Tokyo: Hotel Tokyo & Tokyo Station — Guide Masa

What Is an Early Morning Private Toyosu Fish Market and Tsukiji Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America. One of the guests had been to Japan several times before, while it was a first visit to Japan for the group.

Five days earlier, the guests arrived at Haneda and headed straight to the Kansai region. After spending four days in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, they came to Tokyo by Shinkansen the day before. They plan to spend four days in Tokyo before returning home.

After this tour, the guests planned to visit Asakusa, Kappabashi, and Shinjuku.

At 5:00 am, we departed by taxi on schedule.

We arrived at Toyosu Market at 5:20. We went to the Seafood Wholesale Building, where the guests enthusiastically watched the tuna auction. I explained "the history of Tokyo's fish markets," "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market," and "the difference between wholesale markets and intermediate wholesale markets."

I explained topics such as "where tuna is caught," "whether all the tuna from around the world is sent to Toyosu Market," "the market's holidays," and "the types of tuna and which kind is the most expensive." There was also a question about "how much a single tuna costs."

From the second-floor general observation corridor, it was hard to see the "fresh tuna" auction taking place below. The guests mentioned that they had applied from North America for the lottery to access the special observation deck, but were not selected.

After this, we toured the Intermediate Wholesale Building. There were questions such as "what kind of people come here to buy" and "whether it is possible to go inside to view it."

We took the Yurikamome and the subway to move to the Tsukiji Outer Market, and slowly walked around the area. The guests took a liking to "wasabi peanuts" and bought some as a souvenir.

Saying "we're hungry and would really like to have sushi for breakfast here," we went to a sushi restaurant. They were shown to counter seats without having to wait.

They enjoyed sake along with various pieces of nigiri sushi, monkfish liver, and more. (The guests were big fans of sashimi and sushi.) They commented that it was "the first time in their lives having sushi for breakfast."

They also commented, "the streets are so clean. There's no litter." In addition, they remarked and asked, "we don't see any homeless people," and "there are no trash cans on the streets. Why is that?"

Saying "we'd like to go back to the hotel and rest for a while," I saw them off at Tokyo Station near their hotel, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.