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.
Tour Itinerary
- 07:00 Meet at Hotel Okura Tokyo
- 07:30 Toyosu Market (tour the auction area, specialty shops, wholesalers, etc., breakfast with sushi)
- 09:50 Tsukiji Outer Market (enjoy grilled tuna skewers, yakitori, raw oysters, etc., purchase deboned fish and Rishiri kelp)
- 11:00 Disband in front of the Tsukiji Uogashi Center
Title: What's a Private Toyosu and Tsukiji Fish Market Food Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests had been informed in advance that the tuna auction at Toyosu Market ends at 6:30, but around 20 to 30 tuna were still lined up in the auction area waiting to be shipped out. In that setting, I showed them a video and photos of the auction that I had taken beforehand and explained how the auction is conducted, and the guests were satisfied that they could clearly picture it.
The guests enjoyed sushi at a familiar sushi restaurant inside the market. The head chef casually answered the guests' questions (how many years of training he had done, how the tuna is purchased, how to make the nikiri sauce, and so on), so I believe they enjoyed not only the taste but also the culture surrounding sushi.
Thanks to an introduction from the head chef, we were able to enter the intermediate wholesalers' area, which is normally off-limits, and the guests were delighted to watch up close as restaurant buyers purchased seafood that had just been auctioned. (It was my first time experiencing this as well, and I got very excited.)
At Tsukiji, the guests enjoyed a variety of foods. They especially liked the grilled tuna skewers, the fresh oysters from Iwate Prefecture, and the yakitori from Toritou.
The tour ended in front of the Uogashi Center. The guests planned to stroll around Tsukiji for a while and then head to Hamarikyu, so I explained the route and we parted ways.
One challenge is that when guiding the 5:30 auction viewing, the guide cannot arrive in time using public transportation at that hour. For example, if a car could be arranged so that the guests are taken from their hotel to Toyosu Market by 5:00, and the guide could drive there in a private car to meet them, then viewing the auction would become possible. In that case, we would then travel to Tsukiji by bus, end the tour after strolling around Tsukiji, and the guide would return to Toyosu Market by bus to retrieve the car. If the parking fees incurred during the tour and the bus fare to return to the parking area could be covered, I would very much like to try this. I would appreciate your consideration. (It is a shame that I cannot toast with a beer together with the guests, though.)
Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Tameike-Sanno～Shimbashi | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Shimbashi Station～Shijo Station | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Shijo Station～Tsukiji 6-chome | 210JPY |
| Total | 600JPY | ||
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!
Sep 25, 2026
robert_s
Fantastic experience!
Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
We had a tour booked with Toru…
Sep 25, 2026
robert_s
Fantastic experience!
Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
We had a tour booked with Toru yesterday. He was extremely prompt and detailed with the meeting spot well in advance and he was precisely on time at 450 am to meet us at the designated site. He was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and easy to interact with. He took us to have sushi after the auction and then we took a bus to the outer Tsukiji market and we saw all the things that we typically like to explore at markets. Toru we would recommend as a superb guide, without reservation, and in the highest possible terms. Great morning!
Sep 24, 2026
Pamela_S
Ask for Toru!
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our travel date for this tour…
Sep 24, 2026
Pamela_S
Ask for Toru!
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our travel date for this tour came during Silver Week so sites were definitely crowded, but our guide, Toru, created an itinerary that allowed us to see the places we wanted to experience in an enjoyable way. We had no problems communicating with Toru during the lead up to the trip and he was so considerate of our wishes. Toru also shared a wealth of information about Japan and the spots we visited. The personal attention on this tour was such a welcomed change from the packed bus tours we had been on with our cruise excursions and the cost wasn’t any different! Thank you, Toru, for a wonderful, enlightening experience in Tokyo!
Sep 13, 2026
S4579HLmaxf
An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Outstanding experience at the…
Sep 13, 2026
S4579HLmaxf
An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Outstanding experience at the Toyosu tuna auction with Toru as our guide! From the start, Toru was incredibly clear with his instructions, making sure we arrived at exactly the right spots at the right times and giving us all the accurate details we needed to take part in the first-floor viewing lottery. As an English speaker, I really appreciated how easy he made the whole process — navigating the auction logistics on your own could be confusing, but Toru unlocked the full experience for us.
After the auction, we sat down for a sushi breakfast where we got to try every part of the tuna. It was hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had, and having Toru explain each piece as we went made it so much more than just a meal — it was a genuine education in tuna and how the market works. His knowledge of Toyosu (and Tsukiji, which we explored together afterward) was clearly deep and came from real passion for the subject.
Toru was kind, patient, and generous with his expertise the entire time. This tour ended up being the absolute highlight of our trip, and I can’t recommend him highly enough to anyone visiting Tokyo who wants a real, insider look at the tuna auction and market culture. Five stars, without hesitation.
Sep 7, 2026
Victor_G
All the temples and…
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All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…
Sep 7, 2026
Victor_G
All the temples and…
Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
All the temples and shrines were fantastic. Our guide Toru, was excellent, very knowledgeable and his love of Japanese culture shone through.