The Tsukiji Outer Markets are open from 5am and close down around 1-2 pm on weekdays. They are a fun place to visit with small kids in baby carriers and for children who are adventurous eaters. Many teens love visiting here too – just to watch how food is prepared and different kinds of dishes.
Just be prepared for lots of tourists –it’s very very touristy. It is crowded and it’s not crowded with locals – pretty much all tourists.
It is fun so I recommend going if your family are foodies and want to try lots of different food items.
Please note that the operational days and times for Tsukiji are subject to change (especially around the holidays in Japan.)
Please ask your hotel to confirm the days that they are open before venturing out that way.
Tsukiji Outer Market is not just fish (but mostly is) – if it’s a bit too much for your children then there is the Uogashi Shokudo Food Court attached to the market lanes. There are options here like tempura, rice dishes, ramen and curry rice.
Another tip for kids that don’t love seafood… order tamagomaki (it’s cooked egg, like a rolled omelette, and at many places here, is served on a stick.) It’s really good.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU TO TSUKIJI MARKET WITH KIDS
– No stroller (too busy)
-A baby carrier for babies
– Cash (majority of the food stalls are cash only)
-An empty plastic bag so you can take your own rubbish home (not many rubbish bins around)
-Some paper plates if you think you’ll buy lots of things to share as a family and eat in the seating areas
-A small bottle of soy sauce (if you like soy sauce with your sushi and sashimi and you plan to eat your treats in the seating areas.)
– Clothing to that will help keep you cool in summer or warm in winter as almost all of the market is outdoors
Etiquette tip to share with kids: When eating at food stalls or food trucks in Japan, walking and eating is considered to not be polite. Wherever you buy food there will be a place to stand (usually just next to the shop) or a few chairs to sit. The food is designed to be enjoyed while standing still. Will you be arrested or anything for eating and walking? No. Is it considered impolite. These days I see more Japanese young people walking and drinking coffees. Food is still pretty much a no-go while on the move though. The idea it that you stop and take in the flavours and then keep moving.
It also eliminates the lack of rubbish bins around problem as the store will accept their own rubbish back once you have finished eating too.
Did you know that Tsukiji Outer Markets are not that far from Team Lab Planets (35 mins on foot, 10 mins / approx 1500 yen or 14 mins by bus)? You could make a reservation and pair them together. Another option? Visiting the Tsukiji Outer Market and then taking part in the afternoon session at Kidzania (10 mins / 1500 yen by cab or 25 mins on foot + subway)
Another option is visiting Ginza with kids (6 mins by bus, 12 mins on foot, 7 mins / approx 700 yen in a cab)
A few Aussie readers have told me that they have had issues booking Team Lab Planets directly from the official website with their credit cards. If you have no other credit cards to use, I can also recommend booking Team Lab Planets via Klook here. Please note that this is an affiliate link (this means that I make a small commission if you make a purchase -at no additional cost to you.)
A little side note: if you wanted to try wagyu with kids without having the pressure (or cost) of sitting in a restaurant, Tsukiji Outer Market sells 2000 yen wagyu beef skewers. See here for other places to eat Kobe Beef or Wagyu with kids. There is another Wagyu option below under the title “Gluten free options at Tsukiji Market.”
For a sweet treat or snack in Tsukiji Outer Market, I recommend Strawberry Mania . This stall sells mochi with the fresh strawberry in the middle, They also serve soft-serve ice-cream with a fresh strawberry on top.
STRAWBERRY MANIA
4-11-9 TSUKIJI, CHUO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 7AM-3PM
Gluten free options at Tsukiji Market:
-Plain seafood (raw or cooked) is, of course, easiest.
-Enikaiti Mochi. There are 3 gluten free options – one of them is chocolate mochi! (ask for their allergen free menu and use google translate.)
–Oideya – Seafood & Wagyu BBQ stall /mini-restaurant. (Cash only.) Open 8:30am-5pm. Closed Wednesdays. Meat is cooked right in front of you and marinades are served like condiments so you can opt for none.
–Fruits Matcha Mt Fuji is 6 mins walk from Tsukiji Station and they serve gluten free fluffy pancakes
Incredible Tempura and Tempura-Don at Tsukiji Market
I adore Tempura Kurokawa. It is just like a small restaurant with a small counter and a couple of tables and their tempura is completely amazing. They welcome children. The space is non-smoking. They do accept most major credit cards. This restaurant is 7 mins walk from Exits 1 or 2 of Tsukiji Station. Budget for lunch is 2000 yen but more like 8000 yen at dinner time.
The exterior looks like this.
TEMPURA KUROKAWA, TSUKIJI
中央区築地6-21-8
6-21-8 TSUKIJI, CHUO-KU
OPEN MON-SAT 9AM-1PM & 4PM-7PM (YOU WILL NEED A RESERVATION TO DINE HERE FROM 4PM ONWARDS)
CLOSED SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
A sit-down sushi and izakaya restaurant that has been running for more than 100 years!
