From Tsukiji to Odaiba: Tsukiji and Around

One word sums it all. くっそ (kuso)! No internet connection at my apartment because there's not free port. Didn't expect such a thing to happen in Japan. But of course, there's an alternative: go for fibre optics... Yeah, if only it doesn't cost 3 times as much as ADSL. Out of the question.

Yet, there's still another way. 0 yen wi-fi in my kitchen. The only thing is that I need to keep the door slightly opened in order to catch the weak signal. But, what can I say? It's free, hah! Anyway, there's not much time for surfing at all. Better this way, I guess. Saves money, and no waste of time.

Well, just to upload some photos taken more than a month ago, when I was crazy enough to set off for Tsukiji by the last train, catching a short nap in a 24-hour restaurant, and walk all the way to Odaiba.

築地, tsukiji
(The following photos are not posted in the order they were taken because I was basically wandering here and there, not sure of where to go at first.)

The biggest seafood wholesale market in the world. Auction starts as early as 5 in the morning. But, activities start long before that. This photo was taken at 0:27am.

The place is not officially opened to the public... Because there were various incidents where curious got rammed by motorized carts like this one here.

Tsukiji is also said to be the best destination for sushi. But for people with an untrained tongue like me, there's no way of telling good sushi from bad sushi.

This is also where you get fresh seafood at bargain prices.

Not affordable for poor ryugakusei like me, though. There were also frozen tunas which resembled torpedoes. Didn't get any photo on that, unfortunately.

Eating by the roadside, it feels almost like the hawker stalls in Penang.

At present, they're talking about relocating the fish market to a new place. But the proposal is being heavily protested by the traders.

築地本願寺, Tsukiji Hongan-ji

An Indian-styled Buddhist temple located right opposite the Tsukiji Station.

The temple was rebuilt in Tsukiji after its predecessor in Asakusa was burnt down in a fire.

Random shot 01.

Random shot 02.

佃島, Tsukudashima
A diversion from Tsukiji, across Sumida River. "... the area has a history stretching back to 1613 when a group of Osaka fishermen were settled on the island by the shogun. In addition to providing food for the castle, the fishermen where expected to report on any suspicious comings and goings in the bay."

The view by Sumida River, at 5am, before dawn.

Dawn, in Tsukudashima.

Sunrise.

Random shot 01.

Random shot 02.

Random shot 03.

More photos coming up in: From Tsukiji to Odaiba: Bayside Tokyo and Rainbow Bridge.

- March 13, 2007, Tuesday -