Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
- Tsukiji Outer Market
Photos & Highlights
- Learn about the history of Japanese cuisine
- Led by a culinary expert
Select a date
Tour Description
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, you'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, you'll start our walking tour at an exhibition of historical woodblock prints and of photographs of the market’s famous tuna auctions. You'll then begin our market visit, starting 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 you'll see later in the tour.
Japanese food really plays to the senses. As you taste our way along the walk, you'll see how impeccably presented the meals are, from a hearty selection of humble rice balls to delicate sashimi. You'll sample a variety of key ingredients, such as a rainbow of pickled things (tsukemono), Japanese plums (ume), or authentic miso soup broth ingredients.
You'll continue eating our way through the outer market, where you may make stops for tamagoyaki, the rolled, slightly sweet omelet, pomegranate vinegar, meat dumplings, or gluten in assorted forms. For our sit-down lunch, you 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, you'll leave with all five senses satisfied and with a better understanding of the influences, seasonal, cultural, and beyond, on Japanese cuisine.
- You're a food lover eager to indulge in a culinary adventure and taste local specialties.
- You’re hoping to discover the Tsukiji Market through the eyes of a local expert.
- You like to discover history and culture through food.
- Tsukiji Outer Market - A mixture of wholesale and retail shops, along with numerous restaurants, line the streets, and where new culinary trends are born.
Tickets
You are prepaid for the tour and for several tastings associated with the itinerary stops.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- For more information on planning your travels to Tokyo, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about Tokyo before your visit, check out our online lectures at Context Learning.
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.
How much food will I be tasting on this tour?
While exact tastings vary by guide and your tastes, we can guarantee that you will not leave this experience hungry. The tour through the market culminates in a sit-down stop for either a filling bowl of kaisendon, a plate of tempura, or a variety of sushi.
How much food will I be tasting on this tour?
While exact tastings vary by guide and your tastes, we can guarantee that you will not leave this experience hungry. The tour through the market culminates in a sit-down stop for either a filling bowl of kaisendon, a plate of tempura, or a variety of sushi.
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?
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.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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250 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Jefferson was an incredible guide, sharing so much fascinating information about Tokyo and the history of the Tsukiji Market! Even though I’ve visited before, I never knew the rich history behind it, and it can be overwhelming to figure out what to try on your own. A private tour made all the difference—we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all the amazing food we got to sample. Highly recommend!
Nancy
Nov 18, 2024
Jeff was a charming and informative tour guide. His impressive knowledge of the history of Japan and how it relates to food was especially great!
Jenny
Nov 15, 2024
John was a wonderful guide for my morning at the fish market. He was warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the local food as well as the local region. He was very attentive and made sure to make room in our tour for those things that were of particular interest to me as we explored various parts of the market. I would definitely look to work with John and Context Travel again on future travels to Japan.
Kartini
Nov 9, 2024
