Tokyo confuses first-time visitors: Toyosu is the wholesale tuna auction; Tsukiji Outer Market is the retail street food and knife-shop maze tourists love. If you searched where to buy fresh fish in Tokyo, you need both names — plus the rule that general visitors cannot buy on Toyosu wholesale floors, but can shop and eat at Tsukiji.
This guide covers locations, hours, photos, what to buy, and etiquette — with links to fish restaurants in Tokyo, our Tokyo sushi guide, and Tokyo dining guide.
Toyosu vs Tsukiji — which one for buying fish?
| Toyosu Market | Tsukiji Outer Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Wholesale auction & logistics | Retail shops, knives, street food |
| Can tourists buy raw fish? | No on wholesale floors | Yes at many outer stalls |
| Best for | Tuna auction viewing, market museums | Shopping, breakfast sushi, home knives |
| Address | 6 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo | 4 Chome Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| Access | Yurikamome Shijō-mae Station | Tokyo Metro Tsukiji / Tsukijishijo |
Practical plan: Watch morning activity at Toyosu, then take the ~30-minute walk or metro to Tsukiji for breakfast and retail shopping.
1. Tsukiji Outer Market (best for buying & eating)
Start here if you want to actually purchase seafood. Hundreds of narrow lanes with tamagoyaki, grilled scallops, uni, dried fish, knives, and small retailers who sell vacuum-packed fish and ingredients for home cooks.
| Area | Tsukiji Outer Market, Chuo City, Tokyo |
| Core address | 4 Chome Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045 |
| Maps | Open in Google Maps |
| Typical shop hours | Many stalls ~5:00am–2:00pm; some close earlier |
| Closed | Varies by shop — many closed Sundays and holidays |
What to buy:
- Tamagoyaki (sweet rolled omelette) — eat warm on a stick.
- Grilled scallops, oysters, and uni — breakfast street food.
- Vacuum-packed dried fish and snacks — legal to fly home (check your country's customs rules).
- Knives and kitchen tools — world-famous knife shops.
- Fresh fish fillets at select fishmongers — ask if meant for same-day cooking in your hotel kitchen.
Tips:
- Arrive before 9am for peak energy; many stalls sell out by early afternoon.
- Do not block alleyways with rolling luggage — locals still supply restaurants here.
- Cash still matters at smaller counters (many now take cards).
2. Toyosu Market (auction viewing — not retail buying)
World's largest fish wholesale hub since 2018 (replacing Tsukiji's inner market). Visitors come for the tuna auction and market architecture — not grocery shopping on the trading floor.
| Address | 6 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo (Blocks 5–7) |
| Official info | Tokyo Metropolitan Market site |
| Maps | Open in Google Maps |
| Visitor hours | ~5:00am–5:00pm on business days (shops vary) |
| Closed | Many Wednesdays, Sundays, holidays — check official calendar |
| Access | Yurikamome Line Shijō-mae Station (direct walkway) |
Tuna auction viewing:
- Runs roughly 5:30am–6:30am on operating days.
- Premium deck tours require advance lottery at toyosu.jcdlotterysite.jp.
- Without lottery, you can still observe from the visitor passage on the 2nd floor when the market is open.
Can you buy fish here? Not on wholesale floors. For food shopping adjacent to Toyosu, use Toyosu Senkyakubanrai (dining/retail complex) or head to Tsukiji.
3. Toyosu Senkyakubanrai (eat & shop near Toyosu)
Retail and restaurant complex next to the market — easier for tourists than wholesale floors. Good for sushi breakfast, souvenirs, and prepared seafood after auction viewing.
| Location | Adjacent to Toyosu Market, Koto-ku |
| Maps | Open in Google Maps |
| Hours | Many shops ~8:00am–9:00pm; vary by tenant |
What to buy: Bento, grilled fish sets, packaged tsukudani, and gift-ready dried seafood — better for hotel rooms than raw fillets unless you have a kitchen.
How to choose fresh fish in Tokyo
- Trust the counter — high-reputation Tsukiji shops turn inventory fast.
- Uni and oysters — eat immediately; do not carry raw shellfish all day in summer heat.
- Ask — “今日のおすすめは？” (kyō no osusume wa? — what's recommended today?).
- Sashimi grade — say 刺身用 (sashimi-yō) if you plan to eat raw at home.
- Refrigeration — use a cool bag; Tokyo convenience stores sell ice packs.
Sample Tokyo fish morning
- 5:00am — Toyosu tuna auction viewing (check calendar).
- 7:30am — Metro or walk toward Tsukiji.
- 8:00am — Breakfast: tamagoyaki, grilled scallops, coffee.
- 9:00am — Shop knives or packaged seafood gifts.
- Evening — Compare with Tokyo seafood restaurants.
FAQ
Where can I buy fresh fish in Tokyo as a tourist?
Tsukiji Outer Market — not the Toyosu wholesale floor. Select fishmongers sell retail; most visitors eat street seafood on site.
Is Tsukiji still open after the move to Toyosu?
Yes. The outer market remains active. Only the inner wholesale auction moved to Toyosu.
Can I bring fish home on a flight?
Dried and packaged goods are easiest. Fresh/raw products depend on airline rules and customs — check before you buy.
Rather dine out?
Browse Tokyo fish restaurants and our best seafood restaurants in Miami 2026.
--- Last updated: August 2026. Market calendars change — verify Toyosu closed days on the official Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market website.