Tokyo’s Kitchen: Toyosu Market
Tokyo’s Famous Market: From Tsukiji to Toyosu
When it comes to Tokyo’s markets, Tsukiji is well known, but its inner wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018. At Toyosu Market, wholesale auctions still take place, allowing visitors (including tourists) to observe the dynamic tuna auctions, as well as auctions for other seafood, vegetables, and fruits.
The most popular tuna auction takes place between 5:00 AM and 6:30 AM.
Tuna Auctions at Toyosu Market
In 2018, approximately 5,800 tons of tuna were traded at Toyosu Market. The tuna at Toyosu comes not only from Japan’s coastal waters but also from various countries worldwide, offering a wide range of species, sizes, and origins. The highest-quality tuna is purchased by sushi restaurants and high-end Japanese cuisine establishments.
The tuna auction starts at 5:30 AM, with entry allowed from 5:00 AM. Arriving early will help you secure a good viewing spot. Visitors do not need a reservation to watch from the second-floor observation deck. However, to observe the auction on the trading floor, reservations are required, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government accepts applications once a month.
At the visitor’s passageway inside the seafood wholesale building, you can hear a live audio broadcast from the tuna auction site, including the sound of the auction bell marking the start. Around 1,000 tuna are displayed in the auction area, and the auction begins with fresh tuna, followed by frozen tuna. The process continues until around 6:30 AM.
The auction includes fresh and frozen bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, and yellowfin tuna. Visitors can see the frozen tuna auction from the observation deck.
The auction floor is crowded with hundreds of buyers, and the bidding moves rapidly.
By the way, tuna prices at Toyosu Market vary widely, from affordable to extremely expensive. The highest-ever price recorded was on January 5, 2019, when a 278 kg bluefin tuna from Ōma (caught by pole-and-line fishing) was sold for 333.6 million yen!
Ōma tuna is considered the “diamond of the sea”, caught in Ōma Town, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan. One wonders which luxury restaurant served this exquisite fish and who had the privilege of tasting it!
Other Auctions
Besides tuna, auctions for other seafood, vegetables, and fruits are also held at Toyosu Market.
The vegetable and fruit auction starts at 6:30 AM at the 5th Block Fresh Produce Building’s wholesale market. Visitors can watch from the observation deck.
The 6:30 AM auction is called the “accelerated auction”, featuring seasonal ingredients. Depending on the time of year, luxurious ingredients such as matsutake mushrooms are displayed in abundance, creating an impressive sight.
Eating at Toyosu Market
After waking up early to watch the tuna and produce auctions, you will likely be hungry.
Toyosu Market offers many restaurants catering to both market professionals and tourists. Naturally, the ingredients come directly from the market, ensuring freshness. Since most customers are professionals, the restaurants provide delicious, high-quality meals at reasonable prices.
Toyosu Market is open for visitors from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but many restaurants close earlier in the afternoon. Each restaurant has different business hours, so check in advance. The market is closed on Sundays, public holidays, and designated market holidays (mainly Wednesdays).
Unlike Tsukiji, Toyosu does not allow street food consumption. Instead, dining is done inside restaurants. Be aware that eating while walking and bringing outside food is prohibited in many areas.
Recommended Restaurants
Daiwa Sushi
A sushi restaurant established in 1962, offering the same high-end seafood as luxury sushi restaurants in Ginza, but at a more affordable price.
- Price: Around 550 yen per piece, 5,000 yen per lunch set
- Location: 1st Floor, 5th Block Fresh Produce Building, Toyosu Market
- Phone: 03-6633-0220
- Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Closed: Sundays, public holidays, and market holidays
- Instagram: @daiwazushi
Ōedo
A kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) specialty restaurant. Kaisendon is a bowl of rice topped with an assortment of fresh sashimi, a Tsukiji specialty.
- Price: Around 2,500 – 3,500 yen
- Established: 1909
- Location: 3rd Floor, 6th Block Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building, Toyosu Market
- Phone: 03-6633-8012
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM (last order), Sat: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (last order)
- Closed: Sundays, public holidays, and market holidays
- Website: www.tsukiji-ooedo.com
Shopping at Toyosu Market
Toyosu Market is a wholesale market for professionals, but general visitors can also shop there.
Since early mornings are crowded with professional buyers, it is best for general visitors to shop between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The market is open in the afternoon, but some stores may close early.
Stores fall into two categories:
- Processed Food Shops: Selling delicacies, pickles, vegetables, condiments, tea, sake, cheese, and more.
- Equipment Shops: Selling knives, boots, kitchen tools, packaging materials, scales, and clothing.
Japanese professional knives and cooking tools are known for their durability and quality. Many items are hard to find outside professional markets, making them popular souvenirs.
Notable Shops
Sennen Koujiya
A specialty store offering fermented foods, sake, shochu, and sweets made with Hakkaisan’s malted rice.
- Location: 4th Floor, 6th Block Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building, Toyosu Market
- Hours: 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Website: www.sennen-koujiya.jp
Yoshiokaya
A Japanese pickles and tsukemono (fermented vegetables) specialty store.
- Location: 4th Floor, 6th Block Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building, Toyosu Market
- Hours: 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Website: www.yoshiokaya.net
Daisada
A Japanese omelet (tamagoyaki) specialty store, also selling premium puddings.
- Location: 4th Floor, 6th Block Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building, Toyosu Market
- Hours: 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Website: www.daisada.jp
Toyosu Market Information
- Phone: 03-5320-5720 (General Inquiries)
- Address: Toyosu 6-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM (for visitors, store hours vary)
- Closed: Sundays, public holidays, market holidays (irregular)
- Access: Yurikamome Line, Shijomae Station (Market Front Station), short walk
- Entry Fee: Free
