It is the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. Of course, it is most famous for tuna carcasses weighing over 300 kilograms but the market handles more than 400 different types of seafood. From seaweed to caviar, and from the tiniest of sardines to whale, you can find it here.

Tsukiji Market is one of the most visited places in Tokyo but, despite tourists, this working mans enclave retains its grittiness.

Men on bicycles and forklifts, or on foot, move 700 metric tons of seafood annually, creating a chaos that appears almost choreographed.

These guys seem pretty cranky and annoyed, and it’s no wonder given that part of their job description is to not take out any tourists. All in all, they are pretty tolerant even if they have to resist the occasional urge to mow down an underfoot tourist with a forklift.

I like the outer market, known as the Jogai Shijo, or Japan’s “Food Town.” Here you will encounter all of Japan’s traditional foods. A mixture of wholesale and retail shops line the narrow streets, along with numerous restaurants and food stalls.

For breakfast, I ate a raw oyster, shucked right in front of me and splashed with a little Ponzu, a huge scallop still in the shell that was pulled off a little grill and cut up to order. I also ate a piece of dried octopus and would have washed it down with sake if there was any to be found.

Breakfast of champions.