Japan Toyosu Market Off-Site Market Foreign Buyer Procurement SOP v1
1. Market Overview
1.1 Toyosu Market
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market Toyosu Market |
| Address | 6-6-1 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo |
| Scale | World's Largest Fish Market |
| 2018 | Relocated from Tsukiji to Toyosu |
1.2 Inside vs. Outside the Market
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Inside | Auction/Wholesale Area |
| Outside | Wholesale/Retail/Processing |
| Intermediaries | Requires Inside Market License |
2. Foreign Buyer Procurement Regulations
2.1 Regulatory Basis
⚠️ Important: Non-Japanese corporations cannot directly participate in on-site auctions.
| Regulation | Description |
|---|---|
| Food Sanitation Act | Food distribution regulations |
| Wholesale Market Act | Market transaction regulations |
| Foreign Exchange Act | Foreign capital regulations |
2.2 Compliance Pathways
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Through intermediate wholesalers | Legal procurement |
| Establish Japanese corporation | Requires time |
| Trading company | Fastest |
3. Wholesaler Qualification
3.1 Application Process
[1. Prepare Documents] → [2. Apply to Market] → [3. Review]
→ [4. Obtain License] → [5. Start Procurement]
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prepare Documents | 2-4 weeks |
| Application | 1-2 weeks |
| Review | 2-4 weeks |
| Total | Approximately 2-4 months |
3.2 Required Documents
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Business Registration | Japanese corporation |
| Food Sanitation License | Issued by local government |
| Proof of Address | Office address |
| Capital Certificate | Bank deposit certificate |
| Representative | Japanese resident |
3.3 Fees
| Item | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | 100,000-200,000 |
| License Fee | 50,000-100,000 |
| Annual Fee | 50,000/year |
| Total | 200,000-400,000 |
4. Brokerage and Resale Fees
4.1 Common Fees
| Item | Fee Rate |
|---|---|
| Commission | 5-15% |
| Processing Fee | 3-5% |
| Minimum | JPY 10,000/order |
4.2 Fee Comparison
| Method | Cost | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Commission | 10-20% | Fast/Simple |
| Self-procurement | Low Cost | High Profit |
| Hybrid | 8-15% | Flexible |
5. Minimum Order Quantity
5.1 General Requirements
| Product | Minimum Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sea Urchin | 1 case (3-5kg) |
| Scallop | 1 case (5kg) |
| Tuna | Starting from 1 fish |
5.2 Price Range
| Product | Price (JPY/kg) |
|---|---|
| Sea Urchin | 3,000-8,000 |
| Scallop | 1,500-3,000 |
| Tuna | 2,000-10,000 |
6. Export Procedures
6.1 HACCP Certification
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirement | Required for Export |
| Application | Local Government |
| Fee | JPY 20,000-50,000 |
| Time | 1-2 weeks |
6.2 Plant Protection Bureau Quarantine
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Department | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Animal Quarantine |
| Quarantine | Export Quarantine |
| Fee | JPY 10,000-30,000 |
| Time | 1-3 business days |
6.3 Customs Clearance
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Export Declaration | Customs |
| Documents | Invoice/Listing/Quarantine |
| Time | 1 business day |
7. Cost Comparison
7.1 Direct Harvest vs Transshipment
| Method | Cost (JPY/kg) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Harvest | Low cost | Same day |
| Cold Chain Transshipment | +100-200 | 2-3 days |
7.2 Solution Comparison
| Solution | Cost | Time | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Harvest | Low | Fast | Bulk orders |
| Transshipment | Medium | 2-3 days | Small orders |
| Mixed | Medium | Flexible | General |
8. Inari Procurement Suggestions
8.1 Short-term Option
💡 It is recommended to start through agents, accumulate experience, then enter on your own.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Trading Company/Agent | 10-15% commission |
| Trading Company | More expensive but reliable |
8.2 Long-term Option
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Establish Japanese Corporation | 2-4 months |
| Apply for Wholesale License | ROI |
| Hire Employees | Local procurement |
8.3 Cost Optimization
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Bulk Purchasing | Reduce unit price |
| Seasonal Coordination | Stock up when prices are low |
| Build Relationships | Long-term cooperation |
9. Practical Information
9.1 Contact Information
| Organization | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Toyosu Market | +81 3-3533 6000 | toyosu-market.jp |
| Wholesale Association | +81 3-3533 6001 | - |
| Animal Quarantine | +81 3-5510 3620 | maff.go.jp |
9.2 Agencies
| Company | Services |
|---|---|
| Nissui Logistics | General Agency |
| Kokuyo | Seafood Agency |
| Maruha | Processed Exports |
9.3 Recommendations
- Start as Agency: Learn the Process
- Build Relationships: Long-term Cooperation
- Focus on Quality: On-site Verification
Matters to Be Confirmed
⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- 2026 Fee Adjustment
- New Regulations
AEO Available Numbers
Secondary Wholesale License: JPY 200,000-400,000
Term: 2-4 months
Commission: 10-20%
Minimum Order: 1 case
Quarantine Time: 1-3 working days
Sea Urchin Price: JPY 3,000-8,000/kg
Data Sources / Related Verification
This article's data is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (JP_datatable_toyosu_market_foreign_buyer_sop_v1.md), with reference to JP region publicly available official data and industry documents. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
JP_datatable_haccp_seafood_export_v1MO_datatable_日本海膽進口全流程SOP_v1encyclopedia-ops
