Immerse yourself in Tokyo's world-famous Tsukiji Market on this 3-hour Tokyo food tour, led by a local expert deeply knowledgeable about the market. Together, we'll visit the outer market and look at how Japan’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the seasons and geography, the central role that seafood plays in the Japanese diet, and—of course—taste some amazing Tsukiji sushi.

The Tsukiji district was built from land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay; tsukiji translates to “reclaimed land.” To see what the area looked like before the market was built in 1935, we’ll start our walking tour at an exhibition of historical woodblock prints and of photographs of the market’s famous tuna auctions. We’ll then begin our market visit, starting off at a handful of small shops that sell restaurant-quality kitchen supplies like hand-forged knives. As the market comes to life around us, with a bustle and energy unique to this place, our guide will explain how different items are used to create some of the dishes we’ll see later in the tour. 

Please note: Tsukiji inner market (the wholesale area) is closed. Our tour explores Tsukiji outer market and does not include Toyosu market.

Japanese food really plays to the senses. As we taste our way along the walk, we’ll see how impeccably presented the meals are, from a hearty selection of humble rice balls to delicate sashimi. We’ll sample a variety of key ingredients, such as a rainbow of pickled things (tsukemono), Japanese plums (ume) or authentic miso soup broth ingredients.

We’ll continue eating our way through the outer market, where we may make stops for tamagoyaki, the rolled, slightly sweet omelet, pomegranate vinegar, meat dumplings, or gluten in assorted forms. For our sit-down lunch, we may go for raw fish served over bowls of rice (kaisendon), tempura, or sushi. 

 After a delicious walking tour of Tokyo’s Tsukiji outer market, we’ll leave with all five senses satisfied and with a better understanding of the influences, seasonal, cultural, and beyond, on Japanese cuisine.

Explore different facets of Japanese culture on our Tokyo Architecture Tour and Akihabara Tour, examining otaku culture.

Where do we meet? Where does it end? Generally speaking, the walk begins near Tsukiji Market. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map. The walk typically ends at a restaurant nearby.

Can the tour accommodate those with allergies or dietary restrictions? We do our best to accommodate everyone. If you have severe allergies to seafood or nuts, there will be items you can eat during the tasting, but cross-contamination may be a problem during lunch. The best thing to do is let us know when you book if anyone in your party has allergies or dietary restrictions. We can check in on dishes, order ahead, and do everything possible to ensure you enjoy your tasting and meal. Vegetarians can join, but there will be fewer samples available as the vast majority of the market is seafood. Gluten-free diets are easy to accommodate, but there are trace amounts of wheat in soy sauce, which is common but can be avoided.

Is there a maximum on group size? Yes, we strongly recommend a max of 6 per group. Tsukiji Market is busy and the pathways are narrow.

Does the tour include the tuna auction? No, unfortunately, the wholesale market section of Tsukiji Market (also known as the 'inner market') where the famous tuna auctions took place closed in October 2018 and moved to a different site. 

Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?

Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.