Tokyo: Tsukiji — Guide Toru
August, 2026
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
- 05:00 Meet up at Toyosu Market
- 05:10-05:30 Explanation of related information in advance, such as tuna catching methods, how auctions proceed, collection methods, and the roles of primary wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers
- 05:30-06:00 Watch the tuna auction
- 06:00-07:00 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
- 07:00-07:40 Tour of Toyosu Market's retail floor and produce market
- 07:40-07:55 Move to Tsukiji
- 8:00 Guide to the front of Lawson in the Tsukiji inner market (the meeting place for the next tour) and disband
- 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji
# What's an Early-Morning Toyosu Tuna Auction Private Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America who had arrived in Tokyo the previous evening. They arrived at the meeting point in good spirits, saying this early-morning tour was perfect for adjusting to the jet lag. One of the guests had a strong interest in the tuna auction, and the other had booked the tour for that reason. However, once the auction actually began, the one who had booked it seemed even more excited than expected, and both of the guests appeared to be enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, only a few fresh tuna were visible from the public observation deck, but we secured a spot right next to the frozen tuna auctioneer, so the guests were able to watch the auction closely. During the auction, a frozen tuna went for a high price of 7,000 yen per fish, which the guests found exciting to witness.
After the viewing, the guests enjoyed breakfast at a sushi restaurant, where they ordered a "tuna assortment" and an "omakase" course and shared them, marveling at the differences in flavor between the various cuts of tuna and the deliciousness of sushi made with fresh fish that had just been brought in that morning.
Due to a mix-up on their part, the guests had separately booked another Tsukiji tour starting at 9:00 after this one, so at Tsukiji I simply guided them to the meeting point for their next tour. I used the extra time to show them the retail buildings and produce sections of Toyosu. In the retail building, at a shop directly operated by a sake brewery, the guests tasted a craft gin made in Niseko that the brewery manages. As a big fan of gin, one of the guests purchased a hip-flask-sized craft gin, describing it as "a gin with a wonderful flavor."
At a miso wholesaler selling "Iyo barley miso" from my hometown, I bought 200g and asked the shop for a toothpick so the guests could taste the fresh barley miso. It is a sweeter miso, and when I explained that it is also delicious served on top of tofu, the guests remarked, "So it's not just for miso soup," and we had a lively conversation about miso recipes.
At Toyosu Market, there are commemorative stamps at the seafood wholesale, seafood intermediate wholesale, and produce buildings, and one of the guests was delighted to collect all the stamps. When I mentioned that stamp books can be bought at station kiosks and that each JR station has its own unique stamp, the guests happily said, "We'll definitely collect them."
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 | Toyosu Market／Toei Bus～Tsukiji 6-chome／Toei Bus | 420JPY |
| Total | 420JPY | ||
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.
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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…
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All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…
Sep 7, 2026
Victor_G
All the temples and…
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All the temples and shrines were fantastic. Our guide Toru, was excellent, very knowledgeable and his love of Japanese culture shone through.