Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour — Guide Noripy

What Is a Private Tokyo Tsukiji and Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America. One of the guests was visiting Japan for the first time, while the other had visited Japan several times before, with the most recent visit about five years ago. They signed up for this tour with the wish to have breakfast at Tsukiji. Their accommodation was conveniently located about a ten-minute walk from Tsukiji. On the way to Tsukiji Market, I introduced the single-act seat tickets and the gallery at the Kabukiza Theater. One of the guests was very curious to explore a market in Japan, the home of the Japanese food recipes they sometimes make at home. Fortunately, it was not yet too crowded, so we continued strolling for a while and looked at all sorts of things, from ingredients to knives. They were surprised by the popular gyudon and by the appearance of fresh wasabi, which they saw for the first time, but what they actually enjoyed was an assortment of tuna sushi sets. Afterward, one of the guests had a coffee, and we sat and chatted a little about recent social conditions in Japan.

Next, I guided them to Namiyoke Shrine. I explained how to purify oneself at the water basin using the ladle, and introduced the Tamago-zuka and Ebi-zuka monuments. Since one of the guests wanted to eat a little more, we went to the food court at the Tsukiji Nippon Gyoko Ichiba, where they enjoyed tempura soba. One of the guests, who had taught English at a school in Japan, fondly recalled often eating soba with students at a station.

By the time they seemed to have fully enjoyed Tsukiji, I checked the clock and saw there were still about two hours of tour time left. When I asked what they would like to do, one of the guests, who had a strong interest in contemporary art, had already planned to visit related art museums on another day and asked for a recommendation for something else. I thought of the National Art Center in the Roppongi area, but it happened to be closed that day, so we decided they would visit it the next day. During the tour, I guided them on a walking course from the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden and Zojoji Temple to Azabudai Hills, which houses teamLab. Under the clear autumn sky, they seemed to enjoy a pleasant stroll while looking at the trees just beginning to change color. They murmured "What a gorgeous day!" many times. We parted ways after they showed interest in an exhibition they happened to find at a gallery in Azabudai Hills.

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Tour Report by Noripy

Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!