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include Pacific bluefin, bigeye and
yellow fin. If you’re uncomfortable with
the subject of tuna fishing, you may
wish to avoid the 4.15am auction and
explore the market’s main warehouse
— an area no less exciting — instead,
where you’ll find an enormous variety
of seafood, fruit and vegetables.
Although I spent a good few hours
walking through the main warehouse,
it felt like there was no end to the
place — it is, after all, about twice
the size of Yankee Stadium. The
enormous facility was crowded with
workers pushing carts loaded with fresh
produce, motorized trolleys racing by
transporting recently bought goods,
and hordes of workers going about their
various daily duties, which included
cutting the larger fish down to size.
As you make your way through the
warehouse, which is curiously bereft
of fishy odors, you’ll likely stumble
across more auctions, usually of
smaller fish and other seafood. It’s
a photographer’s paradise, and one
of the delights of the place is that it’s
not crowded with tourists unlike its
Tokyo counterpart, Tsukiji. On the day I
visited, I saw only two other visitors the
whole time I was there. Perhaps it’s just
too early for some people.
Even better, at the time of writing,
there are no restricted areas at the
Osaka Central Wholesale Market. In
contrast, Tsukiji has so many tourists
turning up and occasionally getting in
the way that officials have been forced
to make some areas off-limits to visitors.
So long as visitors to Osaka’s market
show the workers respect by giving
them the space to carry out their duties,
no restrictive rules will be necessary.
Admire their skill and dedication, revel
in the uniquely vibrant atmosphere and
you’ll gain a fascinating insight into
the hard work that goes into ensuring
Osaka retains its deserved reputation as
the food capital of Japan.
Cebu Pacific flies to Osaka from Manila.
www.cebupacificair.com
Join the action at the Osaka Central Wholesale Market
GOING,GOING,GONE
You’ll find the market after a 10-minute walk from JR Noda station; though to catch the 4.15am tuna
auction, you’ll need to take a taxi from your hotel as there’ll be no trains running at that time. The
auction takes place in the east building on the first floor, inside the main warehouse.
www.osaka-
info.jp/en/search/detail/course_45.html
09LKH Smile
Ser 4
The main warehouse features
an abundance of seafood,
fruits and vegetables.
068-075 Feature 4 - Osaka.indd 75
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