Tsukiji Fish Market Is Now History

Above, a worker prepares the day's catch for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The historic Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo has closed its doors for good. Today was its last day of operations before the big move to the new facility.

I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market in 2010 and now that it's history, I am especially glad I did.

Above, one of the vendor aisles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) wrote:

The iconic Tsukiji market, part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, marked its final day of operations in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday, drawing the curtain on 83 years of history. 

The final auctions were held from the predawn hours of Saturday morning. By noon, the move to the Toyosu market had begun. The new wholesale market in the Toyosu district of Koto Ward, Tokyo, is scheduled to open early Thursday. Before then, an “unprecedented transfer operation” will have to be completed.

The Outer Market, where the restaurants and shops are located will remain open.

Above, yours truly with one of the workers at Sushizanmai at the Tsukiji Outer Market in 2010.

To read more, go here.

New Fish Market Opens Next Door To Tsukiji Fish Market

Above, the retail area next to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the Tsukiji Fish market moves (whenever that will be), a new fish market complex next door to the historic fish market hope to fill the void and revitalize the district.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

A commercial complex selling fish and fresh produce has opened next to Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo amid a delay in the relocation of the renowned landmark to the capital's Toyosu area. 

Tsukiji Uogashi, which opened on Nov. 19, was built to revitalize the neighborhood of the Tsukiji fish market in Chuo Ward after its planned relocation to a new site in Toyosu, Koto Ward, some 2 kilometers away, originally scheduled for Nov. 7.

To read more, go here. 

10% of Tsukiji Traders To Quit Due To Move According To Poll

Above, a trader at the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A recent survey of traders working at the famed Tsukiji Fish Market found that 10% of them will be discontinuing their businesses rather than moving to the new facility.

According to The Japan Times:

More than 10 percent of traders working at Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish market plan to give up their business because they cannot move to its new site in the Toyosu district partly due to the moving costs. 

With the facilities aging, the market, currently in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, is slated to be moved in fiscal 2015 to the Toyosu district in Koto Ward.

To read the full article, go here. 

Transferring The Tsukiji Brand To The New Fish Market

Above, a worker at the Tsukiji Fish Market prepares his goods for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the highlights of my December 2010 trip to Japan was an early morning visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market and having the best sushi meal ever.

About a year or so after my visit, it was announced that the fish market will be moving two kilometers away to the Koto Ward. The move has been hampered by the discovery of toxic soil where the new fish market is to be located. Since then, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been removing the toxic soil, with completion expected later this year.

Above, there will probably be less clutter at the new facility as it is to be 80% larger. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In the meantime, the Metropolitan government has been trying to figure out how to transfer the brand image of Tsukiji to the new facility. The new Toyosu facility is planned to be 80% larger than the current facility in Chuo Ward.

The Japan News reported:

Officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government are wondering about how to shift the brand image of Tsukiji market when the iconic tourist spot is relocated to Toyosu district in Koto Ward two years from now. 

The project to relocate Tsukiji market in Chuo Ward, which has been popular among a large number of foreign tourists, entered a full-fledged stage this spring. 

To shift the world-famous brand image to the new Toyosu market, metropolitan government officials began in 2012 a public relations strategy so that people know of the plan to relocate the wholesale market.

According to the article, the target to move the fish market is two years from now. This means that tourists wishing to see the historic (the current market was built in 1935) fish market have two years to do so.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Mega Tourist Complex Announced

Above, the current Tsukiji Fish Market in Chuo Ward. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Plans for a new Tokyo mega tourist complex near to where the Tsukiji Fish Market is to be relocated have been announced.

According to The Japan News:

The Tokyo metropolitan government has announced plans for a mega-tourist complex in Tokyo’s Toyosu district, the relocation site for the Tsukiji wholesale market currently housed in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. 

Scheduled for completion in fiscal 2015, the project will include a restaurant area where visitors can enjoy fresh local ingredients and a bath facility that is expected to be one of the biggest in Tokyo.

To read more, go here. 

Tsukiji Fish Market To Remain At Present Location For Now

Above, outside loading area of Tsukiji Fish Market.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that the famous Tsukiji Fish Market will remain at its present location for about three more years, according to this article.

It was originally planned to relocate the market this year to Toyosu, Koto, but there's too many questions about the site and politics involved.  The new site is said to be contaminated and in need of a clean-up.

Above, some of the fresh catch available for sale.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Currently, construction for the new site is supposed to begin in 2013 with completion in 2014.

Before the Tsukiji Fish Market moves (it is more of a matter of "if and when"), I would highly recommend a visit to its current facility in the Chuo Ward in Tokyo and follow that up with a sushi breakfast at one of the nearby restaurants.

Above, before breakfast, I posed for a photo with a Tsukiji restaurateur.

I paid a visit to Tsukiji in December 2010 and had the best-tasting tuna sushi breakfast ever after my tour.

For more on the Tsukiji Fish Market, go here.