AUCTIONS

The auctions take place at the Tsukiji Fish Market.

The auctions usually start at around 5 a.m. and finish at 10 a.m. The purchased fish is then loaded onto trucks to be transported to its destination, or onto small carts for transfer to the shops in the outer market, where it is cut and prepared for retail right in front of the customer.

Tourists can book visits to the auctions and attend them in small groups from 5.20 a.m. to 6.15 a.m. If you don’t fancy getting up that early, you can still visit the outer market until the early afternoon, and watch the tuna being cut in the restaurants or at the stalls.