Tokyo: Hotel Tokyo & Akasaka-mitsuke Station — Guide Masa
September, 2024
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 5:00 Meeting place: Hotel Tokyo
- 5:00 Hotel Tokyo
- Hotel Tokyo
- (Taxi)
- 5:20 Toyosu Market
- Toyosu Seafood Wholesale Building
- (Tuna Auction Tour)
- Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building
- 6:30 Shijo-mae Station
- (Yurikamome)
- Toyosu Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Tsukishima Station
- (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
- 7:00 Arrive Tsukiji Market Station
- Tsukiji Tsukiji Outer Market
- Tsukiji Itadori Annex: Breakfast
- 8:00 Tsukiji Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Kasumigaseki Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- 8:30 Akasaka-mitsuke Station
- 8:30 Disband: Hotel Tokyo
Can You Take an Early-Morning Private Tour of Toyosu Market and Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. They arrived at Haneda the previous day and took a taxi to their Hotel. They planned to spend some time in Tokyo before traveling on to other destinations in Asia, then returning home. For today, they planned to shop and have dinner in Ginza in the afternoon. They had visited Japan several times before, though their most recent trip had been about ten years earlier.
We departed on time at 05:00 in two taxis.
We arrived at Toyosu Market at 05:20 and headed to the seafood wholesale building. The guests enthusiastically observed the tuna auction. I explained "the history of Tokyo's fish markets," "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market," and "the difference between wholesale markets and intermediate wholesale markets."
They asked about topics such as "Where is tuna caught?", "Is all the tuna from around the world sent to Toyosu Market?", "When is the market closed?", and "What types of tuna are there, and which kind is the most expensive?", and I explained each. There was also a question of "How much does a single tuna cost?"
From the second-floor public viewing corridor, it was difficult to clearly see the fresh tuna auction taking place below. One comment was, "Next time we would like to apply for the lottery for the special observation deck."
After this, we toured the intermediate wholesale building. Questions included "What kind of people come here to buy?" and "Can't we go inside?"
We took the Yurikamome and the subway to move to the Tsukiji Outer Market. We slowly walked a full loop through the area. The guests purchased roasted beans, dried abalone, and dried squid as souvenirs.
Saying "We would really like to have sushi for breakfast here," we went to a sushi restaurant. After waiting about ten minutes, we were seated at the counter. The guests enjoyed beer and an assortment of nigiri sushi.
Saying they wanted to return to the Hotel to rest for a while, I saw them back to their Hotel, where we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Shijo-mae Station～Toyosu Station | 189JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Toyosu Station～Tsukishima Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tsukishima Station～Tsukiji Market Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji Station～Akasaka-mitsuke Station | 178JPY |
| Total | 723JPY | ||
Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.