Tokyo: Reception for the special — Guide Toru
December, 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
- 05:00 Meet at the main gate of Toyosu Market (fresh fish)
- 05:05 Reception for the special tour
- 05:15 Advance explanation of the auction
- 05:45 Watch the fresh tuna auction up close from the special viewing floor
- 06:16 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
- 07:10
Title: What Is a Private Toyosu Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Market Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a family group visiting Japan, with some members residing in Oceania and others in North America. In their emails before the tour, they had requested a special viewing to observe the tuna auction up close, so I introduced them to the Tokyo lottery application website and had them apply as a party of five including myself as the guide. They won the lottery, so they were able to enjoy the powerful auction from a distance of about two meters. The sight of a large number of glistening fresh tuna lined up was spectacular, and the guests were deeply impressed. At the general fish market on the opposite side of the auction area, large quantities of yellowtail were being sold in preparation for New Year, and when I explained that yellowtail, a fish known for changing names as it grows, is welcomed at New Year, they found the concept of such fish fascinating.
After the auction viewing, I guided them to a sushi restaurant inside the market, where they enjoyed a sushi breakfast. Each member of the group enjoyed different options, such as an all-tuna set, a themed omakase, and the restaurant's recommended sushi. One of the guests who had the all-tuna set was delighted, saying it was the most delicious tuna they had ever tasted.
At a wholesaler in the Tsukiji Outer Market, a TV crew happened to be filming the butchering of a tuna, and the guests were able to watch a fresh tuna of around 200 kilograms being cut. At a shop dealing in dried goods for making dashi stock, they sampled the dashi and purchased packs of the dashi they liked.
The Tokyo special auction viewing website has a confusing structure, and the guests tried to apply many times. On each occasion, I explained the process by email, and they were able to successfully complete the lottery application. Because they won after all that effort, they shared the winning email with me with great excitement and looked forward to viewing the auction. Thanks to this, I feel it was good that I was able to build a good relationship with the guests before the tour.
Since I have experienced the special viewing several times in the past, they thanked me and said that my help with the advance application and the explanations on the day were greatly appreciated.
Also, since visitors are guided to the special viewing area in order of arrival on the day, I proposed meeting at Toyosu Market at 5:00 when the reception opens, and the guests kindly cooperated, so we were able to secure the very best pole position, which they were pleased with.
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.