Tsukishima was created over 121 years ago using earth that was dredged from Tokyo Bay bay when the government was constructing a new deeper shipping channel.

Residential high-rise apartments have developed in the last few decades. There are still remnants of the atmosphere of old Tokyo from a hundred years ago to be found in some of the older back alleys and lane ways.

Tsukishima is best known for monjayaki, a specialty of the Kant? region. It is a kind of pan-fried batter with various ingredients similar to okonomiyaki. It can contain ingredients such as meat, seafood, and vegetables, mixed into the batter. Monjayaki is eaten directly off the grill using a small metal spatula.

The island has a lot of monjayaki restaurants that run the length of Nishinaka Street, close by Tsukishima station.