Mercado exterior de Tsukiji

**Optimal timing:** Arrive 7:00-8:00 for peak freshness and manageable crowds. Before 7:00, many food stalls are still setting up. After 10:00, tour groups arrive and popular stalls sell out. Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday) are quieter than weekends. The market is closed most Sundays and some Wednesdays (irregular, check calendar online). **Must-try foods:** Tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelet) from Tsukiji Tamagoyaki (築地玉子焼き, ¥500, thick, sweet, fluffy). Fresh uni from Yamato (やまと, ¥2,000-3,000 per box, served on rice or as sashimi). Grilled scallops (¥500-800 for 2-3 large scallops). Tuna maguro bowl from Sushi Dai (すし大, ¥3,500-5,000, expect 60-120 minute wait) or Iwasa Sushi (岩佐寿司, less wait, similar quality, ¥2,500-4,000). **Walking & eating:** Tabe-aruki (eating while walking) is technically discouraged but widely practiced in Tsukiji — eat near the stall where you purchased food, then dispose of trash in provided bins. The alleys are narrow; be mindful of delivery carts and motorcycles (they have right-of-way). **Kitchenware shopping:** Tsukiji is Tokyo's best place for professional kitchen knives, cookware, and tableware. Tsukiji Masamoto (築地正本, since 1866) sells handmade Japanese knives (¥10,000-100,000+) — carbon steel, hand-forged, exceptional sharpness. Cheaper options: Tsubaya (つばや, ¥3,000-15,000, machine-made but quality). Also ceramic bowls, chopsticks, and cooking utensils at wholesale prices.