After watching the tuna auctions, it’s on to the main area. The time is 6:00am, but that doesn’t stop people from lining up. Weekends even see line-ups forming before shops open. What attract people to Tsukiji’s sushi are the price and the freshness. For a third to a quarter of what you would pay for sushi at one of Ginza’s sushi restaurants, you can eat good quality sushi at Tsukiji.

There are two Daiwa Sushi restaurants lined side-by-side. The one on the left is run by the store’s boss, and the one on the right by the boss’s son. Today, the son’s restaurant was not full with customers, so we went inside.

Daiwa Sushi’s front

We were asked if we wanted the “chef’s selection” set, or if we wanted to choose our own sushi, so we picked the chef’s selection. (7 pieces of sushi, 1 sushi roll, 1 omelet, 1 shijimi clam miso soup)

Inside the restaurant

First served are tuna (fat under-belly), and golden cuttlefish.
The tuna’s reddish pink color gradation is extremely appealing, and the melt-in-your-mouth sensation is out of this world. The cuttlefish is in no ways inferior, with its unique texture and sweetness.

Every piece of sushi is dipped in soy sauce, with a stronger sweetness to bring out the flavour of the topping. You will want to enjoy both the flavour and texture of whatever topping comes next.

Golden cuttlefish and tuna

Next to be served is the sushi roll

Sea urchin from Rebun, Hokkaido prefecture is the most famous. Piled up high enough to almost fall off, the softness and density of this delicacy is the best.

Sea urchin and omelette

The plump meaty conger eel melts in your mouth. On the left is rudderfish

Japanese tiger prawn and tuna (medium fat)

Horse mackerel and red clam ordered on the side

The horse mackerel is in season it is said to become even tastier

Red clam, a piece of art

There were many foreign customers who were doing their best communicating with gestures.
It is inevitable to have to line up on the weekend, so we recommend going early on a weekday.

Restaurant name: Daiwa Sushi (大和寿司)
Telephone: 03-3547-6807
Address: Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 5-2-1 Tsukiji wholesale market building 6
Access: Eight minute walk from Tsukiji station
Hours of operation: 5:30am – 1:30pm
Holidays: Sundays, national holidays (may be closed corresponding with the Tsukiji market)