Tokyo: The Tsukiji Outer Market in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, a renowned destination for food enthusiasts and international visitors, has made an unusual plea this month. It has requested tour operators to avoid bringing tourists to the market towards the year-end to prevent potential issues.
According to Philippines News Agency, this request arises from past dangerous situations during the year-end when the market, adjacent to the now-closed Tsukiji wholesale food market, became so congested with tourists that injuries were reported. The Tsukiji Food Town Development Council, a nonprofit organization linked to the outer market, has displayed a poster from December 1 at its information center. The poster advises against eating while walking and discourages guided tours, aiming to ensure that shoppers searching for food items for year-end and New Year celebrations can visit the market comfortably.
Post the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of visitors to the outer market has been on the rise. Overcrowding has led people to obstruct vehicular traffic by stepping onto the roads, and littering from street eating has become a significant concern. A commercial food buyer remarked that shopping at Tsukiji during this season is increasingly time-consuming and challenging.
In contrast, the Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai tourist facility, adjacent to the Toyosu wholesale food market in Koto Ward, Tokyo, is inviting tourists during the year-end and New Year festivities. Opened in February 2024, the facility replicates an Edo period (1603-1868) streetscape, featuring approximately 70 shops and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy casual gourmet dishes prepared with fish and fruits by professionals at the Toyosu market.
Mizucho Suisan, managing the barbecued seafood restaurant Isaribi at the facility, extends an invitation to tourists to taste its seafood, emphasizing freshness and generous servings. Additionally, the Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai facility offers a bathing area with an open-air bath overlooking Tokyo Bay. Manyo Club Co., the operator of the bathing facility, expressed hope that visitors will enjoy Toyosu's unique gourmet experience and have an enjoyable time.
