Originally Posted by
shuigao
As a self-proclaimed foodie I totally enjoyed browsing the inner market. Wife and I spent close to two hours just walking around gawking at all the huge kuruma-ebi, chunks of tuna, etc.
But ... waking up at 3am to take a taxi to queue for the tuna auction, that is the most overrated thing ever. I'd recommend to just skip that and watch a youtube video
Tsukiji is great the morning after you arrive from the US and inevitably wake up at 4am. Skip the auction and "big two" sushi restaurants, grab a coffee and a few onigiri and just wander around the outer market. Shake off the jet lag a bit and then start your day.
Very few tourists if you get a few rows away from Sushi Dai and Daiwa. Better food too (IMO) and you don't have to stand in line.
That's my routine anyways. YMMV.