I regret not going to the original Tsukuji Fish Market when I had the chance, but there was SOOOO much I wanted to do in Tokyo alone, that I just couldn't fit it in! Watching this video has unsurprisingly marked it as a must-visit place now. Food haven, so I'd be right at home. Awesome video, Amy! Thank you for continuously being my go-to channel for Japan travel info!
It's always the way - the Japan to-do list is never-ending. It's impossible to fit everything in, so there's always something for next time! So glad you're enjoying my videos, thank you!
I've been there in July/August. And early in the morning around 7 to 7:30am the first shops open up. Around 8:30 it's getting really busy already. Some food stands are not there every day, I learned. At the corner of the street where the wagyu and the tamagoyaki shops are, there was a stand which sold really good onigiri on my first visit. A week later it was closed. Also I couldn't find other shops I saw on the first day. But the overall experience IS amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it! I think that's why it's best to just wander and discover what takes your fancy, rather than setting your heart on going to a specific place!
@@cakeswithfaces Yeah, I was wandering around a lot. Especially because I couldn't sleep longer than 6, for my entire trip 😅 It's the small things you discover, when you're just walking through the streets. I found a small, hidden shrine in Shibuya in my second day and was really amazed by the contrast to the busy streets that were just around the corner. I also wanted to say thank you! Your Videos helped me a lot on my trip! It was the first one, but most definitely won't be the last!
@@GreatLobster87 Oh no, jetlag can be fun!!! That sounds fantastic - these little discoveries are what makes a trip magic! You don't have to wander far into the backstreets to find yourself somewhere completely different sometimes. 🙂
Hey, Amy, our primary itinerary for Tokyo is to stay adjacent to Tsukiji and have our morning meal(s) there before heading to other parts of the city as it seems breakfast isn't much of a thing in Japan. Pepper's Pizza is something Paolo featured so we're chuffed to get your positive take on it, too!
Good idea! 100% recommend Peppers Cafe (make sure you get some peppercorns to take home!). Usually for breakfast I'll just get convenience store onigiri or bakery items, or go to a bakery.
We got our knives at one of the shops in Tsukiji and my husband still laments not buying more. They even engraved them which is a nice touch. It was a great experience overall. The most delicious prawn the size of my forearm and the biggest scallop I’ve ever had!
That sounds great - we've been thinking of buying a knife in Japan too! There are lots in Kappabashi (kitchen street) as well. That's great they engraved them for you!
Did you notice the tourist places were more crowded in general? I guess the good thing about Japan is you can get off the beaten track with relative ease to enjoy a more peaceful experience. Great video, as usual.
On the whole, not so much. I'd heard that Tsukiji has gained popularity. However, places like Shibuya Sky and TeamLab Planets weren't all that busy, judging by what people say about other times of year. End of Feb is still the off-season so I was surprised Tsukiji was this crowded. What I did notice was that certain restaurants, particularly those that have become well-known to foreigners, were extremely busy, with long queues. That hadn't really been the case so much in Japan before.
The owner of Pepper Cafe traveled to Cambodia and tried the peppers there and fell in love. Cambodia, especially in Kampot, Cambodia are known for their peppers. Sela Peppers are from Cambodia. I definitely will be visiting that cafe and buying a few peppers to bring back. Just until I can go to Cambodia.
They're all within Tsukiji Market in Tokyo - for some it's difficult to know the shop name but if you walk around the market you're sure to find them, or something similar! Apart from Peppers Cafe where we had the pizza, which is a little hidden away, but it's on Google Maps as "Tsukiji Peppers Cafe". Really I'd recommend visiting the market, browsing and trying out whatever takes your fancy that you like the look of - there's a lot to choose from! :-)
Great timing for me as I have just booked a hotel for my upcoming trip that is in the outer market. I arrive on a Saturday night so will get a chance to look around on Sunday when most places are closed so I can familiarise myself for the very early Monday start to snag some tuna fish cheeks! The Sushizanmai there is the main branch and open 24 hours so it’s Saturday night and probably Sunday too. 🍣
Hi, Amy! Do you plan to update your book? 😁 I will travel to Japan next year (in March) and I want to know if I have to wait for the "new and improved" version of your book! Thanks for all your work. It is a source of inspiration for me!
