Tokyo: Shijoumae Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa
October, 2024
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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:30 Meeting place: "Yurikamome" Shijoumae Station
- 10:35 Departure: Yurikamome Shijoumae Station
- Toyosu Market Seafood Wholesale Building
- Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building
- 11:30 Departure from Shijoumae Station
- (Yurikamome)
- Toyosu Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Tsukishima Station
- (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
- 12:00 Arrival at Tsukiji Market Station
- Tsukiji Tsukiji Uogashi
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- 13:15 Departure from Tsukiji Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- 13:30 Arrival at Ueno Station
- Ueno Ameyoko
- 14:30 Departure from Ueno Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 15:00 Arrival at Shibuya Station
- 15:00 Dismissal: Shibuya Station
Title: What's a Private Tokyo Food Market Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Toyosu, Tsukiji, and Ameyoko
The guests were visitors from North America. It was their first visit to Japan.
They arrived at Haneda Airport two days ago and traveled by train, transferring lines, to their hotel in Shinjuku. Yesterday, they explored the Shinjuku area and enjoyed visiting izakaya in the evening.
They planned to stay in Japan for a total of twelve days. Tomorrow they were scheduled to take a day trip to Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes. After that, they planned to travel around Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka before returning to Tokyo and heading home.
They both said, "We love sushi and sashimi. We want to enjoy them to the fullest during our stay in Japan."
The tour took place in rainy, chilly weather.
We met at Shijo-mae Station on the Yurikamome Line.
I explained the history of Tsukiji Market and Toyosu Market, as well as the difference between the wholesale market and the intermediate wholesale market.
They asked questions such as, "Who comes here to buy fish?", "How much tuna is traded in a day?", and "What are the prices for tuna?"
After this, we moved to Tsukiji.
We took a leisurely walk through Tsukiji Uogashi and the Tsukiji Outer Market in the rain.
First, we had coffee at a café. After that, we bought and sampled octopus-shaped senbei crackers, sea urchin, tuna sushi, and salt-grilled shrimp.
They asked, "Is it always this crowded? Is this the usual situation?" and "Do all Tokyo residents come here to buy fish?"
From here, we moved to Ueno and Ameyoko.
They commented, "The atmosphere is different from Tsukiji Market. The prices also seem a little cheaper."
After that, they said, "We'd like to go to Shibuya, so please take us there," so I saw them off at Shibuya Station and we parted ways.
They also commented, "The whole city is so clean and beautiful. There's no trash on the streets." "There are no trash cans on the streets. Why is that?" and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant."
Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Rental Bike | Shijoumae Station～Toyosu Station | 189JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Toyosu Station～Tsukishima Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tsukishima Station～Tsukiji Market Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji Station～Ueno Station | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Ueno Station～Shibuya Station | 209JPY |
| Total | 932JPY | ||
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.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.