Tsukiji or Toyosu? Tokyo's Fish Markets Compared (2026 Guide)

Q: Is Tsukiji still open, or did everything move to Toyosu?

What moved was the inner market — the wholesale auction operation — which relocated to Toyosu in October 2018. The Tsukiji Outer Market is still open in its original location, with hundreds of sushi spots, seafood stalls, tamagoyaki vendors, walk-and-eat snacks, and kitchenware shops. If you want to eat, Tsukiji is still the place. If you want to watch the tuna auction, you need to go to Toyosu.

Q: Do I need to book in advance to see the tuna auction at Toyosu?

There are two viewing options. The free second-floor Visitor's Walkway requires no reservation — it opens at 5am and you watch through glass from above. The closer first-floor observation deck requires a free lottery booking made about a month ahead on the official Toyosu Market website; roughly 100 spots are offered per day, and winners should arrive by 5:30am. The auction itself runs roughly 5:30–6:30am, Monday to Saturday (no auction on some Wednesdays, Sundays, or public holidays).

Q: Which station is closest to Tsukiji Outer Market?

Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Line is about a 1-minute walk, and Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo Line is also about 1 minute away. Higashi-ginza Station (Hibiya and Asakusa lines) is a 3-minute walk. If you're staying in Ginza, it's a flat 15-minute walk along Harumi-dori, passing the Kabukiza Theatre.

Q: Which station is closest to Toyosu Market?

Get off at Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome monorail (boarded at Shimbashi, passing Odaiba). A raised pedestrian deck connects directly into the market. From Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho subway line it's about a 20–25 minute walk, or two stops on the Yurikamome. The Yurikamome is the most direct option.

Q: What time should I arrive at the fish market?

For Tsukiji Outer Market, general visitors are best arriving after 9am, when professional buyers have finished — but the most popular stalls sell out and close around 11am, so aim for the 9–11am window. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. For Toyosu, you must arrive before 5am to see the tuna auction; if you only want to wander the market or have a sushi breakfast, 6–10am is comfortable.

Q: Can I visit both Tsukiji and Toyosu in one morning?

Yes — and it's a popular plan. Start at Toyosu around 5am for the tuna auction and a sushi breakfast, then take the Yurikamome back toward Tsukiji (or transfer to the subway) and explore Tsukiji Outer Market mid-morning. The two markets are only about 15–20 minutes apart by train, so a single morning works well. Just allow travel time and aim to reach Toyosu before 5am.

Get This Straight First

Tokyo Has Two Fish Markets Now —But They Do Different Jobs

This has confused visitors for years, because the headlines all said "Tsukiji Fish Market has closed." What actually closed and moved was the inner market — the wholesale auction operation — which relocated to Toyosu in October 2018. The Tsukiji Outer Market, packed with sushi counters, walk-and-eat stalls, and kitchenware shops, is still open in exactly the same spot.

The simplest way to think about it: if you want to eat, go to Tsukiji. If you want to see the tuna auction in action, go to Toyosu. And if you only have one early morning, we'll show you how to fit both into a single trip.

🍣

Tsukiji = Eat

The Outer Market is still open — graze on sushi, tamagoyaki, and grilled seafood in a buzzing lane.

🐟

Toyosu = Auction

The new wholesale market, where you can watch the tuna auction through glass and eat legendary sushi at dawn.

🌅

An Early Bird's Game

The tuna auction starts around 5:30am, and the best food at Tsukiji sells out by late morning.

🚆

Both Easy to Reach

Tsukiji sits right by two subway stations; Toyosu is a step from the Yurikamome monorail.

Side by Side

Tsukiji vs Toyosu —How They Differ

Two markets, two cards — who each suits, opening hours, access, and the standout draw of each. (Updated for 2026 — individual shop hours vary, so double-check before you go.)

VS

🍣 Outer Market · Still Open

Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Jogai Shijo · Chuo

A still-buzzing market on the edge of Ginza. Wander the narrow lanes grazing on counter sushi, skewered tamagoyaki omelette, grilled seafood, and Japanese kitchenware all in one place. Best for people who'd rather eat than watch an auction.

