Tsukiji Fish Market

This morning I went to the Tokyo Fish Market, reportedly the biggest fish market in the world. I got there by 7am, where they were beginning to wrap up (yes, they actually start at 4am!). It was in a big hangar / garage, and there was fish & sea creatures as far as the eye could see. Octopi, squid, tuna, dolphins, crab, eel, clams - you name it.

The atmosphere was complete chaos, While navigating between the isles, you had to watch out for these strollers / motorized carts, which either carried piles of fish or nothing (on their way out). There was no particular order of who is turning where, and they were constantly very close to hitting pedestrians or each other with no intention of stopping. It was sort of what you would expect from a market in Vietnam.

They seemed to dislike tourists here. Hey we get in the way, take too many pictures (guilty) and don't buy anything. There were several signs (in proper English) like "Don't touch the fish unless you are buying, it is a Japanese custom, and you should follow our customs in Japan".

Hmmm what's up with u silly westerners? Why the hell would u touch the fish? To see if it's real?