Tokyo: Tsukiji — Guide Toru

Title: What Is a Private Toyosu Fish Market and Tsukiji Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guest came to Japan from North America and was traveling solo as a keen traveler. A guide from a separate tour the previous day had told the guest that "Toyosu Market isn't interesting because you can't enter the tuna auction floor," and the guest messaged me beforehand saying, "Can I only watch the auction through glass? If so, I'm a little disappointed." I replied that although no one can go down to the auction floor now for sanitary reasons, from the third-floor observation deck you can look down over the whole scene through the glass, watching the wholesalers competing with one another to gather intermediary buyers and the buyers signaling their bids by hand, so I thought it would still be enjoyable. The guest simply replied, "Ok, I'll join then."

On the day, I was worried whether the guest would be pleased, but they were moved by the spectacular sight of a huge quantity of tuna lined up on the auction floor, and were also satisfied to capture good photos and videos from a great angle when an auction began right at their feet. In the end they told me, "You were right, this was a very interesting experience in its own way," and I was relieved.

After the auction, the guest enjoyed a "tuna feast" at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market. They savored lean tuna, medium-fatty tuna, fatty tuna, seared medium-fatty tuna, scraped tuna, and a tuna roll, and enjoyed how the flavor differs depending on the cut and preparation.

Photography is prohibited at the Tsukiji Uogashi in the Tsukiji Outer Market, but at an intermediary wholesaler I know well (a conger eel specialist and a tuna specialist), I bought simmered conger eel and tuna trimmings for my own lunch and then negotiated with the shops to obtain permission for the guest to take photos. The tuna wholesaler happened to be filleting fresh tuna at that moment, so the guest was delighted to be specially allowed to take great photos. (I enjoyed the conger eel rice bowl at home as well, so being able to satisfy both the guest and my household left me content too, ha.)

The guest was interested in kitchen knives, so I took them to a Japanese knife shop I know well. They happily purchased one santoku Japanese knife for themselves and two petty-knife-type Japanese knives as souvenirs, and were very pleased.

It is currently strawberry season in Japan, and I explained that agricultural experiment stations in various prefectures have recently developed new varieties, putting many delicious kinds on the market, which interested the guest. So at the end of the tour I had them try "Tochiaika" and a white strawberry variety. They were amazed at how completely different and delicious they were compared to strawberries back home, and the tour ended with a full smile.

A staff member at the Japanese knife shop I know well told me: "It's so gratifying when freelance licensed guide-interpreters bring customers to our shop. They properly explain the history and tradition, such as the swordsmiths and knives and why long knives for tuna became necessary, and they bring customers who are interested in such things, which makes us want to explain thoroughly too. Lately, with tours that just bring tourists to Tsukiji for casual food sampling, people only take photos in front of the shop and don't understand the value of Japanese knives at all, which is exhausting. Especially for a shop whose customers include professional chefs, it's a bit of a nuisance." I was grateful to hear this appreciation.

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures, and I understand that guides for Toyosu tours receive prior training. I would appreciate it if such voices from the Tsukiji field could be shared in that training, as I believe it would further raise the value of licensed guide-interpreters. Thank you for your consideration.

Click here for more details: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toru

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.

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