Tsukiji Market (築地市場) and Daiwa (大和) - Tokyo

Everyone says to get to Tsukiji early to see the action, as the market opens around 5am. It's also convenient if you're jetlagged to get up early anyway for a breakfast of champions. We planned to get there around 6, but per usual, I took the lead to ensure our fashionably late arrival. It worked out well, since we got there around 10 and the crowds had already started to dissipate. Some scenes from my favorite market in the world:


Ambrosia from the gods, Tokyo edition. (Photo courtesy of D)


Behind the scenes (Photo courtesy of D)


Would love to mount this one on a wall. That is one brazen indicative-dead-fish-eyeball. 


Taken from outside the auction area





大和 - Daiwa

One of the most well-known sushi restaurants in Tsukiji is Daiwa. Located in the small streets outside the market, it is pretty easy to spot from afar, given its menacing wraparound queue.


A tight squeeze!




We went with the omakase, which comes with 7 pieces and 1 roll. It soon becomes obvious that the main focus here is the fish - all very fresh and good; the rice is nothing to speak of. Though they score high in the flavor department, the pieces are rather roughly cut and sloppily assembled. My favorites were the uni and the soft, delicate anago.

I absolutely despise waiting for food, and we ended up waiting around an hour before we got our seats. Was the rigmarole worth it? Absolutely. If a restaurant had to embody the frenetic pace and rubber-necking of Tsukiji, this would be it. 

大和 - Daiwa Sushi
5-2-1 Tsukiji
Chuo-ku
Tokyo, Japan