Kuromon Market

**Morning vs afternoon:** Serious food buyers arrive 9:00–11:00 when deliveries are fresh and wholesale clients get priority. Tourist traffic peaks 12:00–15:00 when standing counters are crowded and vendors aggressively tout. For balance of fresh product and manageable crowds, arrive 11:00–12:00. Some seafood vendors sell out by 16:00; don't rely on late-afternoon visits for full selection. **Value strategy:** Kuromon's prices are tourist-inflated — uni (sea urchin) costs ¥1,500–2,000 vs ¥800–1,200 at non-tourist markets; Kobe beef skewers ¥2,000–3,000 vs ¥1,200–1,500 elsewhere. The premium buys convenience (no cooking required, English assistance) and variety (sample multiple items in one location). Accept the markup as 'curated experience' fee or skip Kuromon for better-value neighborhood markets. **Must-try items:** Maguro Dining Kuromon (tuna sushi/sashimi, ¥1,200–2,000/set — high quality despite being in tourist market), Kuromon Onsen-tamago (soft-boiled egg cooked in volcanic spring water, ¥100 — cheap novelty), seasonal fruit stands (Amaou strawberries in spring ¥800, Miyazaki mango in summer ¥1,500). Skip the Kobe beef unless budget is unlimited — quality-to-price ratio is poor in tourist markets.