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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Japan : Tsukiji Market, Tokyo


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Hotspot #6: Biggest Tuna Auction

“So where are you guys going tomorrow?”

“Tsukiji Shijo (market)…the world largest fish market.” We nodded.

“Hahahaha…I’ve been here (Japan) for so long but I, myself, never been there.” Claimed the host.

“The auction starts at 5.25am to 6.15am.” Hubby told our host.

“Meaning…you have to sleep right in front of the market entrance la…

“Hahahaha!”

“The auction area is restricted to 120 visitors per day. Subway starts at 5.00am. You need to walk from this house to Gyotoku, then change train somemore…you think you gonna make it?”

“Nahhh…in that case, wholesale area will do.”

The next morning, we purposely woke up a bit late. After we boiled the “nasi impit” and had 2 packs of cereal each, we started our journey. It was already 8.30am. Similar to 1-day Metro Pass that we purchased yesterday, today we purchased 1-day Toei Economy Pass that cost us about 700yen. We planned to visit 5 POIs today that with no doubt, would cost us about 1300yen. So getting this pass was a smart thing to do.

We walked to Gyotoku Station and took train to Monzen-nakacho on Tozai Line, then changed for Tsukijishijo on Oedo Line. 
For recap, see here for Tokyo Metro Line and Toei Line.
 
Once arrived, we had no idea whether we should walk to the left or right, since there was no info board, like other POIs.

“Everyone walk to the left…so it should be that way.”

Yet, we made a right choice. We approached one man in uniform, asking where we should go since the entrance seem to be the access for vehicles. He pointed to one side of the walkway where we should walk within the yellow line. We were given a piece of market map to ease the exploration. Along the access, I was attracted to few caricatures that they have, educating the visitor, in a funny way.
The atmosphere was no different than any other markets in the world, with scooters, trucks, sellers and buyers hurrying around. The only thing that will make a different is the size of Tuna that they have here. They handle over 2000 tons of marine products a day and that make Tsukiji Market a major tourist attraction.
Anyhow, in the recent years, it has become a problem to the seller coz they got distracted during the auction, especially with tourists and cameras around. Come on, making money and be famous, simultaneously, IS COOL! Trust me!

There is OFF LIMITS around the market where visitors are not allowed to be at, mostly at the auction area. The rest, like outer market, inner market, wholesale area, are yours. So please follow the rules and crowd, NOT follow your guts.
We wandered around the outer market where restaurants and small retail shops located. There were lots of people lining up, so I joined the crowd (kiasu gile) and got to know that these people were queuing to enter the restaurant! Looking at the price made me almost fainted.
Walking down the narrow lines had given us another view of fresh foods, kitchenware, consumable goods, and deserts.
There were two items that caught into my attention, wasabi and doraemon pancake. For the first time in my life, I could touch the non-produce-able wasabi. (Now I know how it looks like.) But doraemon pancake? "Try to look around, entah-entah ada doraemon!" Hahaha!
“Ayang…see that one? It looks nice…and…delicious…I’m hungry…” Ignoring that we had packs and packs of nasik impit inside my bag.

“Wanna try one?” Hubby lured me.

“Sumimasen…kono…nani?” Aku bantai broken Japanese.

“Mochi…ano…storoberi.” The old lady explained and smiled.

“Uih mesti sedap nih! Ichi kudasaiiii!” I asked for one piece of Mochi.

While hubby paying for the Mochi, I snapped few pictures. WHO KNOWS THAT the old lady became so excited and offered hubby and I to stand behind the stall! AND SHE OFFERED to take our pictures as well! Hahaha! (I quickly set the DSLR to auto mode.)
To stimulate her excitement further, I requested her to stand next to me, and WHO KNOWS THAT she was a camwhore too! She quickly adjusted her spectacles, her hair, and her apron, and when she got dissatisfied, she took off her spectacles. CUTE GILE! And her hubby smiled from inside the shop.
Hubby and I ate the Mochi right next to her shop. While eating, we didn’t stop praising how delicious the Mochi was. I kept telling the old lady “Oishiiiii, oishiiii” as and when she came out from her shop. There was one time, WHO KNOWS THAT the obasan (aunty) came out from her shop and brought us two cups of Japanese green tea! Though I don’t drink green tea, I didn’t take the chance for granted. Ye lah, orang berbudi, kita berbahasa.
“Arigatooooooo!” I bowed almost 100 times!

We left her shop and walked around. I was quite frustrated for not seeing any big Tuna, as what should we expected. We decided to leave the market and on the way out, I saw…piles of white styrofoam storage…laying on the floor…next to one unattended truck…
There was no one there.

I looked at hubby and approached…nearer…to the box…

“OH MY GOD!”

“OH MY GOD! IT’S…IT’S…IT’S TUNA!!!” Like I see Johny Depp.

“Quick! Quick! Snap a photo of me with TUNA!”

I tried so hard to find an angle to project how big those Tuna. I even put my head next to it, my arm on it, and even my palm right onto the Tuna’s face. IT WAS HUGE! TRUST ME! Though it wasn't as huge as auctioned in the main hall, it still HUGEEEEEEEEE…
“EH FASTER LA. Datang tauke dia kang baru tau.” Hubby warned me.

