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.