One of the best ways to relate the largess of the Japanese seafood diet is to relate to the students the parallels we see in America regarding meat and poultry products. If you have ever see a slaughterhouse to market place process in the American food industry, you see the same passion and cultural richness near our doorsteps. I always wanted to see a live Texas cattle option, and the Tuna auction parallels that in a more intimate circle (fishermen in fish slime smocks, sushi buyers with huge wads of cash [quarter million+ on hand] and gawking tourist trying to make sense). If you just see the variety, and me as a fish lover, and the size and prices, you cannot be near seafood heaven.
While sushi/sashimi lovers would love to eat on the spot, the surrounding blocks offer fresh sushi restaurants opening around 6AM! The decision you have to make is, can I really eat all this fish this early in the morning...After all, it is dinnertime back in the USA.... But if you don't like fish, the "brunch" that locals are eating up to 10AM is actually lunch/dinner for many workers offer a variety of dishes nearby such as rice bowls, noodles, and even curry. My really personal inner pain began to grow on my last visit, when I realized on my last day in Japan, I could not take any of the fresh fish home.... Damn the agricultural inspections.... I remember as a kid, my grandmother visiting me here in LA brought illegal contraband of salmon eggs once... Thank you grandma... To me, this stuff beats Russian caviar any day...
The Tsukiji market is a must see for Tokyo visitors but make sure you wake up early and keep your sense about. First, its early morning. Are you really fully alert and awake??? If not, the fish smells and the lively activity at the market will... I not talking about that rotting seafood smell we often get at not so great seafood departments in American supermarkets... I'm talking about literally tons of fresh seafood in your face. Some rare foods may delight, or for the weak of stomach, scare your appetites. Don't forget to wear waterproof, no fancy shoes. The warehouse floor is covered with ice, water, and fish juice. The walkways are very narrow, but if you stay out of the big-time fish buyers, most stalls are accommodating for pictures and sometimes minor purchases such as dried goods. Lastly, be careful around the non-stop traffic inside the market zone. There are moving scooters, trucks, and hand dollies everywhere, even in the narrow aisles. What got to me was the exhaust fumes in some areas of the dock warehouse areas... The great thing about 6AM travel in the Tsukiji area is that it is not a busy time of day for most of Tokyo, at least not until the morning commute. If you are stuck in fully loaded trains in the morning, you are probably too late for most the activities at the market.
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