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
- 05:00 Meet at the hotel
- 05:30 Tour the tuna auction at Toyosu Market
- 06:00 Breakfast at a sushi restaurant
- 07:10 Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market
- 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji Outer Market
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at hotel at 05:00, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 08:00. The day ran to 3 hours from start to finish. It included breakfast at a sushi restaurant at 06:00.
The itinerary covered Tour the tuna auction at Toyosu Market at 05:30 and Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market at 07:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shijomae Station by bus (210JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 210JPY per person.
What Is an Early-Morning Private Toyosu Fish Market and Tsukiji Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The tour experience, guest reactions, and other impressions The guests were a group who got along very well. They were kind enough to wait in the lobby earlier than our meeting time, so we set off immediately after meeting and were able to arrive at Toyosu Fish Market a little after 5 a.m. Thanks to this, we secured a good spot for viewing the tuna auction, and the guests enjoyed taking many photos and videos. After watching the auction, I guided the group to a sushi restaurant inside the market that I know well, where they had breakfast. Since I had heard in advance that one of the guests could not eat rice, I asked the head chef beforehand to prepare an assortment of sashimi centered on tuna, which delighted the guest. Another guest thoroughly enjoyed an omakase sushi course and was very pleased. Since most shops in the Tsukiji Outer Market open after 8 a.m., I marked recommended shops on a map as I guided the group. After 8 a.m., they planned to revisit the shops that caught their interest (yakitori at Toritoh, grilled tuna skewers at Tombo, fish cakes at Hamato, and so on) and enjoy them with beer. One of the guests was interested in kitchen knives, so I guided them to three knife shops, and they finally purchased a knife with a Damascus pattern at Higashi Genmasahisa, and were very satisfied. The attached photo captures a satisfied smile taken after shopping at the knife shop.
2. Special notes and requests to Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) I had recommended in advance that the guests reserve a taxi, but it seems they forgot to make the reservation, so we ended up looking for a taxi near the Hotel. Perhaps because many taxis were returning to their depots at that hour, three taxis refused to pick us up (passing right in front of us), and I regret that I kept the guests waiting for a while in the cold early morning until a taxi could be found. As temperatures will drop further heading into winter, I will be careful to explain this situation in advance by email and strongly recommend reserving a taxi.
Click here for more details: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Shijomae Station / Toei Bus～Tsukiji 6-chome / Toei Bus | 210JPY |
| Total | 210JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 05:00, and the tour finished at Tsukiji Outer Market at 08:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 3 hours in total, from 05:00 to 08:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Tour the tuna auction at Toyosu Market and Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 210JPY per person across 1 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.