Tokyo in Half a Day: Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple — Guide Toru
September, 2025
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
- 07:30 Meet at the hotel in Higashi-Shinjuku
- 08:30 Enjoy various foods at the Tsukiji Outer Market
- 11:00 Visit Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
- 11:30 At the souvenir floor in the basement of the Kabukiza Theatre, explain how to get to Asakusa on the tour, then finish
What Is a Private Tokyo Food Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The day of the tour and the guests' reactions The guests had a clear goal for the tour: "to eat as many delicious Japanese foods as possible," so I guided them to every restaurant they wanted to try as well as the ones I recommended, and they were very satisfied. What they especially enjoyed included four kinds of tuna sashimi (lean, medium fatty, fatty, and cheek meat) at Kurogin, a tasting comparison of four kinds of sea urchin along with strawberry daifuku at Soratsuki, fish paste products at Hamato, and king crab and snow crab BBQ at Koragumi. They ate a great deal of other food as well, and they happily posed for photos with satisfied smiles.
2. Other impressions, notes, and requests The guests came from Asia and spoke English with the distinctive intonation of Southeast Asia. Having myself spent time in the region for several years, I found this familiar English pleasant to hear and enjoyed our conversations very much. We named it the "Go Makan!" ("Let's go eat" in Malay) tour, and it was a lot of fun.
There was one sad moment. While we were waiting in a long line for gyudon at Kitsuneya, the customer in front of us (probably an office worker from nearby) seemed to have come to buy takeout for breakfast and did not seem happy about the number of tourists. As they left with their takeout, they said in Japanese to us behind them, "You're in the way, move." Since the guests do not understand Japanese, this remark seemed to be directed at me as the guide. I felt once again the gap between longtime local users frustrated by overtourism and those of us welcoming many visitors, and I want to be mindful in how I handle such situations. Although some harsh words were said, nothing more came of it, and I was relieved that the guests, who do not understand Japanese, were not hurt. All of the guests come to Japan because they love it so much, so I felt anew that bridging this gap is a challenge for inbound tourism going forward.
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 | Higashi-Shinjuku～Tsukiji Market | 280JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Tsukiji 6-chome / Toei Bus～Higashi-Ginza Station / Chuo City, Tokyo | 210JPY |
| Total | 490JPY | ||
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…
Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
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.