Tokyo Gotemba Trip - Tsukiji Fish Market

Welcome to the Tsukiji Fish Market

Waking up early in the morning to go to the Tsukiji Fish Market. We heard that they are going to close up the market real soon and prevent tourist from coming in. I think the visit of the tourist has impacted the way they run their business. So before they really do so, and since I am there, I decided to pay the market a visit.Yup, I think we wake up at around 4am++ to catch the earliest train which is like 530am to go to Tsukiji. Anyway, it has been a pretty new experience for us on this and both of us have been very anticipate what kind of stuff or seafood that we are going to encounter in the market. Hoong Wei has mentioned about their special auction system that is using hand sign. (So I am really excited to check it out) :")

More photos after the jump...

Everybody is busy with their business and work

Guess that's their shop name

Uncle ready for the business

We manage to arrive at the market by following an uncle who wear a "Pua Chu Kang" yellow boot + a shopping basket. We think that he will go to the market to get some fish back for cooking. :"D When we arrived at the market, it is like a hugh hanger for us. Everybody is very busy with their work. And you will need to be very careful on where you go, cause everyone is so busy that they will just rush and move on in a pretty high speed. (even though they are on their transportation).

Oh yes, Paul's cousins here. ~: |

Yup you gotta love the atmosphere of the fish market. :)

I think they get their fish from the auction. Most BIG fish are from the auction

Yes just using hand sign there.

Yup collecting their "winning" items. :)

Walking around the market, we trying to figure out where the auction is happening. In the end, we manage to ask one Japanese who are fluent in English on the location. Once we are there, LB and I have been carefully move into that area, I think LB maange to snap quite a few while me with my bulky camera, I have been stopped by the security personal there for not taking any photo. But he is really really kinda enough and telling me that, "Alright just one...", so I quickly snap one and two photos and left that area. (I think LB has done a better job where she managed to capture quite a lot of action photos, you all could check it out here.).

A man in the wooden house

Uncle stopping the vehicle for others to pass by

Out from the fish market. :) - one final shoot

After our inquiry, we got to know that in order to go into the auction area, you will need to register yourself at 430am at the information counter of the fish market. And then, you will be getting a plastic jacket and you will be allowed to stand at a designated area in that auction market. (Not to mentioned that, they only allow the 1st 140 person that registered to enter.) So for those who go in the future and wanna take a look at their auction system, do remember to go early to do the registration. ;)

I think it is a university (Correction, it is a Hongwanji's branch temple in Tokyo) - Thx to Clifton for the info. :")

Our spoke person for Starbuck Latte. :"D

The imperial palace

I always love this type of flower somehow. :"D

Oh yes, they have swan here also. :)

After the fish market, we went back to the Tokyo area, get some rest and then went out for some walk around the Imperial palace. There is a lake near by and  you could see the palace right from the bridge. We also noticed an uncle feeding and talking to the swan. And the swan seems to be like to follow the uncle whenever he go. (I guess must be the food). ;) After that, we went back to Ueno to continue with our journey. :)

The Ameyokocho Market

ABC-Mart!

We have our dinner in this small restaurant

And they have some really nice Japanese songs playing as well. :)

Our next stop is the Ameyokocho Market just right across the road of the Ueno Station. There is a lot of interesting goods and food sold here. A lot of people and a lot of stuffs to see and buy. :) We bought the tidbits here. And most of the sellers allow the buyers to try on the tidbits before you actually purchase it. :) (Which is pretty well thought, at least you bought something you have tried and liked) :)

We are on our way back now... on the flyover

It has been another tiring day. Because we have wake up pretty early and walk a lot that day. Anyway, we have went back for a good rest and get ourself ready for our final day. :) Yup, it is going to be a final post for my Tokyo trip on my next post. :) Have a great evening people. Cheers. :)

* For those who are interested, you could view the full series here. :)