⏰Hours: Most shops ~5:00am–2:00pm · top stalls sell out by ~11am

📅Closed: Sundays + some Wednesdays (wholesale calendar) + New Year

🚉Access: Tsukiji (Hibiya) / Tsukijishijo (Oedo) — 1-min walk

💴Entry: Free · bring cash, most street stalls don't take cards

Best for: Big eaters, late risers, anyone based in Ginza/central Tokyo who wants an easy walkable market

🐟 New Auction Market

Toyosu Market

Toyosu Shijo · Koto

The modern bayfront wholesale market that inherited the auction from Tsukiji in 2018. Clean, climate-controlled halls, dedicated visitor walkways for watching the tuna auction through glass, legendary dawn sushi counters — plus the new Senkyaku Banrai complex with an onsen and Edo-style food street.

⏰Hours: ~5:00am–5:00pm · tuna auction ~5:30–6:30am

📅Closed: Sundays + most Wednesdays + public holidays + New Year

🚉Access: Shijo-mae Station (Yurikamome monorail) — right at the market

💴Entry: Free · the close-up auction deck requires a free lottery

Best for: Travellers set on seeing the tuna auction, early risers, and anyone who wants dawn sushi plus an onsen

Make the Call

So Where Should You Go?Pick by Your Style

Still on the fence? Run through these four scenarios and you'll know instantly which market is yours.

A

"I just want to eat — and not at dawn"

Head to the Tsukiji Outer Market between 9 and 11am and graze your way through sushi, tamagoyaki, and grilled seafood at a relaxed pace. No pre-sunrise alarm needed.

B

"I really want to see the tuna auction"

It has to be Toyosu — arrive before 5am and watch free from the second-floor walkway, or enter the lottery for the closer first-floor deck.

C

"I'm with family / want an onsen too"

Go to Toyosu and add the Senkyaku Banrai complex — Edo-style food stalls, a rooftop with bay views, and the Manyo Club hot spring.

D

"One morning, I want it all"

Start at Toyosu at 5am for the auction and a sushi breakfast, then ride the Yurikamome back to explore Tsukiji mid-morning.

💡 Updated 2026: Individual shop hours and the holiday calendar (especially closed Wednesdays) change month to month. Before you go, check the latest calendar on the official Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market websites — particularly if you're visiting on a Wednesday or over the New Year holiday.

In Depth · Market One

Tsukiji Outer Market —A Foodie's Paradise

🍣

Still Open · Outer Market

Five Bites in a Single Lane

The whole charm of Tsukiji is the "eat as you walk" rhythm — narrow lanes lined with tiny stalls, one after another. Start with a fat piece of counter sushi, move on to a hot skewer of sweet tamagoyaki omelette, then a butter-grilled scallop, fresh sea urchin (uni) over rice, and a giant seasonal strawberry. Most of it is grab-and-eat, standing right where you bought it.

Beyond food, you'll find shops selling Japanese knives, chopsticks, pots, and chef-grade kitchen gear that cooks fly in for. If you walk from Ginza along Harumi-dori, it takes only about 15 minutes — and you'll pass the Kabukiza Theatre on the way.

⏰Hours: Most shops ~5:00am–2:00pm (wholesale stalls open very early; top vendors sell out by ~11am; sit-down restaurants run roughly 11:00am–3:00pm)

📅Closed: Every Sunday + some Wednesdays (per the wholesale market calendar) + the New Year period (around Dec 30–Jan 4)

🚉Getting there: Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line) or Tsukijishijo Station (Oedo Line), 1-min walk · Higashi-ginza 3-min walk · ~15-min walk from Ginza

💴Cash: Bring it — most street-food stalls don't accept cards

💡Tip: Go on a weekday between 9 and 11am for smaller crowds and full stock · Saturdays mean long lines all year · skip Sundays when many shops are shut

🍳Tamagoyaki: a hot skewer of sweet rolled omelette — a market signature, from a few hundred yen
🦪Grilled scallops / oysters: seared fresh at the stall, fragrant with butter
🍣Sushi / kaisen-don: seafood rice bowls and counter sushi across a range of price points

In Depth · Market Two

Toyosu Market —The Real Tuna Auction

Aerial view of Toyosu Market — Tokyo's new fish auction complex on the bayfront with blue and red rooftops

Aerial view of Toyosu Market on Tokyo Bay — the new fish-auction complex that took over from Tsukiji in 2018.

