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Hakuba Photos
Tokyo • Tsukiji Fish Market
•
Photographic Memories - A Sea of Umbrellas
in Shinjuku Day 3
Tsukiji Fish
A 4.30am start sees bleary eyed early morning
visitors arrive at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market
equipped with an assortment of cameras and eager

Market
to capture a moment in the daily working processes
of a tuna auction.

There is a strict rule in place which is never broken.

Only 120 visitors are allowed access to the morning
market per day. Visitor 121 is turned away.

This gives the market an air of exclusivity. Visitors

who gain access now belong to a special club whose
members are capable of rising at the crack of dawn to
witness the market’s proceedings! Ensuring a sought
after viewing spot means arriving by 4.30am (at the
latest).

Guests are ushered into a small waiting room,

given colour vests indicating the time slot allocated
and a small leaflet explaining the rules.

Chatter and nervous laughter fills the air and a sense

of excitement and anticipation can be felt among the
groups and individuals waiting for their moment to
observe the ins and outs of this market.

It’s an auction. Row upon row of large tuna are

labelled and laid out for would be purchasers to poke,
prod at and observe. The auctioneer takes centre
stage as bidders compete for the best tuna.

25 minutes later and it’s all over. There is a sense of

achievement at having arrived and witnessed
proceedings and visitors are lead away, ushered out
through moving vehicles, boxes and the general
chaos of market life, whilst trying to avoid being run
over by motorised carts. Fish market ‘police’ berate
guests -still trying to capture one last moment- for
taking photographs outside of ‘the safe zone’.

Located in a small hub, visitors have the opportunity

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to totally immerse themselves further by visiting a
sushi bar next to the auction for an early breakfast.

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Fish
 Day 3
A sea of Umbrellas in Shinjuku

TOKYO