Researched guide · Checked on Nov 11, 2026
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Tokyo’s famous fish market moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu in 2018, but the Tsukiji Outer Market, the lively streets of shops and food stalls around the old market, is still there. Today you can eat your way through Tsukiji and see the working wholesale market at Toyosu.
| Tsukiji Outer Market | Toyosu Market | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Streets of food stalls, restaurants and kitchen shops | The wholesale market, with a visitor walkway and restaurants |
| Best for | Eating and shopping | Watching the market at work |
| When | Morning to early afternoon | Early morning |
| Closed | Many shops close on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays | Sundays, public holidays and other market closure days |
| Nearest station | Tsukiji or Tsukiji-shijo | Shijo-mae (Yurikamome) |
Plan Your Visit to Tsukiji & Toyosu
Search hotels and things to do in Tsukiji & Toyosu. You book on the partner site.
Overview
Getting there: Tsukiji Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) or Tsukijishijo Station (Toei Oedo Line) for the Outer Market; Shijo-mae Station (Yurikamome) for Toyosu Market. Time needed: a morning. Good for: food, markets and breakfast.
Best Things to Do
Tsukiji Outer Market
Hundreds of small shops and stalls sell fresh seafood, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), grilled skewers, fruit, knives and kitchen tools. It is one of the best places in Tokyo for a food walk.
- Hours: the market is for professional buyers first thing in the morning, and the public shopping hours are around 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Many shops close in the early afternoon.
- Closing days: many shops close on Sundays, public holidays and some Wednesdays, following the wholesale market calendar. Check the official calendar before you go.
- Information center: Plat Tsukiji, inside the market, has information and a rest area.
When is Tsukiji Outer Market crowded?
Reviews on Google Maps suggest the market is already busy by about 9:00, and weekends are described as much busier than weekdays. Crowds change by day and season, so use this chart as a rough guide.
Tsukiji Outer Market: when it gets busy
Weekdays: Reviews are mixed. Some found weekdays much quieter, and others still found the market busy.
Saturdays: Saturday mornings are often described as very busy, and several reviewers suggest avoiding weekends if you can.
Closed: Sundays and public holidays are usually closing days, and some Wednesdays are closed too. Each shop sets its own schedule, so check the official calendar.
Based on about 50 Google Maps reviews we read in November 2026, found by searching for crowded and for weekday or weekend. Most do not say which day they visited, so the difference between the two charts is approximate. This is not measured data, and we did not visit ourselves. Some of these reviews are several years old.
Several reviewers suggest arriving around 7:30 to 8:00. By 8:30 to 9:00, many describe crowds and lines at popular stalls, and tour groups are mentioned around 10:00 to 11:00. Around noon, reports are mixed, and a few visitors found it less crowded than expected. We did not find enough reports about the time before 7:30 or the afternoon.
Officially, 6:00 to 9:00 is for professional buyers and 9:00 to 14:00 is for the public. The official site says priority should be given to professional buyers until 9:00, so give way if you arrive early. Sundays and public holidays are usually closing days and some Wednesdays are closed too, but each shop sets its own schedule, so check the official calendar before you go.
Toyosu Market
Toyosu is where the wholesale fish and produce markets moved in 2018. It is right by Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome Line. Visitors can see the market from walkways with windows on the upper floors, and there are sushi and seafood restaurants inside.
- Visiting hours: 5:00 am to 5:00 pm on market days. Restaurants and shops have their own hours.
- Tuna auction: the auctions happen early in the morning. You can watch them from the visitor walkway on the second floor, or apply for the closer observation deck through an online lottery about a month ahead.
- Closed: Sundays, public holidays and other market closure days.
- There is no public parking, so come by train.
Food & Drink
Food tours
A guided food tour of Tsukiji is a good way to try more dishes and learn about what you are eating.
Affiliate link
Tsukiji is one of the best places in Tokyo for a food walk: fresh seafood, tamagoyaki and grilled skewers at the stalls, and sushi and seafood restaurants inside Toyosu Market. See also How to eat out in Tokyo and Japanese food to try in Tokyo. See also Breakfast in Tokyo and How to eat sushi.
Best Restaurants in Tsukiji & Toyosu
Sushizanmai Tsukiji Main Store
The first Sushizanmai, opened in 2001 in the Tsukiji Outer Market area and open 24 hours, every day of the year.
- Reservations: see details
A food village next to Toyosu Market with about 70 Edo-style shops and restaurants serving sushi, eel, ramen and sweets. Open every day.
- Reservations: see details
Shopping
- Tsukiji Outer Market also sells knives, kitchen tools, tea, dried foods and snacks that make good gifts.
- For more kitchen shopping, see our Kappabashi guide.
Where to Stay
Tsukiji is a short walk from Ginza, so the hotels around Ginza and Tokyo Station make an easy base for an early market visit. See Best hotels near Tokyo Station and Ginza.
Search hotels in Tsukiji & Toyosu
Getting There
- Tsukiji Outer Market: Tsukiji Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) or Tsukijishijo Station (Toei Oedo Line).
- Toyosu Market: right by Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome Line.
- Tsukiji is within walking distance of Ginza.
New to Tokyo trains? See Trains in Tokyo and How to use Suica.
Suggested Itinerary
A food-focused morning:
- Early morningToyosu Market viewing walkways
- Yurikamome and subway
- BreakfastTsukiji Outer Market food stalls
- Walk
- Late morningWalk to Ginza
Travel Tips
Tsukiji manners
- Eat at the stall or in the eating area where you bought the food. Do not eat while walking through the crowded streets.
- Ask before taking photos of shops and staff, and do not touch the products.
- Take your trash back to the shop where you bought the food.
- Many stalls are cash only. See our money guide.
- Streets are narrow and busy. Leave big bags at your hotel.
More tips
- Go early, because the best stalls sell out.
- Visit Tsukiji for breakfast or brunch, then head to Ginza on foot. See our Ginza and Tokyo Station guide.
- Toyosu is near teamLab Planets and a short ride from Odaiba. See our Odaiba guide.
- Both markets are part of Day 3 in our 3-day Tokyo itinerary.
Want a guide? A 3-hour small-group tour of Toyosu and Tsukiji markets with tuna tasting can be booked on Klook.
Affiliate link
FAQ
Is Tsukiji market still open?
The wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018, but the Tsukiji Outer Market, with its food stalls and shops, is still there.
What time should I go to the Tsukiji Outer Market?
Public shopping hours are around 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and many shops close in the early afternoon.
When is the Tsukiji Outer Market closed?
Many shops close on Sundays, public holidays and some Wednesdays. Check the official calendar.
What are Toyosu Market’s visiting hours?
5:00 am to 5:00 pm on market days.
Travel Essentials
Airport Transfers
Trains, the monorail, the Airport Limousine Bus and taxis compared.
Train Tickets
How to buy Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets for Kyoto, Osaka and beyond.
JR Pass & Transport Passes
Whether a rail pass or a Tokyo subway ticket will save you money.
Explore More in This Area
Related Articles
Sources
This guide is based on the official information below, not on our own visit. Facts last checked against official sources on November 11, 2026. The crowd notes for Tsukiji Outer Market come from Google Maps reviews, as explained in that section. Hours, closing days and prices can change, so please check before you go.