New · Auction Market

Glass Floors, and Hundreds of Tuna Below

Toyosu is a modern wholesale market split across several buildings (the tuna building, the general seafood building, and the fruit-and-veg building), linked by visitor walkways up above. The headline draw is the tuna auction — buyers shine torches into the flesh to judge quality, then bid fast and loud, with whole frozen tuna lined up in their hundreds across the floor.

There are two ways to watch — the free second-floor walkway (no booking), which looks down through glass for the full overview, and the closer first-floor deck (free, but lottery-only), just one level above the auction floor for a much nearer view. Afterwards, grab dawn sushi from a market restaurant, and if you're still going, walk over to the new Senkyaku Banrai complex (opened early 2024), which recreates an Edo-era street with around 70 eateries, a rooftop with bay views, and the Manyo Club onsen using hot-spring water trucked in from Hakone and Yugawara.

⏰Hours: General visitors ~5:00am–5:00pm · tuna auction roughly 5:30–6:30am

📅Closed / no auction: Sundays + most Wednesdays + public holidays + New Year (around Dec 25–Jan 5)

🚉Getting there: Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome monorail (board at Shimbashi); a pedestrian deck leads straight in · ~20–25-min walk from Toyosu Station (Yurakucho Line)

♨️Bonus: Senkyaku Banrai — Edo-style food street + Manyo Club onsen, right by Shijo-mae Station

💡Tip: If you only want dawn sushi or a wander, you don't need the 5am alarm — arrive 6–10am when restaurants are open and crowds are thinner

The Bit Everyone Asks About

How to See (and Book)the Toyosu Tuna Auction

Two options — a free, no-booking view, and a closer view that needs a lottery booking in advance. Choose based on how near you want to be and whether you can plan ahead.

1

Free view from the 2nd-floor walkway

No booking needed. Opens at 5am, looking down through glass from about three levels above the auction floor — you see the whole hall at once. Come early for a spot at the glass. Perfect if you decide to go on the spur of the moment.

2

Closer 1st-floor deck — lottery only

Just one level above the auction floor behind a glass screen, for a much nearer view. About 100 people per day in roughly 45-minute slots. Winners should arrive by 5:30am (aim for 5:15).

3

How to enter the lottery

Apply free on the official Toyosu Market website about a month ahead. The application window is the first week of the preceding month (open around 7 days); you can pick up to 3 dates and list up to 5 people per application.

4

Or just join a guided tour

If you'd rather not gamble on the lottery — or want a guide to explain it all — several morning tours combine Toyosu, a sushi tasting, and Tsukiji. You can book these ahead through tour platforms.

⚠️ Please note: Lottery details (application window, daily capacity, viewing times) can change month to month — check the latest terms on the official Toyosu Market site before you plan. Floor-level viewing of the auction itself is only available to lottery winners.

Book Ahead · Skip the Lottery

Don't Want to Risk the Lottery?
Book a Morning Market + Sushi Tour

Several morning tours walk you through Toyosu for the auction atmosphere, then a dawn sushi tasting and a stroll through the Tsukiji Outer Market — all with a guide to explain it. Compare options and book ahead on Klook.

🎟️ See Tokyo Fish Market Tours on Klook → 🐟 Tuna Auction Tours →

Map

Where Tsukiji and ToyosuSit in Tokyo

The two markets sit on opposite sides of the bay, about 15–20 minutes apart by train — see how they line up against Ginza and the key stations to plan a single-morning loop.

