We explored Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market and food arcade—some serious tuna, some seriously good sushi, and a photo that made us both laugh.
We started the day with the buzz of the Toyosu fish auction—tuna as big as small cars, forklifts whizzing past, and serious-looking buyers making decisions before most people have had their coffee. It’s a proper working market, but there’s a rhythm to it. Organised chaos. The scale of it had my son wide-eyed for a solid ten minutes.
Then we found the food arcade.
Choosing the Sushi Spot
There are a lot of places to eat around Toyosu. You’ve got your pick of ramen, tempura, and every variation of seafood you can imagine. But we were there for one thing: sushi.
We did a few laps, scoped out the queues, peeked at menus, and finally agreed on a place that felt right—just busy enough to be promising, but not totally swamped.
“Let’s get the one with the tuna that looks like it’s flexing,” he said. Solid logic, and it worked out.
Tuna, Tekka Maki, and That Look
The set we picked was perfect. Classic selection—fatty tuna, lean tuna, and tekka maki. Everything fresh, buttery, and gone way too fast.
I went in for a serious taste test. He just grabbed a piece and went, “This is the best fish I’ve ever had,” mouth half full.
Later, we took that photo in front of the tuna display—me grinning, him pulling a face like he was being eaten alive. Classic.
Why Toyosu’s Worth It
Some people will say Tsukiji was better. Maybe. But Toyosu has its own vibe—cleaner, modern, and still full of life. The food arcade gives you access to world-class sushi, without the pressure of booking weeks in advance.
For us, it was just about having a proper day out. Learning a bit. Laughing a lot. And ending it all with fish that melts in your mouth.
Final Thought
No souvenirs, no shopping bags. Just a full stomach, a fun photo, and a memory that still makes both of us smile.
“We should eat sushi like that every Friday,” he said on the train back.
Honestly, I’m tempted.