The current version was updated in March 2023. When I was writing it, I kept in mind that I didn't want it to go out of date quickly, so on the whole, the book is the same. Every time I get it reprinted, I check through all the tiny details for anything that's changed, and there's a link in the book to a web-page with any updates since each edition was printed. So far the main changes to the current edition are related to the JR Pass - when the price goes up in October, some details are changing, and also the details about TeamLab Planets (now extended until 2027) and Borderless (as we now have an opening date for its new location). There are usually some changes to the theme cafes; a couple of them usually open/close over time.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s we had a man in a van selling wet fish on a friday ,a bread van calling,ringtons tea calling,a farmer mr chestney and his horse and cart selling fruit and vegetables,a man with a horse and cart shouting rag and bone he collected old rags metal etc .hard life but life and people were more normal then. A man selling big bags of poatoes some selling logs.
i purchase frozen cod pieces when our children were younger and i was carer to pat then i did many things two been baking and cooking thanks be to God i was good at everything ,since pat died in 2013 i rarely cook and never bake i buy the toxic crap cakes from supermarkets .
We didn't go to Tsujiki and I have to say those growds look bit overwhelming :D but I did have amazake at Fushimi inari. We were walking away from the tori gates where there is a lot of small shrines and I noticed a sign saying "Amazake" and pointing behind some of the shrines. There was this small old looking traditional house and really sweet old lady who served me a cup of amazake and green tea for 200yen if I remember correctly. It also came with some grated ginger you can add yourself and I drank half of it whitout ja half with it. I liked it very much both ways! Somehow this is one of my fondest memories from our trip :)
The crowds are definitely intense! I was surprised when I compared the video from 2019, how many more people go there now. Glad you found amazake! It was on my to-drink list but I wasn't sure where to find it. Grated ginger sounds good, that sounds like a lovely little place!
I have planned to go to the Tsukiji Market, but I hope it will not be too crowded. I know I don't specifically need to go there to get great food, but I would love to experience it...
It's definitely an experience. It seems it's less busy if you go earlier, and probably a weekday would be quieter than the weekend - but as you can see it's still pretty crowded even during the week.
Somehow it was my first time too! Phil's been before when he woke up early with jetlag. For some reason I never thought morning markets would be interesting places to go. But: all the yummy snacks! 🏆
That food all looked delicious. Thanks for the tour. May I ask how you communicate with the people who sell the food? Do you speak Japanese? Do they speak English? A bit of both? Is there lots of pointing to things? Laughter when there is miscommunication?
In touristy places, most people there speak a little English. I speak basic Japanese, but even if you don't, you can get a long way with smiling, pointing, gestures and a good old "Arigatou!".
End of Feb. There were some chilly days at the start, but by the end of the two weeks I was in t-shirts. Even the coat days were warmer than the UK at that time of year though.
I've probably already said this in one of your videos but I don't get why would raw fish taste good?? Am I being like one of those people who don't like the taste of water???
been to this place once and never going back. Perhaps to see what all the hype is about. But then again, it's just hype. Worst experience to waste time in Japan if you ask me. Crowded, overpriced vendors, and poor quality. I can't believe I paid $25 for some beef that claims to be top quality. It tastes worse than a $5 steak. I didn't realize how damn expensive I paid for it until I went to Shinjuku and had one of the best all you can eat Izakaya with top quality meat for $30 per person. Avoid this place like the plague if you are traveling to Japan on a time crunch. Not worth my time.
Sorry to hear that - it has become increasingly crowded and touristy over time. Don't be put off going to fish markets in other towns though - especially less famous ones are excellent!
