From the Travel Files: Tsukiji Fish Market- Tokyo, Japan

Today I am blogging about one food find from my 5 week post-graduation trip through the Asia-Pacific region. The first place I visited was Tokyo. Tokyo is a major food center of the world. I can think of no other place that is more symbolic of Tokyo's love for food than the Tsukiji fresh seafood market. The largest of its kind, Tsukiji is a huge facility that is crammed with the freshest seafood harvested from the wee hours of the morning. Thus, the market is most active from before sunrise until about lunch time.



From the outside, the market does not really look like anything unique. However, inside is nothing short of organized madness as vendors strive to pack the seafood in ice and styrofoam. The fish is then loaded on big trucks using these small gas-powered trucks whose drivers probably graduated from the Fast and the Furious Driving School.





Outside of the market are rows of vendors that sell all sorts of vegetables, fruits, and kitchen tools and accessories. In addition, there are many little sushi shops that utilize the freshest catches of the day from the adjacent market. Which leads me to lunch...



To save money and maximize my fresh fish experience, I bought a few fresh chunks of tuna from the vendor above. The above tuna cost me about USD$5! I then took my tuna outside and browsed the streets until I found a little place that grilled up some teryiaki eel parts. I ordered the grilled eel fillets and was convinced to get some eel organs on a stick (I think they were livers). I indulged in my seafood mini-feast. The tuna was unlike anything I'd every had. "Fresh" tuna in the states is very clean tasting to the point where there is no flavor characteristics. That's fine and all. I don't want smelly tuna. BUT- this tuna had a clean and fresh flavor that still had the flavors of the ocean within it. It was something a little like when you breathe in the salty ocean air when you are near a beach. My friend from the eel shop was also nice enough to give me a little packet of wasabi and some soy sauce. A-mazing. The eel was salty, sweet, sticky, and the skin was crispy from the grill. I'm sure the sushi places are great but in my opinion, hold the rice and cut right to the chase. Overall, Tuna + eel + green tea = a wonderful lunch in Tsukiji.