Tokyo: Tuna auction & Tsukiji Outer Market — Guide Toru
November, 2025
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
- 5:00 Meet at hotel
- 5:30 Tuna auction viewing
- 6:00 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
- 7:10 Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market
- 8:00 Disband at Tsukiji Outer Market
Title: What Is a Private Toyosu and Tsukiji Market Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
Body:
1. The day of the tour and the guests' reactions Because the market had just reopened after a three-day weekend, there was more tuna than usual and the auctions were especially lively. Watching this, the guests were amazed that a single tuna could be sold off in just five seconds. Right after watching the tuna auction, the guests enjoyed sushi inside Toyosu Market. Having just seen the tuna auction, they savored sushi made entirely from tuna — lean akami, medium-fatty chutoro, fatty otoro, nakaochi, and negitoro — and enjoyed the differences in flavor between the various cuts of tuna. They were delighted, saying, "Every cut was delicious, but I liked the chutoro and nakaochi the best," and "We had sushi in Tokyo the day before, but this is far more delicious." To finish breakfast, they added horse mackerel and sardine sushi that the guests particularly liked. At Tsukiji, when I showed the guests the intermediate wholesalers at Tsukiji Uogashi, we happened to come across a large fresh tuna placed on a cutting board for butchering, and they were astonished at the size of the bluefin tuna seen up close. After that, we strolled through the outer market and the guests tried fresh raw oysters and strawberry daifuku. They were impressed by the size and deep flavor of the Akkeshi rock oysters, and delighted by the wonderful combination of strawberry and sweet bean paste.
2. Other impressions, special notes, and requests The guests' hotel was in Shinjuku Kabukicho, and since it took more than 20 minutes even by taxi to reach Toyosu Market, we arrived just before the auction started at 5:30. For guests staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya, I felt it might be necessary to inform them of this in advance and to plan to start the tour ten minutes earlier.
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 | 210JPY |
| Total | 210JPY | ||
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!
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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Victor_G
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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.