While these photos show the incredible inner market pre-2018 (before it moved to Toyosu), the outer market is still very much alive and worth visiting. The inner market was something special - that controlled chaos of tuna auctions, workers zipping around on turret trucks, and the freshest sushi you could imagine. Those early morning visits watching the auctions were a unique piece of Tokyo history.

Today, while the wholesale operations have moved to Toyosu, the outer market keeps that traditional atmosphere alive. The narrow alleys are still packed with vendors selling everything from fresh seafood to specialty knives, dried bonito, and Japanese pickles. The restaurant queues might be shorter now, but the quality and energy remain.

For anyone visiting now: while you can't experience the inner market's controlled mayhem anymore, the outer market still offers that authentic slice of Tokyo's food culture. Plus, many of the legendary sushi spots and food stalls that made the area famous are still serving up incredible meals.