This is a nice place to go to watch the market people working. I was surprised to see “no photos” at at least one booth, which I really don’t understand. Not every one had this sign up. The smell of seafood is powerful (frankly, I like it!!!) but if you don’t, skip this market. There are a few restaurants that seemed touristy, but also some authentic. I ate in one and found it to be delicious. Note. The market starts closing and cleaning around 5:00p, but it’s also not crowded at all at that time.

We walked through the whole market slowly to make sure we covered every side lane and alley. Take in the sight sound and smell of the sea. Some people just stood in front of stalls to eat sashimi off the table. There is plenty to take in. Avoid Wed as many stores are closed.

Ohmicho Market conjures an image of another large fish market in Japan just like Kuromon Fish Market in Osaka or that of Sydney Fish Market. But it looks more like an indoor wet market within a shopping centre with many stalls selling seafood and fishes. It is not like the Jurong Fishery Port in Singapore where imported fish are ferried in by fishery vessels from neighbouring countries and the retailers came to auction for the best wholesale price. Unlike Sydney Fishery Market, there are not many stalls which operate like restaurants for patrons to order their meals here. But I am equally mesmerized by the diversified type of fishes and seafood here that were catches from the Sea of Japan. There are big crabs and urchins but lobsters seem not many. Instead there are more eels than salmon and tuna. We bought some bento eel rice sets for our lunch and some cheap fried fishes costing only $5.90 and $2.50 respectively and stood around a table to have our 'sumptuous' fish lunch. Fishes are abundant in protein and our lunch is considered cheap. There is a food court and a retail pharmacy at the basement and many seafood restaurants at the 2nd floor. There are also gift and sourvenir shops and other than fish, some stalls sold beef and other edible items. Yet, this market was the biggest fish market in Japan during the Edo era and continued to be one in the present.

If you like fish, Omicho Market has you covered. There are things from the sea for sale here you didn't know existed. There's also some fruit and veg, but mostly seafood. In many Asian fish markets, you can nearly die from the smell, but this is Japan and it's different here. It's worth a visit just to see the enormous variety of fishy things you can eat. You can get street food like eel as well. We also saw a famous Sumo wrestler here, so it must be the place to go.

We went around 1pm Sunday and it wasnt too vusy although some shops were closed, or lower in stock theb in the morning I pressume but still a great visit. We had the gold leaf icecream, I'm a sucker for pretty things at 1,200 yen. Some sea urchin for 800 yen. Some fresh scallops (my fav) for 600 yen. And got a seafood bowl and eel and pickles for I think around 1700 yen from a bigger supermarket style store in the middle. I would recommend

If you are looking for fresh food in their covered market, then this might be the place to find it. If not, be advised it closes early. Some vendors start closing as early as 4pm. Afterwards, there is virtually nothing to see. There might still be one or two restaurants open but you have to wander to find something. If you are stuck for a restaurant because Omicho is closing, there the Kanazawa department store across the street that has a food area in the basement.