Tsukiji Outer Market

Although Tokyo's wholesale fish auctions moved to Toyosu in 2018, the Outer Market in Tsukiji carries on as a dense maze of food shops, small restaurants and specialist suppliers. Wander the lanes for grilled scallops, tamagoyaki omelette on a stick, fresh oysters and bowls of sushi rice topped with sashimi, then browse the shops selling kitchen knives, dried bonito, tea and pottery to restaurant trade and home cooks alike.

Come in the morning, when the market is at its most active; many shops close by early afternoon and some take regular days off, so check the market calendar on the official site before you go. Eat at the stall where you buy, rather than walking with food, and carry some cash for the smaller vendors. Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo Line and Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Line are both about a minute away.