Exciting and vivid! Tsukiji Market-Vol. 3

By Kikki - Last updated: 土曜日, 7月 28, 2012 - Save & Share - Leave a Comment

Structure and layout of the Tsukiji Wholesale Market

Main Gate


*Left: Main Gate*	*Upper right: Police Station*
	*Lower right: Tsukiji-shijo Station*

The main gate faces toShin-ohashi Street. There are the Central Market police box under the Tsukiji Police Station and Tsukiji-shijo Station (Toei Oedo Line). On the other side of the street, there are theNationalCancerCenterHospitaland the Tokyo Headquarter of the Asahi Shimbun Company.

Seika Gate


*Seika Gate*	*Vegetables & Fruits Wholesalers’ area*

The gate is named after the vegetable and fruit auction market nearby. There is always heavy traffic of truck loaded with vegetable and fruit.

Kachidoki Gate


*Kachidoki Gate*	*Kachidoki* *Bridge Information Center*

The Kachidoki Gate is located nearKachidokiBridge. There areFishInformationCenterandTsukijiWelfareCenterwithin the wholesale market andKachidokiBridgeInformationCenteroutside of the market and Nichirei Corporation, one ofJapan’s top producers of frozen foods and a leader in cold storage warehousing, on the other side ofHarumi Street.

Kaikobashi Gate


*Kaikobashi Gate*	*Namiyoke Shrine*

The Kaikobashi Gate is located next to Namiyoke Shrine. There used to be an arched bridge ‘Kaikobashi’ that spanned the branch of Tukiji-gawaRiverand the gate was named after Kaiko-bashi. The branch of Tukiji-gawaRiverhas already been reclaimed and used now as a parking lot for bicycles.

Ichibabashi Gate

The Ichibabashi Gate is located the most north-eastern part along the Shin-ohashi street. The gate was named after Ichibabashi Bridge that had existed around there. The gate is regarded as a back gate with a narrow one-way street for getting out from the market.

‘Uogashi-yokocho’ or Buildings for industries associated with the market

Associated companies complement the major function of the market. Along with restaurants, there are shops run by associated companies in selling various kinds of products and goods. The area has shops of seasoned dry laver, green tea leave, books, groceries, kitchen knives, and others. A very peculiar product among items a garnish of shredded or sliced vegetables served with raw fish. Although, restaurants within the area are rather small scale, these restaurants serve very popular dishes which attract visitors to the market.

“Tokeito” or Clock Tower Street

The clock tower had once existed on the rooftop of the market building but it just remains on the name of the street in front of the market. The street divides between the seafood and the vegetables & fruits areas.

Temporary Custodies

Temporary Custodies keep purchased articles by food dealers and brokers in the market. There are several custodies called in short name like 「特」 or Special, 「東」 or East, 「西」 or West, and 「新」 or New.

Purchased articles are collected from the auction market or food dealer’s shops and delivered to the each private food shops and restaurants in the town after loading on the trucks at the custodies.

It is commonly called “Shiomachi-jaya” or simply “Chaya”. The origin of common name of “Chaya” or temporary custody dates back to the period when the seafood market was existed in Nihonbashi area. “Shiomachi” literally means waiting for a high tide. Purchased articles had been delivered by boats sailing on waterways set up city-wide, such as on rivers and canals during the period. People worked in “Chaya” were totally depended on high tide. Only contracted dealers use the “Chaya” system.

Tokyo Metropolitan Hygienic Laboratory at the Wholesale Market

Official watchmen for food hygienic under the laboratory always watch, inspect on food articles, and give hygienic advice to all food dealers in the market. The laboratory belongs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Welfare & Public Health Bureau, and has other two branch laboratories at the Adachi Market and the Ota Market.

Tsukiji Outer Market Shopping District

So called “Jogai” or outer market is also formed for professional buyers and other visitors to the market. On the other hand, “Jonai” or inner market is called for the Tsukiji Market itself. Compare to the inner market, the outer market is popular among general citizens and tourists.

Namiyoke Shrine

Namiyoke Shrine is located just beside the Kaikobashi Gate. The place name “Tsukiji” literally means reclaimed land. Surrounding area of the Tsukiji Market is really a reclaimed land built in the Edo period. In the beginning of the Edo period (1658) reclaiming project started on the area from Tsukiji-honganji Temple to the market. However, the project had a heavy disturbance caused by wild waves.

The old regent said that an image of the god of the harvest was found from the sea and enshrined to the place, and the wild waves were moderated after that, and the project could be completed.


*Sushi-zuka and Ebi-zuka*	*Tamago-zuka*

People believe it as a guardian deity against misfortune and for safe voyage because of its origin in the old story. And also, there are burial mounds for sea products where departed soul of sea products enshrined, such as “ebi-zuka” or burial mound for shrimps and lobsters, “sushi-zuka” or burial mound for fish and shell used as materials for sushi, and “tamago-zuka” or burial mound for eggs.

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/info/01.html

http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/

■For travelers from overseas

As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I am very happy to introduce ‘Tsukiji Market’. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit toTokyo, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contact.

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