Ceh. You guys know what? If it wasn’t because of me who crazily POSED at those boxes, other visitors wouldn’t have ANY idea what was in the box. And these people (pointing at 5 other visitors) wouldn’t have ANY chance to see HUGE TUNA in their life, WAKARIMASUKA?! Hehehe…

“Dah…DAH…” Hubby dragged me out from the market and back to Tsukijishijo Station. 

Read HERE for Travelista version.  

20 comments:

Ren said...

Muke ko ngan antie tu cam sama la? ada bau2 kentut tak?

Lawanya menatang yang macam lilin tu.

Pasar kat Malaysia ada camtu tak?ekekeke

Biqque said...

sok aku tua, muka aku camtu la hahaha!

lilin? tu makanan tau!

tempat auction dan cara diorang jual tuna tu je yg membezakan...

shah_rule said...

cantik kad train tuh, nak review balek map train~ aku surrender sangat gile track die.. haha

ape barang die auction?ikan jugak ke?

Mochi aku pernah rasa beli kt bakery mane ntah.. rase coklat.. ni stroberi des~ haha reti rupenye ko cakap jepon!!! mantap!!

Lily Riani said...

depa kata dtg awal wee hour lagi best. wallahuallam, when i was there. it was raining eveyr other day.

Biqque said...

shahrul, kat situ yg fofular is tuna auction. nak pi tgk auction tu ko kena tido depan market hahaha! mmg tak ar kan...tapi mmg best la if dpt tgk...

ala, train dia tak susah la...ko cuma perlu tau stop dia and mana tempat yg ko nak exchange route. tak kan sesat lah :)

aku reti la skit2 ckp bahasa pasar or simple2, nak construct ayat mmg kim salam la...kang jadi anime lucah plak hahaha!

lily, mmg...kitorang pi pun ikan dah abis kena angkut hahaha!

Daddy said...

Hei....looks like a very interesting place to visit ....:)

Biqque said...

it is :)

3plepl8 said...

cantiknya tuna...

xplorer said...

i make it a habit visiting market at every country i visit.it's in market you could observe the true culture of its people

MasZuber said...

huiiii

byk nye tempat ko gi biqque dalam sehari..adoi...penatt weh

sakit kaki tak?

just.HY said...

ok baru nak komen. td baca dalam kete je td, kekek bru perasan hp aku boleh baca internet. kekek.

mknn yg panjang2 tu bentuk dia mcm pemadam. comelll!!! cantiknyaaaa muka biq!!! flawless gitu. guna skincare dari sana ke? oh maiii,,jaket baru lagi!!! cuns.

tak sesia pencarian ikan tuna berjaya!!!

Biqque said...

3plepl8, rasa cam nak picit2 je tuna tu!

Xplorer, good observation!

Mas, sehari approx 4 tempat. Letih tu letih, sakit gile nak turun tangga, tapi ku gagahi jua. Kalo tak, rugi giler!

John, ko tgk bil phone ko nanti hahaha! Haah, jaket baru tapi sejukkkkkk aku tahan jua demi nak bergaya. Muka? Gunalah pixy buatan jepun hahaha! Ha pemadam tu sedap tau! Hahaha!

Ely Hasrul said...

aku menci arr baca laju2 xsempat komen hishhhh

Anash said...

to the left...to the left...
(ntah lagu sapa nyanyi...riyana/ladygaga???hettykos endang??)

hehe...
nampak bersih sgt berus sabut tuh...(byk2 gambo, berus sabut menjadi pilihan hati...)

NMN said...

“Arigatooooooo!” I bowed almost 100 times!
hahaha... sure sampai balik terbawak2 bow kat org. Sebab I pun macam tu...

Biqque said...

exactly...amaze kan dengan adab diorang? bagus tul...

Anonymous said...

hai....did u try their restaurant? sashimi? sushi? just wondering can we eat there sbb been wanting to try their sashimi kat tsukiji market tu...ramai yang kata boleh...

Biqque said...

anon, i didnt try any sashimi or sushi there but i rasa if takde campur alchohol boleh jer...lagi best if dapat pegi early morning to see how they operate the market :)

Anonymous said...

Hai Biq..

Thank you for your reply...i baca all your entry pasal Jepun ni...impressive and very detail. Lagi kagum dengan cost yg rendah you can go to more than 20 hotspot..and all your budget hotel/hostel! Salute u seriously... Thank you so much!! At least i can plan my itinerary based on your blog. InsyaAllah, Im going to Japan end of January. One of the thing i wanna do is to try their local delicacies..including the Sashimi at Tsukiji Market is in the list. Nampaknya kene tanya la kot or else tak makan their sauce la kan... Anyway thank you again -Awin

Biqque said...

awin, tx for the compliments :) kitorang pegi berdua sbb tu senang nak bergerak and pegi many places..hope that u enjoy ur trip too! yeah, nx time i pegi, kitorang nak try jugak sushi kat sana, masuk mana2 kedai yg takde pork ke kan, patu order hehehe...

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