Tsukiji fish market

I recently visited the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. It is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and is also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo.

The market handles more than 450 different types of seafood at the markets more than 1,500 stalls. The first market in Tokyo was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period to provide food for Edo castle (now Tokyo). Around $20m dollars of fish and other foodstuffs are bought and sold at the market on trading days. The tuna auctions are a particular attraction and are a series of auctions in various parts of the market. Traders can sometimes be seen closely examining the fish with torches prior to bidding.