Japan day 5: Tokyo (Chiyoda and Chuo)

The Tsukiji Fish Market is one of the biggest fish and seafood markets in the world. It occupies so much prime land that it will be relocated outside central Tokyo in 2014.

We decided to skip the famous tuna auctions, for which we would have had to be at Tsukiji as early as 4:30 a.m. in order to be among the 120 visitors allowed every day. Instead, we went to the Outdoor Market at 8 to visit the numerous stalls selling everything from foodstuff to knives.

By then it was time for breakfast. We passed by queues of tourists having to wait for at least an hour outside the two sushi places recommended in almost every guidebook in existence on our way to Nakaya. This place specializes in donburi, a rice bowl topped with sashimi.

Only locals at the counter, which was a good sign...

and the lady in charge didn't speak English, another good sign. We pointed at our menu choices and food prep began...

and five minutes later our trays were placed in front of us.

After this delicious (and very fishy) breakfast, we were ready to visit the Seafood Wholesale area, which had opened to the visitors at 9a.m.

Next stop, the Tokyo Imperial Palace. 

 After an information video in Japanese...

the tour began will all the visitors marching in a double-file behind the policeman/guide

Charming bridge, which was actually the best part of the tour

 

Our policeman/guide in front of the main pavilion...

and some important guy leaving after an Imperial audience

We also had a permit to visit the East Gardens, but were discouraged by the rain.

For our last afternoon in Tokyo, we had planned to visit the Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Park. The heavy rain modified all these plans. We stopped by our hotel room to change into dry clothes, then went shopping around Nihonbashi and Tokyo Station, before meeting some friends for dinner in Marunouchi (next post).