding ball games, but what's wrong with jogging?? o_O
Student
http://www.fabricerequin.com
Great photos, the garden looks great
Student
Hairy!