Tokyo: Tsukiji Market & Toyosu Market — Guide Kris
October, 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
- 7:00 Meet at Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Tower
- 8:00 Tsukiji Market
- 10:00 Toyosu Market
- 11:00 Disband at Market Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Tower at 7:00, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 11:00. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Tsukiji Market at 8:00 and Toyosu Market at 10:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Higashi-Shinjuku to Tsukiji Market by subway (272JPY); Rokuchome Rokuchome to Toyosu Station by bus (210JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 482JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Tokyo Food Tour of Toyosu Market Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were very friendly and enjoyable to spend time with. They had a deep appreciation of Japanese cuisine and requested sea urchin, octopus, pufferfish, miso-marinated grilled fish, salmon roe, and oysters. Except for the pufferfish, everyone tried these dishes and were very satisfied. The rare cut of tuna I introduced at a sushi restaurant was also enjoyed as unique and delicious. The guests listened attentively to the explanation of the auctions at Toyosu Market and said they wished they could take part in one. After the tour, they had a reservation at teamLab Planets, and we parted ways at the market station. They thanked me warmly, saying they had been able to enjoy so many kinds of delicious food, called me a nice guide, and gave a generous token of thanks.
Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Higashi-Shinjuku～Tsukiji Market | 272JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Rokuchome Rokuchome～Toyosu Station | 210JPY |
| Total | 482JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Tower at 7:00, and the tour finished at Market Station at 11:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 7:00 to 11:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Tsukiji Market and Toyosu Market.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 482JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kris is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
My name is Kris,
Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.
After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.
I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.
I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.
Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.
Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.
See you in Japan!
Kris
May 10, 2026
Matt_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
We were so lucky to have Kris-San…
May 10, 2026
Matt_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
We were so lucky to have Kris-San as our guide for our first full day in Tokyo. He was great about communicating before the trip, and he even left our hotel a beautiful note welcoming us to the city. He met us at our hotel early the day of the tour and showed us how to use the subway. We toured Senso Ji, the Tobacco and Salt Museum, the Honjo Disaster Prevention Center, and the Kiyosumi Gardens. He also recommended a fantastic noodle restaurant close to one of our tour spots where the duck soba noodles were incredible. Kris-San was warm, personable, and funny, it was hard to say goodbye after such a wonderful tour.
Apr 29, 2026
Rebecca_M
Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour
We had such a wonderful…
Apr 29, 2026
Rebecca_M
Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour
We had such a wonderful tour with Kris! He was very knowledgeable and kept things so fun.
Meeting and transport were seamless and stress-free. This was a wonderful memory of our
time in Tokyo!
Apr 21, 2026
jacquir581
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We love Kris
Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…
Apr 21, 2026
jacquir581
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We love Kris
Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our flight was cancelled and we weren’t able
to make our original tour.
Apr 2, 2026
Frank_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A great day in Tokyo
Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris.…
Apr 2, 2026
Frank_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A great day in Tokyo
Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris. He made suggestions in advance, we were able to tweak the schedule before the tour adjusted as we went along. He had a restaurant in mind for lunch but when we got there the wait time was more than we wanted to spend. So he came up with other alternatives that worked well. He knows his stuff and added interesting bugs of information, making the visits special.