Tokyo Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Market Tour: Licensed Guide

See the tuna auction live, then eat your way through Tokyo's two fish markets

A 3-hour guided tour of Tokyo's Toyosu and Tsukiji fish markets with a licensed English-speaking guide, starting at 5 am to catch the tuna auction from the public observation deck on the third floor. You meet your guide at your hotel or Toyosu Market, walk through both markets to learn their history and why top Japanese chefs source here daily, and have time to eat breakfast or lunch at your leisure afterward. The observation deck lottery ticket is not included and must be applied for a month in advance online. Guide entry to the markets themselves is covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Toyosu and Tsukiji Markets

• Meet guide at Tokyo pick up point
• Observe Toyosu Market auction area
• Walk and eat at Tsukiji Market
• Tour ends at Toyosu or Tsukiji

The experience

The tour starts before dawn, 5 am, so you arrive at Toyosu Market while the tuna auction is still running. You watch from a public viewing space on the third floor, where you can see the energy and speed of the bidding without stepping onto the working auction floor. Toyosu opened in 2018 on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay and took over the wholesale business from the older Tsukiji Market, so your guide explains the shift and why Japan's top chefs still visit daily to source the freshest ingredients.

After the auction, the tour moves to Tsukiji, the original fish market, which is packed with stalls selling everything from sashimi-grade fish to prepared foods, dried goods, and kitchen tools. This is where locals shop and eat, and your guide walks you through the stalls, pointing out what makes each one worth visiting. You have time to buy something and eat breakfast or lunch at one of the market restaurants or food stalls. This part is at your own pace and expense, so you can linger as long as you want.

The whole walk covers both markets on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Pickup is on foot within a designated Tokyo area, and you can arrange to start at your hotel or meet directly at Toyosu Market. If you want to view the tuna auction from the observation deck, you'll need to apply for the lottery ticket yourself a month before your tour date. Your guide can walk you through how to do it. Groups stay under five people if you're using the observation deck lottery ticket.

What’s included

• Licensed English-speaking guide for the full 3-hour tour.
• guide entry to both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets.
• pickup and drop-off on foot within Tokyo.
• time to eat and shop at your own pace after the guided portion.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Guide Agency

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the tuna auction live and have a guide explain what you're watching: the early 5 am start and the licensed guide's knowledge of both markets are what make the auction worth seeing rather than just passing through. If you can't commit to the early morning or prefer a later start, look for a market-only tour that skips the auction viewing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 6): free.

What time does the tuna auction tour start and why so early?

The tour starts at 5 am so you arrive at Toyosu Market while the tuna auction is still happening. The auction runs in the early morning, and this timing lets you watch it live from the third-floor observation deck before the market shifts into its regular daytime rhythm.

Can I watch the tuna auction without applying for the observation deck lottery ticket?

The observation deck lottery ticket is not included in the tour and must be applied for online a month in advance. Your guide can explain the application process, but you'll need to secure it yourself. Without it, you won't have access to the third-floor viewing space where the auction is visible.

What is Tsukiji Market and how is it different from Toyosu?

Tsukiji is Tokyo's original fish market, full of stalls selling fresh fish, prepared foods, and kitchen equipment. Toyosu, which opened in 2018, took over the wholesale business from Tsukiji but is a modern facility on an island in Tokyo Bay. The tour visits both so you see the old market culture and the new wholesale operation.

Is food and breakfast included in the price?

Food and drink are not included. After the market tour, you have time to eat breakfast or lunch at your leisure at restaurants and stalls in the markets, and you pay for anything you buy or eat yourself.

Do I need to be fit or able to walk a lot for this tour?

This is a walking tour covering both markets on foot, so comfortable shoes are important. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the markets are wheelchair accessible with accessible transportation options nearby. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Where does the tour pick me up and drop me off?

Pickup and drop-off are on foot within a designated area of Tokyo. You can arrange to meet your guide at your hotel or directly at Toyosu Market, and the tour ends at Toyosu, Tsukiji, or another location within Tokyo that you choose.