Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market — Guide Toru
August, 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 the hotel, take a taxi to Toyosu Market
- 5:30 Watch the tuna auction at Toyosu Market
- 6:30 Breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
- 7:20 Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market
- 8:00 Tour ends at Tsukiji Outer Market
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 5:00 at hotel, take a taxi to Toyosu Market and ended at 8:00. The day ran to 3 hours from start to finish. It included breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market at 6:30.
Over the course of the day the route took in Watch the tuna auction at Toyosu Market at 5:30 and Tsukiji Outer Market at 7:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shin-Toyosu Station by bus (210JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 210JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Tsukiji Fish Market and Tuna Auction Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan, and they watched the tuna auction with great interest. Unfortunately, right after the Obon holiday period, only about 60% of the usual number of tuna were on offer, so the auction felt quieter than usual.
At a sushi restaurant inside the market, the guests enjoyed sushi ordered to their liking, and both of them named chu-toro (medium fatty tuna) and marinated tuna as the most delicious pieces. One of the guests tried sea urchin for the first time and was amazed, saying it "smells like the sea."
At the Tsukiji Outer Market, also because it was right after the Obon holiday, about 40% of the shops were closed, so it was a shame that some of the places I had wanted to introduce were shut. Even so, the guests enjoyed sugar-coated candied strawberries and Shine Muscat grapes from a produce shop, and were impressed by how delicious Japanese strawberries and grapes are. In particular, they said the Shine Muscat had a deliciousness not found in the grapes back in their home region. Since one of the guests is involved in work related to cooking, they were interested in Japanese kitchen knives, and at a knife shop they learned how to sharpen a knife and purchased a whetstone.
Because it was right after the Obon holiday, I had expected the market to be less crowded, but the volume of tuna handled was lower coming off the break, and some Tsukiji shops that had been open during the busy Obon period were closed the following week. I will keep this in mind when guiding this tour in the future.
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 | Shin-Toyosu Station / Toei Bus～Tsukiji 6-chome / Toei Bus | 210JPY |
| Total | 210JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel, take a taxi to Toyosu Market at 5:00, and the tour finished at Tour ends at Tsukiji Outer Market at 8:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 3 hours in total, from 5:00 to 8:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Watch the tuna auction at Toyosu Market and Tsukiji Outer Market.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 210JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Toru is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
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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All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…
Sep 7, 2026
Victor_G
All the temples and…
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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.