Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market — Guide Toru

What Is a Private Toyosu Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. They chatted happily together, though one of the guests unfortunately could not enjoy sushi due to a lack of appetite. Still, by the time we reached Tsukiji they had recovered, and I was relieved to see them enjoying strawberries.

This time we won the lottery and were able to go down to the special observation floor to watch the tuna auction. Since the lottery application allows up to five people, the guests applied for their group and I applied for my own spot separately. I thought it might be difficult for both to win, but we did win, and a familiar market staff member kindly allowed all six of us to be combined into one group, so I was able to secure a good viewing spot and guide them well. Some of the guests had watched the Tsukiji tuna auction 17 years ago and were very much looking forward to seeing the auction with the latest facilities this time. They were delighted, saying, "At Tsukiji you could watch the auction up close, but at Toyosu, Toru explained how the auctioneers keep each other in check while looking down from above, so it was dynamic and fun, like a live broadcast."

At the sushi restaurant after the auction, some of the guests enjoyed a full course of tuna and were impressed by how the taste differed depending on the cut. The others each ordered their favorites, such as salmon and eel, and were satisfied.

At Toyosu it turned into a "sweets tour" for the group. We shared strawberry skewers and large freshly grilled mitarashi dango as a family, bringing a lively end to the tour.

One of the guests initially felt unwell due to jet lag, and I had even considered pausing the tour, but with attentive care they began to smile around the time we were strolling through Tsukiji, which reassured me. When they ordered strawberry skewers at the end of the tour, their expression brightened, and it made me happy as a guide when they said "Arigato" and shook my hand at the end.

This time the special observation floor was also more than half occupied by an inspection delegation from Europe, so I was worried about securing the best remaining position. However, one of the guests cooperated with me to secure a spot, and the rest of the group followed along carefully, so we were able to watch the auction right in front of us. Recently there is always an inspection delegation guided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, so securing a viewing spot on the special observation floor has become quite difficult. On the special observation floor you cannot always see the auction clearly, so personally I think guests enjoy the experience more when I explain what is happening on the floor with a live feel while viewing the whole scene from the general floor. Since guests come having seen images and videos online that capture the best moments, their expectations for the special observation floor are high, which makes it a difficult balance.

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.

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!