While I did not set an itinerary for Tokyo, I thought my trip would not be complete without a visit to Tsukiji market.

The market consists of a wholesale seafood section, vegetables & fruits section, with retail shops & restaurants on the outer area catering to the public.

         

          

I arrived a bit too late for the tuna auction but managed to catch a glimpse of it. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

So there I was in Tsukiji at 6 a.m. sans breakfast. Frankly, sushi is not my idea of breakfast grub. Raw food just doesn’t usually appeal to me at this time of the day. But right there in Tsukiji with a rumbling stomach, sushi made perfect sense.

There are quite a few sushi restaurants in the market. I walked around and ended up in Daiwa sushi where it was quite crowded. I thought this would be a safe bet. And most importantly, I managed to get a seat for one. It was one of those moments where I would happily dine alone.

Not wanting to fret too much about what to order at this hour, I just went with the omakase set. The sushi was very fresh and I really enjoyed my raw breakfast.

One of the reasons I love traveling is how it can totally change your perspective on just about anything. Before Tsukiji, I don’t think I’d ever consider sushi for breakfast. Now, if you know of sushi this fresh, count me in. Anytime.

Tsukiji Market

Opening hours: Outer Market – varies by shop, typically 5:00am to 2:00pm.
Wholesale Area – open to visitors after 9:00am

Closed on Sundays, national holidays and some Wednesdays. Avoid the closing days in red in the calendar link here.

You might also like: