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
- 08:00 Meet at the main gate of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
- 08:05 Tsukiji Outer Market
- 10:20 Former Shiba Rikyu Garden
- 11:30 Meiji Shrine
- 12:00 Disband at Harajuku Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 08:00, when the guide met the guests at main gate of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, and finished at 12:00. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Tsukiji Outer Market at 08:05, Former Shiba Rikyu Garden at 10:20 and Meiji Shrine at 11:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tsukiji to Daimon by train (290JPY); Hamamatsucho to Harajuku by train (210JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 500JPY per person.
Title: What's a Rainy-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden, and Meiji Shrine
Despite the unfortunate rain, the crowds at Tsukiji Market were smaller than usual, which allowed the guests to stroll slowly through all the streets and enjoy a variety of foods. Some of the guests particularly liked the beef bowl at Kitsuneya and ate it with big smiles. Another of the guests enjoyed Japanese dashi and was delighted to buy dashi packs to take home.
At Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden, the rain had eased and there were no other visitors, so the guests were able to enjoy it almost entirely to themselves.
At Meiji Shrine, heavy rain fell and we had to take shelter inside Harajuku Station for a while, but the guests appreciated the quiet atmosphere of the shrine grounds in the rain.
The guests stayed energetic and cheerful throughout despite the rain, which made for a bright and enjoyable tour, and I am very grateful for that.
I had the pleasure of guiding a group of eight. I had anticipated that walking through the Tsukiji outer market with eight people would be challenging, but thanks to the cooperation of the guests, we moved the tour start time one hour earlier to 8:00, which allowed us to avoid the busiest hours and made it relatively easy to enjoy strolling and eating.
The next day, I received a thank-you message from the guests. It made me truly happy to know that they had enjoyed the tour. We really appreciated your great tour yesterday.
Click here for more details: Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Tsukiji～Daimon | 290JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Hamamatsucho～Harajuku | 210JPY |
| Total | 500JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at main gate of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple at 08:00, and the tour finished at Harajuku Station at 12:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 08:00 to 12:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Tsukiji Outer Market, Former Shiba Rikyu Garden and Meiji Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 500JPY 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?
Toru 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.
Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.