Tokyo: Tsukiji — Guide Toru
March, 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 in front of the main gate of Toyosu Market
- 05:00-05:30 Explain related information in advance, such as tuna catching methods, how the auction proceeds, collection methods, and the roles of 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
- 07:00-07:15 Move to Tsukiji
- 07:15-08:00 Stroll around Tsukiji Inner Market
- 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji
What Is a Private Toyosu and Tsukiji Fish Market Tour Like in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The tour and the guests' reactions The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. One of the guests had worked for a company that also had a store in Japan and had visited Japan from time to time in the past, and had experienced visiting the old Tsukiji Market during that time. They were looking forward to seeing how the tuna auction at Toyosu would differ from the Tsukiji auction they had seen years ago. They were amazed that a single tuna auction was over in five seconds, and watching one tuna after another being auctioned off and carried away, they were impressed and called it "well-organized." The three of us watched the hand signals of the intermediate wholesalers and tried to spot the highest bids, but the auction moved so quickly that we couldn't keep up, and we failed to catch the winning prices of two or three tuna. Even so, the three of us had fun calling out "over there!" and "this one!" and enjoyed the feeling of taking part in the auction ourselves. At the sushi restaurant they enjoyed a tuna-focused meal, and both were impressed that the chef's specialty marinated tuna (zuke) was the most delicious. When I relayed the chef's words—"Zuke takes a lot of effort, so it makes me happy as a sushi chef when people say it's delicious"—the guests smiled and kept saying "oishii." At Tsukiji, I showed them the intermediate wholesalers' shops and let them see fresh tuna cut into large blocks and displayed, helping them understand which parts were otoro, chutoro, and akami. At another wholesaler, they saw round slices of the part near the tail that had been cut off at the auction site, as well as the nakaochi part attached to the bone, and they came to understand that tuna is consumed with as little waste as possible. One of the guests had been asked to buy a Japanese meat knife, so I guided them to a Japanese knife shop whose craft traces back to the making of samurai swords, and had them choose a knife. I explained a brief history and the various types of Japanese knives, and they were delighted to see the sword-long knives used specifically for breaking down tuna, displayed like blades in the shop.
2. Other impressions, notes, and requests Since one of the guests and I both remember Tsukiji Market at its peak, I guided the group through the few streets that still retain traces of those days, and together we explained to the rest of the group, "It used to be like this—there were many more narrow shops." One of the guests reminisced in front of a long-established shop, saying, "I might have seen this place before," and I too had a wonderful time being able to talk about the Tsukiji of old.
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.
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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
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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.