I regret not going to the original Tsukuji Fish Market when I had the chance, but there was SOOOO much I wanted to do in Tokyo alone, that I just couldn't fit it in!
Watching this video has unsurprisingly marked it as a must-visit place now. Food haven, so I'd be right at home.
Awesome video, Amy! Thank you for continuously being my go-to channel for Japan travel info!
It's always the way - the Japan to-do list is never-ending. It's impossible to fit everything in, so there's always something for next time! So glad you're enjoying my videos, thank you!
Awesome job Amy
Thank you!!
No problem Amy
I've been there in July/August. And early in the morning around 7 to 7:30am the first shops open up. Around 8:30 it's getting really busy already. Some food stands are not there every day, I learned. At the corner of the street where the wagyu and the tamagoyaki shops are, there was a stand which sold really good onigiri on my first visit. A week later it was closed. Also I couldn't find other shops I saw on the first day. But the overall experience IS amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it! I think that's why it's best to just wander and discover what takes your fancy, rather than setting your heart on going to a specific place!
@@cakeswithfaces Yeah, I was wandering around a lot. Especially because I couldn't sleep longer than 6, for my entire trip 😅 It's the small things you discover, when you're just walking through the streets. I found a small, hidden shrine in Shibuya in my second day and was really amazed by the contrast to the busy streets that were just around the corner. I also wanted to say thank you! Your Videos helped me a lot on my trip! It was the first one, but most definitely won't be the last!
@@GreatLobster87 Oh no, jetlag can be fun!!! That sounds fantastic - these little discoveries are what makes a trip magic! You don't have to wander far into the backstreets to find yourself somewhere completely different sometimes. 🙂
Hey, Amy, our primary itinerary for Tokyo is to stay adjacent to Tsukiji and have our morning meal(s) there before heading to other parts of the city as it seems breakfast isn't much of a thing in Japan. Pepper's Pizza is something Paolo featured so we're chuffed to get your positive take on it, too!
Good idea! 100% recommend Peppers Cafe (make sure you get some peppercorns to take home!). Usually for breakfast I'll just get convenience store onigiri or bakery items, or go to a bakery.
We got our knives at one of the shops in Tsukiji and my husband still laments not buying more. They even engraved them which is a nice touch. It was a great experience overall. The most delicious prawn the size of my forearm and the biggest scallop I’ve ever had!
That sounds great - we've been thinking of buying a knife in Japan too! There are lots in Kappabashi (kitchen street) as well. That's great they engraved them for you!
@@cakeswithfaces hmmm ... I would buy knives in Sakai because they specialize in this ... Tokyo seems second tier to me ...
Did you notice the tourist places were more crowded in general? I guess the good thing about Japan is you can get off the beaten track with relative ease to enjoy a more peaceful experience. Great video, as usual.
On the whole, not so much. I'd heard that Tsukiji has gained popularity. However, places like Shibuya Sky and TeamLab Planets weren't all that busy, judging by what people say about other times of year. End of Feb is still the off-season so I was surprised Tsukiji was this crowded.
What I did notice was that certain restaurants, particularly those that have become well-known to foreigners, were extremely busy, with long queues. That hadn't really been the case so much in Japan before.
That market is huge 😂. Thank you for another excellent video Amy ❤
There was a lot more there than I expected!!
@@cakeswithfaces I bet that you could spend days there 😂
I was lucky I had a chance to see the Tsukiji fish market inner and outer during it's last days in 2017.
They say the new Toyosu market doesn't have the charm and atmosphere of Tsukiji.
The owner of Pepper Cafe traveled to Cambodia and tried the peppers there and fell in love. Cambodia, especially in Kampot, Cambodia are known for their peppers. Sela Peppers are from Cambodia. I definitely will be visiting that cafe and buying a few peppers to bring back. Just until I can go to Cambodia.
