Tsukiji Market, Tokyo

Tsukiji Market is hands down the must-visit place in Tokyo, y'all. I'm going to stress my point by saying this in capital letters: MUST. VISIT.

I don't know how else to convey the message that it is a compulsory place to visit if you're ever going to Tokyo, other than probably sharing a bunch of photos Shah and I took while we were there.

But of course, I maybe have jumped the gun here. What is Tsukiji Market, exactly, and why should anyone visit it? Before I answer in words, I'm going to answer in photo form:

OK, back to words now. Tsukiji Market, or Tsukiji Fish Market, is an actual market which sells normal market things like seafood and veges and fruits.
Eh, you say. Sounds like my regular weekly market, you say.

But that's where you're wrong, because of course it isn't regular.

Tsukiji Market is the hub of seafood magic in Tokyo; it's where you would find so many kinds of seafood that it's like going to a seafood museum (that's how regular people like me perceive it).

Check out these gigantic king crabs I mean WHATTT

The seafood museum was not why I went to Tsukiji Market twice during my stay in Tokyo, though. I went twice for the food.

 Raw seafood gloriousness, mmmmmmm

Tsukiji Market has little restaurants lined up all around and inside its area. So many restaurants that you find it hard which one to settle yourself into for your unusual raw seafood + sticky rice breakfast/brunch/lunch. You'd think you've surveyed all the restaurants available, but think again. Really. See that tiny alleyway over there? Squeeze yourself into it and you'd find yourself facing a new whole line of tiny restaurants.

Tip: Picking a restaurant that has a long line of people waiting is a safe bet. On our first visit, Shah and I circled the market and tried two (yes, two; one was just not enough) little restaurants based on their longer waiting time. You don't have to line up there and then; just note which restaurants you'd like to try and come back when the line is shorter.

Our fave Tsukiji place; we went twice and we already have a favourite. This one has English menu too, which helped tremendously

Warming my hands against my oolong-filled cup

A selection of delish sushis

Not a fan of raw seafood? Well how about them barbecued ones? You could also find shops that sell those egg omelettes Japanese are so fond of.

 First visit: Barbecued scallops

 Second visit: Barbecued everything

Barbecued scallop, tuna (the one that looks like beef), crab leg, and honestly I didn't even know barbecued sea urchin exist before this seafood party plate

Perhaps some egg cakes for you?

Aside from a tummy filled with raw salmon tuna sea urchin crab salmon roe and barbecued scallops king crab sea urchin so much seafood I find it bothersome to use commas here, I also walked away from the market with a bag of soya beans (the real beans, not the drink) and some cutesy wootsy sushi magnets (girl's obsessed with kitschy magnets).

Serious crowd here, guys 

Tsukiji Market is most famous for its daily tuna auction, a semi-private activity held in the super early morning. Tourists like you and I are allowed to watch but only a limited number of us are allowed in, about 120 people, supposedly. It's so exclusive that tourists would need to register to witness the awesomeness of the auction. Be warned, the application needs to be done by 5am, kid you not. From what I've read, people line up way before 5am so Shah and I already gave up before we even tried. We do like our cosy warm bed too much, but we would enthusiastically leave it for a bowl of fresh sashimi (at an appropriately later time in the day, of course).

Shah is now OBSESSED with sea urchin

There is a shop selling Japanese ceramics on the way to Tsukiji Market, if you're into that sort of thing.

 WANTED THIS TEA SET SO BADDD but our bags were filled to the brim by then

Shah and I would definitely head back to Tsukiji if we ever get to visit Japan again, and I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone, absolutely.
To get there, take the Metro to Tsukiji station and the walk to the market only takes about five minutes from the station. Using Google Map might help but following the crowd is another way to get there!

Have you been there, or planning to? Do share your Tokyo stories with me in the comment section down below.