Tokyo's New Fish Market Opens, Things Didn't Go Well

Today is the first official day of the Toyosu Market, the new fish market that is replacing the beloved Tsukiji Fish Market. The opening wasn’t exactly smooth.

In September, I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market one last time.

https://lastchance.cc/the-end-of-the-tsukiji-fish-market-1829130272%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

The Tsukiji Fish Market had loads of charm (and loads of rats!), while the Toyosu Market doesn’t

First look at new Toyosu Fish Market 🐟🙌 #tictocnews pic.twitter.com/E0wewKrprf

— Kurumi Mori (@rumireports) October 10, 2018

Old vs. New 🎌#Tsukiji tuna auction (left)
📷 Oct. 6, 2018 #築地市場 #Toyosu tuna auction (right)
📷 Oct. 11, 2018 #豊洲市場

For visitors, a new viewing area behind glass at Toyosu. Still recommend visiting Tsukiji outer market for munching 🐟🐙🍣👌 pic.twitter.com/h0mbFzqxxk

— Kurumi Mori (@rumireports) October 11, 2018

Here’s how it compares to Tsukiji

Has all the charm of a Costco: New #Tokyo fish market opens in Toyosu https://t.co/Gnb87ESS33 pic.twitter.com/I23fJGcGGR

— Tokyotronic (@robotopia) October 10, 2018

Is that really Toyosu? It looks like a hotel conference ballroom 😕

— Vince Yo (@yovinceyo) October 11, 2018

Bloomberg’s Yuji Nakamura has this helpful summary:

Stopped by Tokyo's new fish market in Toyosu:
✨No rats, yet
🙌Easier to see tuna auction
🍣Lotta modern restaurants
🐟Visitors can't buy fresh fish 🙁
🚦Access sucks
🏮Lacks charm (no rats!)
🗓Opens to public Oct 13

Pro tip: Stick to Tsukiji’s outer market which is still open pic.twitter.com/nUXtmbFyEV

— Yuji Nakamura (@ynakamura56) October 11, 2018

That’s right, you cannot buy fresh fish directly from the merchants. (You can follow Nakamura here on Twitter!)

There are some complaints about the new location. For example, visitors will be sectioned off and behind glass

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1050058541426466822

It wasn’t exactly a smooth first day but hopefully, that’s just growing pains.

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1050129078596947968

On the first day of trading at Toyosu:
– turret truck on fire
– sewage backs up
– traffic jams
– no smile
– hot, not cool pic.twitter.com/M1hzX16oMX

— 猫ぐるま (@neko_guruma01) October 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1050288343689310208

Our colleague, formerly an auctioneer at Tsukiji market, is a seafood exporter. He said that Toyosu is a mess. pic.twitter.com/3COfR9fbz6

— 🌾Food Sake Tokyo🍙🌻坂本ゆかり (@YukariSakamoto) October 10, 2018

With fewer roads, access is not good and traffic this morning was a nightmare. For visitors, Toyosu can be accessed by bus or monorail.

Toyosu market just open Today✨👍
So many traffic! Now it’s 5:00am.#toyosu #tokyo #japan pic.twitter.com/vdTLj6IMO9

— Japan Wonder Travel (@JapanWTravel) October 10, 2018

豊洲市場で入荷トラックの大渋滞。このままでは荷が降ろせなく、延着の可能性が大。帰路の予定も中継の予定も立たなくなってしまう。着陸できない飛行機のように空港の上空をグルグル回り続けるしかないのか。バースでもない露天の荷下ろし場すら早い者勝ちの奪い合いに… pic.twitter.com/TNRPGCT208

— 建築エコノミスト森山高至「土建国防論」執筆中 (@mori_arch_econo) October 10, 2018

豊洲市場６街区、４階からのスロープ下は、悲惨なことになっています。 https://t.co/1p7cYM3FsK

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 10, 2018

今朝の豊洲の渋滞状況
これはひどい、、#豊洲市場 pic.twitter.com/t2EgU64PmS

— 山本理恵中央区議会議員 (@yamarie0324) October 11, 2018

The closing of the inner Tsukiji Market was a sad affair

MORE: Not everyone is happy about moving the Tsukiji fish market to Toyosu. While some shop owners have decided to relocate to the new site, others have chosen to close down pic.twitter.com/CZNFQZwS66

— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) October 6, 2018

Wider repercussions from the #Tsukiji Market move to Toyosu: our local fishmonger closed its doors on Saturday after bringing fresh fish from Tsukiji to our neighbourhood for decades. Enjoyed a final meal of their famed sashimi with friends on their last day 😢#築地 #築地移動 pic.twitter.com/CPdCtjfYUr

— Oona McGee 🇯🇵🇮🇪🇦🇺 (@OonaMcGee) October 8, 2018

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1050259220711530496

Some Tsukiji inner market shops are not leaving in protest

Shops that have refused to relocate to Toyosu ar continuing their business as usual at Tsukiji. Fans are shopping around and helping the shops survive the ordeal. https://t.co/H8P4HNw0p4

— 猫ぐるま (@neko_guruma01) October 11, 2018

Prof. Kumamoto protests against Tokyo officials who order shops to stop their buisness at Tsukiji. He says, "Their order is illegal, no need to accept it. The shops have a right to continue business here." https://t.co/Rin4JB9L4H

— 猫ぐるま (@neko_guruma01) October 11, 2018

Starting this Saturday, Toyosu shops and restaurants will be open to the general public and visitors can watch auctions from Monday.

Tokyo's new Toyosu fish market opens: Public tours to begin Saturday https://t.co/sy2AtmNvmz #foodies #japanese #food #japan #cuisine #washoku #和食 #ftj #foodtoursjapan #tokyo #東京 pic.twitter.com/KjmmOvAOu1

— Food Tours Japan (@FoodToursJapan) October 11, 2018