I can see why they fell in love with them - they're so delicious! Only a few left in the pack that I bought from them!
Thanks Amy!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ah food glorious food
One of the best thins about travelling to Japan!
Hey, Amy, could write down the names of the shops you have visited in the description, or maybe the geo data. Would be really helpful. Thanks.
They're all within Tsukiji Market in Tokyo - for some it's difficult to know the shop name but if you walk around the market you're sure to find them, or something similar! Apart from Peppers Cafe where we had the pizza, which is a little hidden away, but it's on Google Maps as "Tsukiji Peppers Cafe". Really I'd recommend visiting the market, browsing and trying out whatever takes your fancy that you like the look of - there's a lot to choose from! :-)
Great timing for me as I have just booked a hotel for my upcoming trip that is in the outer market. I arrive on a Saturday night so will get a chance to look around on Sunday when most places are closed so I can familiarise myself for the very early Monday start to snag some tuna fish cheeks! The Sushizanmai there is the main branch and open 24 hours so it’s Saturday night and probably Sunday too. 🍣
Perfect location for delicious breakfasts every day! Enjoy those tuna cheeks! 🐟😊
I was there 11hrs ago, that fatty tuna was amazing on Monday im gonna try the wagyu uni 🤤
Excellent - enjoy!! See if you can try all your favs!
Hi, Amy! Do you plan to update your book? 😁 I will travel to Japan next year (in March) and I want to know if I have to wait for the "new and improved" version of your book! Thanks for all your work. It is a source of inspiration for me!
The current version was updated in March 2023. When I was writing it, I kept in mind that I didn't want it to go out of date quickly, so on the whole, the book is the same. Every time I get it reprinted, I check through all the tiny details for anything that's changed, and there's a link in the book to a web-page with any updates since each edition was printed.
So far the main changes to the current edition are related to the JR Pass - when the price goes up in October, some details are changing, and also the details about TeamLab Planets (now extended until 2027) and Borderless (as we now have an opening date for its new location). There are usually some changes to the theme cafes; a couple of them usually open/close over time.
@@cakeswithfaces - Great! Thank you! JR Pass - ✅ TeamLab Planets - ✅ Borderless - ✅
Good to go!
@@MihaiMarinescuJr TeamLab was a really cool, fun experience! I just booked my trip April 2024 and definitely will go back.
that looks fun!
Lots of delicious treats!
Back in the 1950s and 1960s we had a man in a van selling wet fish on a friday ,a bread van calling,ringtons tea calling,a farmer mr chestney and his horse and cart selling fruit and vegetables,a man with a horse and cart shouting rag and bone he collected old rags metal etc .hard life but life and people were more normal then. A man selling big bags of poatoes some selling logs.
i have birds eye fish cakes in my freezer i had some the other day with chips
i purchase frozen cod pieces when our children were younger and i was carer to pat then i did many things two been baking and cooking thanks be to God i was good at everything ,since pat died in 2013 i rarely cook and never bake i buy the toxic crap cakes from supermarkets .
Hi Amy,
10 more weeks. and I'm going back to Japan too.,
London >>> Tokyo
Woohoo!! It'll be here before you know it!
@@cakeswithfaces
The last time I was there was 4 years ago. 10 weeks is not a long time.
@@Roland1. Have a wonderful trip!!
We didn't go to Tsujiki and I have to say those growds look bit overwhelming :D
but I did have amazake at Fushimi inari. We were walking away from the tori gates where there is a lot of small shrines and I noticed a sign saying "Amazake" and pointing behind some of the shrines. There was this small old looking traditional house and really sweet old lady who served me a cup of amazake and green tea for 200yen if I remember correctly. It also came with some grated ginger you can add yourself and I drank half of it whitout ja half with it. I liked it very much both ways! Somehow this is one of my fondest memories from our trip :)
The crowds are definitely intense! I was surprised when I compared the video from 2019, how many more people go there now. Glad you found amazake! It was on my to-drink list but I wasn't sure where to find it. Grated ginger sounds good, that sounds like a lovely little place!
