Crystal - even if you don't early in the morning to Tsukiji, it's still a fascinating place to visit. The wholesale auctions will be done but the shops stay open until near lunch time for restaurants and vendors to buy - as well as the public and you'll still see the wide variety of seafood that Tsukiji handles. You'll also still see them slicing up whole tuna into sellable product. You can even buy premium toro grade sashimi from one of the vendors and eat it there (amazingly good stuff).

See pictures from my trip here:
http://homepage.mac.com/amandaho/PhotoAlbum9.html

(bottom half of page)

Masaki