This photo shows the site of the former Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo on June 15, 2020. The site of Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish market, left empty after it was razed six years ago, will be replaced by a scenic waterfront stadium and glistening skyscrapers according to plans for its redevelopment that are facing some staunch opposition. FILE - Wholesalers perform a ritual hand-clapping for the first auction of fresh tuna fish of the year at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, Jan. 5, 2018.
The plans include office buildings, event spaces, greenery and residential areas, hotels and a biotechnology research center. Also, plenty of places to shop and eat out. The city-owned land beside the Sumida River is within walking distance of the glitzy downtown Ginza and across a small bridge from Hamarikyu, a traditional Japanese garden with sculpted pine trees, a small forest and a tea house.
“Tsukiji is a special place for Tokyo. It’s so close to downtown, yet it’s surrounded by waterways and greenery,” said city hall official Takuo Takano. “It will become the face of Tokyo,” Takano told The Associated Press.