Tokyo: Toyosu Station & Tocho-mae Station — Guide Masa

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

The guests were a group residing in North America. Both were retired and now enjoy traveling as a leisure activity. They had visited Japan several times for work more than 20 years ago.

This time, they were on a stay in Japan of about one month. They had already visited Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakone. After this, they planned to stay in Tokyo for three days before returning home.

Although they were staying at a hotel in Tokyo, they requested that we meet somewhere near Toyosu Market, so we arranged to meet at a hotel in the Toyosu area.

We met at 7:00 am and took the Yurikamome line to Toyosu Market.

First, we headed to the seafood wholesale building.

I explained the history of the fish market dating back to the Edo period, the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market, and the difference between the wholesale market and the intermediate wholesale market.

There were questions such as: "Where is tuna caught?" "Is tuna from all over the world sent to this Toyosu Market?" "When is the market closed?" "What kinds of tuna are there, and which tuna is the most expensive?" "How many are put up for auction per day?" "What happens to the tuna that is left unsold at auction?"

There were also questions such as "How much is one tuna?" and "Which part of the tuna is the most delicious?"

We took commemorative photos here and there.

After this, we took our time exploring the intermediate wholesale building. They purchased nori seaweed and packaged bonito flakes.

There were questions such as: "What kind of people come here to buy?" and "We would like to go inside and look around — is that not allowed?"

We had coffee and took a relaxing break at a café.

We transferred between the Yurikamome line and the subway to move to the Tsukiji Outer Market.

First, we went to Tsukiji Uogashi. Here too, we took photos in various places.

After this, we went to the outer market. We looked around various shops and sampled roasted soybeans and dried squid.

There were questions such as: "Why are there so many people here?" and "Are these people who live in Tokyo, or are many of them travelers from overseas?"

Since they said they wanted to eat sushi here for breakfast, we went to a sushi restaurant. As one of the guests loves sushi while another cannot eat raw fish, that guest ordered only a cucumber roll and rice.

They commented, "Tokyo is so clean throughout the city. There is no litter on the ground. It is completely different from where we live."

They also commented and asked: "There are no homeless people to be seen." "There are no trash cans placed around the city. Why is that?"

Since they asked to be taken back to their hotel, I saw them off at Tochomae Station and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with 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.