Before You Go

6 Things That Make a Fish-Market MorningSmoother — and Tastier

💴

Carry Cash

Most street stalls and small shops are cash-only. Withdraw or exchange yen beforehand — ATMs inside the markets are limited.

🌅

The Good Stuff Sells Out

At Tsukiji the popular stalls are gone by ~11am, so the 9–11am window is ideal. At Toyosu the auction means a pre-5am start.

📅

Avoid Wednesdays & Sundays

Both markets close often on Wednesdays (per the wholesale calendar) and on Sundays — check the official calendar before locking in a date.

🚆

Take the Yurikamome to Toyosu

Get off at Shijo-mae for a direct walk into the market. Board at Shimbashi and you'll glide past Odaiba for the view.

🙇

Respect the Workers

Before 9am professionals are still buying — don't block the carts, photograph with care, and never handle goods you're not buying.

📶

Get an eSIM Before You Fly

Handy for navigating the market lanes, checking which stalls are open, and pulling up the live holiday calendar before you leave the hotel.

Plan the Rest of Tokyo — Food, Sights, Stays

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Japan Travel Guide

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Japan Guide →

🛕

Senso-ji & Asakusa

Do Tsukiji in the morning, then head to Tokyo's oldest temple — Nakamise street is lined with snacks and souvenirs.

See Tokyo Attractions →

🏨

Stay near Ginza / Tsukiji

Want an easy morning market walk? Base yourself in Ginza or Tsukiji and reach the Outer Market in minutes.

Find Hotels →

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ —Tokyo's Fish Markets

Is Tsukiji still open, or did everything move to Toyosu?

What moved was the inner market — the wholesale auction operation — which relocated to Toyosu in October 2018. The Tsukiji Outer Market is still open in its original location, with hundreds of sushi spots, seafood stalls, tamagoyaki vendors, walk-and-eat snacks, and kitchenware shops. If you want to eat, Tsukiji is still the place. If you want to watch the tuna auction, you need to go to Toyosu.

Do I need to book in advance to see the tuna auction at Toyosu?

There are two viewing options. The free second-floor Visitor's Walkway requires no reservation — it opens at 5am and you watch through glass from above. The closer first-floor observation deck requires a free lottery booking made about a month ahead on the official Toyosu Market website; roughly 100 spots are offered per day, and winners should arrive by 5:30am. The auction itself runs roughly 5:30–6:30am, Monday to Saturday (no auction on some Wednesdays, Sundays, or public holidays).

Which station is closest to Tsukiji Outer Market?

Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Line is about a 1-minute walk, and Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo Line is also about 1 minute away. Higashi-ginza Station (Hibiya and Asakusa lines) is a 3-minute walk. If you're staying in Ginza, it's a flat 15-minute walk along Harumi-dori, passing the Kabukiza Theatre.

Which station is closest to Toyosu Market?

Get off at Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome monorail (boarded at Shimbashi, passing Odaiba). A raised pedestrian deck connects directly into the market. From Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho subway line it's about a 20–25 minute walk, or two stops on the Yurikamome. The Yurikamome is the most direct option.

What time should I arrive at the fish market?

For Tsukiji Outer Market, general visitors are best arriving after 9am, once professional buyers have finished — but the most popular stalls sell out and close around 11am, so aim for the 9–11am window. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. For Toyosu, you must arrive before 5am to see the tuna auction; if you only want to wander the market or have a sushi breakfast, 6–10am is comfortable.

Can I visit both Tsukiji and Toyosu in one morning?

Yes — and it's a popular plan. Start at Toyosu around 5am for the tuna auction and a sushi breakfast, then take the Yurikamome back toward Tsukiji (or transfer to the subway) and explore the Outer Market mid-morning. The two markets are only about 15–20 minutes apart by train, so a single morning works well. Just allow travel time and aim to reach Toyosu before 5am.

Ready to Go?

Pick Your Market
and Plan Your First Tokyo Morning

Open the full Tokyo city guide for hotels, food, and itineraries — or start searching for a stay in Ginza or Tsukiji, an easy few-minute walk from the Outer Market.

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