Osakana Fukyu Center
(Fish Information Center)
6-20-5 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
We woke up at 2am and took a 15 minutes walk to Tsukiji Fish Market from our hotel. We arrived at Osakana Fukyu Center at 3am and we were handed one of the last few visitor passes (in the form of a vest) for the first group. The center only admits two groups of 60 visitors each day. While most website states that it is okay to arrive at 4am, the last vest of the day was handled out at 3:40am.
We waited at the assembly area inside the Osakana Fukyu Center. No chairs were provided and you will have to sit on the floor. Entry to the auction area for the first group only starts at 5:20am.
The auction site is held inside one of the buildings. Visitors are only allowed to move around in a designated area in the middle of the building. Buyers inspected tuna that are placed on the ground. They chopped small pieces of meat and scrutinised them with a torchlight.
An auctioneer rung a bell in his hands. The buyers gathered and the auctioneer started the bid. The buyers responded by lifting up cards.
We only managed to catch two auctions before we were ushered out of the building.