Finally today we got to go to the famous Tsukiji fish market!  We didn't go until later in the afternoon around 2:00pm.  Most of the action like the tuna auction happen early in the morning.  It is a different experience going later in the day.  A lot of the shopkeepers have time to chat with you.


We started with some grilled unagi.  Right is the regular meat, left is the guts.


We found this guy's stall with tons of fresh oysters, crab, and sea urchin.










We ordered up some oysters and he grilled them right there for us.










This one was my favorite.  So juicy and tastes like the sea but combined with a light but delicious umami-ness.



Yes that is what it looks like.  Live sea urchin!

Check out this video:





Another stand sold these little balloons filled with flavored tofu.  You buy one and he brings you out a bowl and then you pop the balloon and eat the goodness inside.



Here's a popped one.  Wasabi added.


This shopkeeper sold other stuff as well.  There were several different grades of karasumi.  We bought some of the most prized (and expensive) one and prepared it with pasta a couple days later.

The shopkeeper at this place was so nice.  He brought out a few plastic crates for us to sit down on and even grabbed some glasses and a couple of beers out of his fridge and shared them while we chatted with him for an hour or so.

He was an older guy and had a lot of great advice including:

"The best uni is from Rebun Island near Hokkaido."

"Don't go to restaurants in Japan that give out fliers" (A universal truth perhaps?)

"Try to make one great memory a day every day of your life."