Tokyo’s World-Famous Tsukiji Fish Market Closes After 83 Years
By Ryan General
A world-famous fish market in
Tsukiji Market, considered as the largest wholesale seafood market in the world, held its final day of business on Saturday before closing for the scheduled move to a new site next week.
First constructed in 1935, the market/tourist attraction situated between Ginza and the Sumida River, was forced to relocate after the Japanese government decided to move the market to Toyosu, which is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) away.
Loyal customers were joined by throngs of foreign visitors as they bade farewell to Tsukiji Market on its last day, according to Soranews24.
Even on its final day, the atmosphere that made the market so popular was captured in the images that visitors later posted on social media.
The market sprung to life with activity at around 3 a.m. as goods were transported around the facility even before the break of dawn.
A larger than usual crowd of spectators and photographers witnessed how fishmongers did their routine inspections of samples in preparation for the momentous last auctions.
Soon people were lining up at the market’s restaurants along Uogashi Yokocho to have a taste of the freshly caught fish.
While it was business as usual throughout the morning, the mood shifted to a more somber tone as the market drew to a close around noon.
Traders and stall owners bade their farewells to the market which, for many of them, has helped them earn a living for decades.
Some of them remained positive in keeping their customers as they move their businesses to Toyosu. Others, however, decided to give up their trade and close shop entirely.
The new site, which is set to open for business on October 11 (and to tourists on October 13), will be an indoor facility which is a departure from the open-air style of Tsukiji Market.
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