Tokyo food and markets: Tsukiji and Toyosu visitor guide

Explore Tokyo's representative local dishes and neighbourhoods, plus opening times, shopping restrictions and visitor rules at Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market.

Last checked:

  • Tokyo
  • Food
  • Independent travel

Tokyo has many food options. This page neither ranks restaurants nor lists unverified prices. It covers two things: representative Tokyo foods and their areas as introduced by the official tourism website, and the visitor rules for Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market, which are often confused. Return to the Tokyo travel guide.

Key points

  • The official recommended visiting time for Tsukiji Outer Market is 9:00 to 14:00. Many shops close on Sundays and some Wednesdays.
  • Visitor walkways at Toyosu Market are open from 5:00 to 17:00. Visits are not allowed on market holidays, and general shoppers cannot purchase goods in wholesale sales areas.
  • Neither market encourages visitors to bring large luggage.

Representative Tokyo dishes

Dish Official information Area
Edomae sushi () Nigiri sushi originated in Edo (later Tokyo), made using seafood from Edo Bay Central and eastern Tokyo
Monjayaki () Tsukishima’s monjayaki street has about 60 restaurants, with meat, seafood and spicy varieties Tsukishima
Fukagawa meshi Originated as a quick meal for fishermen working near the mouth of the Sumida River Fukagawa
Tsukudani, ningyoyaki Tsukudani takes its name from Tsukudajima (now Tsukuda in Chuo Ward); ningyoyaki from Ningyocho in Nihonbashi Chuo Ward
Kaminari okoshi First sold near Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa Asakusa
Fukujinzuke Its inventor ran a snack shop near a shrine in the Yanaka area Yanaka
Soba noodles Became one of Tokyo’s representative dishes Throughout Tokyo
Chanko nabe, eel, dojo hotpot Chanko nabe is a staple of sumo wrestlers; eel is prepared Kanto-style No specific area listed on the official page
Tama, Okutama and other areas Okutama wasabi, Ome pickled plums, Tokyo Sayama tea Western Tokyo and Tama
Izu Islands and Ogasawara Dried fish (kusaya, ), ashitaba, camellia oil and island sushi Outlying islands

Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Outer Market () is a shopping area surrounding the former wholesale market. Key points from the official page:

Item Official information
Recommended time 9:00 to 14:00
Closing days Many shops close on Sundays and some Wednesdays
Tsukiji Uogashi Permission is required for shopping before 9:00; open to everyone from 9:00
Luggage Coin lockers near Tsukiji Plat Information Center, 6:00 to 16:00, with limited capacity
Restaurants Limited seats, queues in peak season; match local diners’ pace when busy; sharing meals is generally discouraged
Other rules Smoking on streets is prohibited in Chuo Ward; bargaining is not accepted (the market mainly serves wholesalers); wear closed-toe, non-slip shoes rather than heels or sandals; do not bring suitcases, large items or strollers into narrow, crowded streets

The official page does not list uniform opening hours or prices for individual shops. Check each shop separately.

Toyosu Market

Toyosu Market () is a wholesale market. Ordinary travellers can use its visitor walkways:

  • Opening hours: 5:00 to 17:00 (including food and retail areas); the PR corner closes earlier, at 14:30 or 11:30 on Saturdays.
  • Market holidays: Visitor walkways are closed on market holidays. Consult the market closure calendar. The rooftop green plaza is open even on market holidays, from 5:00 to 23:00.
  • Shopping: Wholesale sales areas primarily serve business buyers such as supermarkets, retailers and restaurants; general shoppers cannot buy there. Shops in food and retail areas serve the public, but opening and visiting hours differ, and some close before 17:00.
  • Rules: Enter through one of three entrances on the pedestrian deck. Eating and drinking are prohibited in the walkways, including benches. On Sundays, public holidays and other market closure days, entry to the market, including restaurants and shops, is not allowed.
  • Transport: No parking for visitor cars or bicycles is provided. The official recommendation is to use a bus or the Yurikamome Line ().

How to choose

If you want to… Consider
Walk around, eat seafood and snacks, with flexible timing Tsukiji Outer Market (morning)
See market operations from visitor walkways without buying wholesale products Toyosu Market visitor walkways (check closure dates first)
Eat monjayaki Tsukishima Monja Street

Further reading: Tokyo attractions by area and Three-day Tokyo itinerary.

Sources