Tsukiji To Temporarily Close Tuna Auction Area To The Publicff
8 April 2010
Japan Source: The Mainichi Daily News
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced it will temporarily close Tsukiji Market's tuna auction site to the public from today, Thursday, citing the increasing number of visitors affecting the market's operations.
Tsukiji Market in Chuo Ward, a Metropolitan Central Wholesale market, is well known for its tuna auction site, which has become one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan. More visitors have been flocking to the auction site's observation area since the end of March, with over 500 waiting in a long line on Monday.
In a bid to secure the area's safety and keep the market's operations from being disrupted by the scores of visitors, the metropolitan government has decided to close the observation area to the public for a month from today, Thursday, to May 8. This is the first time that the tuna auction observation area will be closed to visitors except during the year-end and New Year holiday seasons over the past two years.
According to the metropolitan government, foreign tourists account for more than 90 percent of visitors to the tuna auction site. Many Tsukiji Market officials have been concerned about foreign visitors' bad manners, such as touching fish.
The tuna auction observation area will open again from May 10. The market will be closed on May 9.
Tourists watching a tuna auction at Tsukiji Market
