Tokyo: Hiroo Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa
September, 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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 7:00 Meeting place: Hotel
- 7:10 Depart Hiroo Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Hibiya Station/Yurakucho Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Toyosu Station
- (Yurikamome)
- 8:00 Arrive Shijo-mae Station
- Toyosu Seafood Wholesale Building
- Seafood Intermediate Wholesale Building
- Produce Building
- 9:00 Depart Shijo-mae Station
- (Yurikamome)
- Toyosu Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Tsukishima Station
- (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
- 9:30 Arrive Tsukiji Shijo Station
- Tsukiji Tsukiji Uogashi
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Lunch: Tsukiji Sushisei
- 10:40 Depart Tsukiji Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Ginza Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 11:00 Arrive Shibuya Station
- 11:00 Disband: Shibuya Station
Guide's Report: A Private Tokyo Fish Market and Sushi Tour of Toyosu and Tsukiji — What Is It Like?
The guests were visitors from North America, visiting Japan for the first time. They arrived at Haneda two evenings before the tour and spent the previous day exploring Shinjuku. The main purpose of their trip to Japan was to board a 12-day cruise around Japan departing from Tokyo Port, with plans to disembark in Asia and fly home from there.
One of the guests was very fond of sushi and quite knowledgeable about fish, and they very much wanted to experience "a fish market and sushi."
We managed to carry out the tour without being caught in the rain (though a heavy downpour hit right after it ended).
We started at the seafood wholesale building of Toyosu Market. I explained "the history of the Edo/Tokyo fish markets since the Edo period," "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market," and "the tuna auctions."
There were leftovers from the auction still inside, and I received many questions, such as "Where does most of the tuna come from?" "Who is allowed to participate in the auction?" "How much does a single tuna cost?" "Is there a price difference between fresh and frozen tuna?" and "Why are the tails of the tuna cut off?"
We took photos in front of the tuna statue.
We moved on to the intermediate wholesale building. The guests took a liking to the knives and observed them for a long time. There was also a question of "Why can't we go inside here?"
After walking through the produce building, we headed to Tsukiji.
We first strolled through the "Tsukiji Uogashi," and then moved on to the outer market.
After that, we took a leisurely walk through the area, sampling and purchasing items such as dried squid and dried soybeans.
It was extremely crowded with tourists. We then went to a sushi restaurant for an early lunch.
The guests made comments such as "Japanese people are all so polite," "The city is clean and there is no litter scattered around," and "Tokyo's subway system is systematic and very well designed."
They mentioned they wanted to go to Shibuya, so I saw them off at Shibuya Station and we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Hiroo～Toyosu | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Toyosu～Shijo-mae | 190JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shijo-mae～Toyosu | 190JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Toyosu～Tsukishima | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Tsukishima～Tsukiji Shijo | 180JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Tsukiji～Shibuya | 210JPY |
| Total | 1,160JPY | ||
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
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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
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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.