Researched guide · Checked on Nov 9, 2026
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Toyosu Market replaced the old Tsukiji inner market in 2018 and is now Tokyo’s main wholesale fish market. Visitors can watch the early-morning tuna auction from glass-walled visitor passages, and a small number of people win a spot on the observation deck by lottery. Viewing is free. Here is how it works.
Quick answer
Free: there is no charge to visit.
No booking needed for the 2nd-floor visitor passage, open from 5:00 on market days.
Observation deck: closer to the auction floor, by lottery only. Apply online in the month before your visit.
Two ways to see the tuna auction
1. The 2nd-floor visitor passage (no booking)
On days the market is open, you can watch the tuna wholesale area through the windows of the 2nd-floor visitor passage from 5:00. There is no limit on numbers and no reservation.
2. The observation deck (lottery)
- Apply on the official lottery website. Applications are taken monthly, for the following month, according to the published schedule.
- One application per group of up to 5 people, with up to three preferred dates. Babies also count as one person.
- For 6 or more people, apply as separate groups with different email addresses. Each group is drawn separately.
- There is no second round, no same-day entry and no waiting list. Dates cannot be changed after the deadline.
- On the day, bring photo ID (passport, driver’s license or student card) and the winning email. If you are late, watch from the visitor passage instead.
Applications are not accepted for December 25 – January 5.
Market days
The market is closed on Sundays, national holidays and some Wednesdays. Check the official market calendar before you go. On closed days there is no auction to see.
How to get there
Take the Yurikamome line to Shijo-mae Station, about 5 minutes on foot. From the gate, follow the pedestrian deck to the 3rd floor of the Block 7 administration building and go to the PR corner. Toei buses stop at Shijo-mae Station bus stop. There is no visitor parking.
Tips
- The auction is very early. Check first train times the night before, or consider staying nearby. See our Tsukiji and Toyosu guide.
- Restaurants inside the market serve sushi and seafood breakfasts.
- Prefer a livelier market for food? The Tsukiji Outer Market is still open and easy to visit later in the morning.
Want a guide? A 3-hour small-group tour of Toyosu and Tsukiji markets with tuna tasting can be booked on Klook.
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FAQ
Is the Toyosu tuna auction free to watch?
Yes. Watching is free, both from the visitor passage and from the observation deck.
Do I need a reservation?
Not for the 2nd-floor visitor passage. The observation deck is by lottery only, applied for online in the month before your visit.
What time does the tuna auction start?
Visitors can watch from the 2nd-floor passage from 5:00 on market days.
Is Toyosu Market open every day?
No. It is closed on Sundays, national holidays and some Wednesdays. Check the official calendar.
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Sources
Visiting rules come from the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market’s official FAQ (updated June 16, 2025) and lottery site (checked November 9, 2026). Rules can change, so check before you go.