A lovely sushi restaurant just 1 min from Tsukiji Station is Tsukiji Tamazushi Honten.
They welcome children here. This restaurant can also cater to gluten-free diners. Please be sure to let them know ahead of time if you are gluten free. They specialize in sushi, seafood bowls (seafood over rice) and some general izakaya style food options (designed to be shared.) The vibes here are casual, cozy and yummy. This restaurant has been in operation for more than 100 years!
Please budget for 2000 yen per adult at lunch time and 6000 yen at dinner time. See pictures of the menu options here.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking. This is also a great place for adults in the family to try different types of sake.
TSUKIJI TAMAZUSHI HONTEN
中央区築地1-9-4
1-9-4 TSUKIJI, CHUO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-3PM & 5PM-10PM (FROM 11AM-10PM ON SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS)
An INCREDIBLE matcha latte
Just 3 mins walk from Tsukiji Station is Matcha Stand Maruni. Their matcha latter is to die for. Please note that this store is closed on Wednesdays. They accept most major credit cards.
MATCHA STAND MARUNI
中央区築地4-14-18 江戸市ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR EDO-SHI BUILDING, 4-14-18 TSUKIJI, CHUO-KU
OPEN 8AM-4PM (FROM 9AM-3PM ON SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS)
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS
513 Bakery ( 3 mins walk from Tsukiji Station)
This is the cutest little Japanese bakery. They accept most major credit cards. See some examples of their bakery goods on their instagram account here.
513 BAKERY
中央区築地2-11-4 フェニックスビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, PHOENIX BUILDING, TSUKIJI
OPEN 10AM-7:30PM
CLOSED SUNDAYS
Starbucks Higashi-Ginza Store (8 mins walk from Tsukiji Station)
I don’t normally recommend too many Starbucks options but I like the outdoor seating section here with kids. There is space for kids to not have to sit still and run around a little bit.
STARBUCKS, HIGASHI-GINZA STORE
中央区 銀座5-15-8 時事通信ビル
5-15-8 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 7AM-9PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 8AM-8PM
Where to change baby near here:
Tsukiji Fish Coast Haifu Bridge Building ( Ground Floor)
Tsukiji Fish Coast Odawara Bridge Building (Ground Floor)
There is a change table at the pancake diner chain called Jonathans, Tsukiji Store.
In summer, there is also a splash pad for small children near here.
Toyosu Park Splash Pad
During Summer, there is also a splash pad for children aged elementary school 2nd grade aged and younger.
It is 7 minutes walk away from the DMM Planets exhibition ( details here.)
Only toilet trained children allowed ( no swimming nappies.)
Children must wear swimsuits.
TOYOSU PARK SPLASH PAD
2-3-6 TOYOSU, KOTO-KU
JULY 2- SEPT 9, 2019 OPEN 10AM – 4PM
CLOSED MONDAYS
Where to shop and eat at a kid-friendly western restaurant nearby?
Or if you’re looking for a shopping mall with eateries and lots to buy – try Lalaport Toyosu (a huge department store). It has a food court with ramen, curry, hamburger spots, KFC, freshness burger, Ben & Jerrys etc.
My kids love to eat at Aloha Table inside of LaLaport Shopping Mall. It is just two minutes walk from Team Lab Planets ( there’s also a big playground in between). They love the kids menu – mostly the pancakes with the chocolate pen for decorating.All kids’ meals come with a small toy and, if it’s your birthday the staff will come out and sing.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards, is entirely non-smoking and also has outdoor seating. They also have space for strollers. It is possible to make a reservation but we have always just walked in.
The full Aloha Table menu is here.
ALOHA TABLE, TOYOSU
豊洲2-2-1 アーバンドックららぽーと豊洲3 1F
GROUND FLOOR, URBAN DOCK LALAPORT TOYOSU 3, 2-2-1 TOYOSU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-1oPM
A playground near Tsukiji Outer Market?
Chuo Kuritsu Akasaki Park is 10 mins walk from the Tsukiji Outer Markets or 4 mins walk from Tsukiji Station. It is also 9 mins (approx 1,600 yen) in a cab from Team Lab Planets.
This park is very much an inner city park but has space to play, swings (including those bucket swings that also work for babies) a tyre playground and a flying fox. There are public toilets here and there is also a fountain.
A western-style breakfast spot?
If you are keen to eat at Denny’s Japan for breakfast, the Denny’s Tsukiji is 2 mins walk from Tsukiji Station.
Denny’s Japan (note, not the same as Denny’s in the US.)
Open from 6:45am -11pm. Please note that there are “smoking sections” of the restaurant on weekdays.
They have a low common allergens menu. There is a change table in the toilets here. No bookings. Walk-in only. They accept most major credit cards.
See the full Denny’s Japan menu here. Please note, if you are vegan, that Denny’s in Japan do have a zero meat hamburger steak (like a vegan rissole – for the fellow aussies.)
This is us ordering on the Denny’s ipad at our table.
