Tokyo: Tameike-Sanno Station & Tsukiji-shijo Station — Guide Masa

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

The guest was a visitor from North America, part of a group visiting Japan for the first time. This was a short trip to Japan. Some days earlier, they had arrived at Haneda Airport and continued straight on to Kansai Airport. They toured Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto, then came to Tokyo, and were scheduled to return home from Haneda Airport tonight.

Today's tour was originally planned for the whole group, but the night before, some of the guests suddenly said they wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland before returning home, so in the end today became a tour for just the one guest. (The guest loves fish and said, "I really wanted to see a Tokyo fish market.")

Although the temperature was low, it was a sunny day. However, the guest commented, "It's colder than home and it really gets to me."

We first went to Toyosu Market, starting from the seafood wholesale building. I explained "the history of Edo/Tokyo fish markets since the Edo period," "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market," and "the tuna auction."

Some leftover items from the auction remained in the market, and there were many questions such as: "Where does most of the tuna come from?", "Who is allowed to take part in the auction?", "How much does a single tuna cost?", "Is there a price difference between fresh and frozen tuna?", and "Why is the tuna's tail cut off?" We took photos in front of the tuna display.

We then moved to the intermediate wholesale building. There was also a question: "Why can't we go inside here (the intermediate wholesale area)?"

We moved on to the Tsukiji Outer Market. We walked through "Tsukiji Uogashi" and then went into the outer market. After that, we strolled leisurely through the area, sampling items such as dried squid and roasted soybeans.

The area was very crowded with tourists. The guest wanted to eat tuna sashimi, so we purchased some and ate it standing. There were also comments such as "Japanese people are all so polite," "The streets are clean with no scattered trash," and "The Tokyo subway is very systematic and well designed."

The guest also commented and asked, "Everywhere in Japan the streets are clean with no litter — it's so clean," and "Why aren't there trash cans on the streets?"

Finally, the guest, saying "I'm going to hurry to Disneyland by taxi to join the rest of the group," was seen off at Tsukiji, where we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.