I have planned to go to the Tsukiji Market, but I hope it will not be too crowded. I know I don't specifically need to go there to get great food, but I would love to experience it...
It's definitely an experience. It seems it's less busy if you go earlier, and probably a weekday would be quieter than the weekend - but as you can see it's still pretty crowded even during the week.
Last time I was in Tokyo, I didn't get around to visiting Tsukiji. This winter I'll be rectifying that grave error... :D
Somehow it was my first time too! Phil's been before when he woke up early with jetlag. For some reason I never thought morning markets would be interesting places to go. But: all the yummy snacks! 🏆
That food all looked delicious. Thanks for the tour. May I ask how you communicate with the people who sell the food? Do you speak Japanese? Do they speak English? A bit of both? Is there lots of pointing to things? Laughter when there is miscommunication?
In touristy places, most people there speak a little English. I speak basic Japanese, but even if you don't, you can get a long way with smiling, pointing, gestures and a good old "Arigatou!".
Fishcakes with Faces
😝😝😝
i just had a hot drink its called tea
gosh I bet the fish is absolutely incredible
The freshest! Although compared to the UK, it's pretty good anywhere in Japan.
@@cakeswithfaces hehe yea I bet!
Is this a good place to go at night?
No, there'd be nothing open! The stalls open early morning and close early or mid afternoon.
japanese people have a lot of patience stand outside queing for ages
what month was this, when you went? I see big coats.
End of Feb. There were some chilly days at the start, but by the end of the two weeks I was in t-shirts. Even the coat days were warmer than the UK at that time of year though.
i feel like i have jet lag when i get out of bed and i was not even getting off a plane.
Congrats for the video! Could u make a vídeo taking abou the whole "fukushima water" impact on seafood in japan?
Thanks! I would if I knew much about it - I'll leave that to the experts! :-)
hmmm,... you might enjoy the fish market in Aomori City. I think that the fish there is better than in Tsukuji ...
I'll always be checking out the local market when I visit a new town in Japan now!
It's so crowded that I can't believe it was during the COVID pandemic. 😂
Yes it was very crowded! Even in February, there was a noticeable difference to the response to covid in Japan and outside Japan.
@@cakeswithfaces
Thank you for reply.
When there were a lot of infected people, Tsukiji was incredibly empty. 😓
@@あいうえお-o6s1f It must have been strange to see Tokyo like that.
@@cakeswithfaces
Yes.
I felt like I was having a bad dream. 😓
Amazake is like Turkish SALEP I think:)
I haven't tried that - I don't know much Turkish food tbh!
You read あん as めん I think you read tsubuan as tsubumen
Ah yes, oops! Easy to get those two mixed up! I should have checked it 🙈
I've probably already said this in one of your videos but I don't get why would raw fish taste good?? Am I being like one of those people who don't like the taste of water???
Have you tried it?
@@cakeswithfaces don't like fish
@@primokarmasilver In that case, raw fish probably isn't for you!
My tuna is in a can so is my salmon
john lennon blasphemed against God thus his life ended.
been to this place once and never going back. Perhaps to see what all the hype is about. But then again, it's just hype. Worst experience to waste time in Japan if you ask me. Crowded, overpriced vendors, and poor quality. I can't believe I paid $25 for some beef that claims to be top quality. It tastes worse than a $5 steak. I didn't realize how damn expensive I paid for it until I went to Shinjuku and had one of the best all you can eat Izakaya with top quality meat for $30 per person. Avoid this place like the plague if you are traveling to Japan on a time crunch. Not worth my time.
Sorry to hear that - it has become increasingly crowded and touristy over time. Don't be put off going to fish markets in other towns though - especially less famous ones are excellent!
That was a big crab outside that restaurant must be due to the radiation in the sea