Tsukiji Fish Market Sushi Class: Make & Eat Fresh Sushi

Walk the market with a local insider, then roll tuna, salmon and vegetables into sushi you'll eat the same day.

A 2-hour sushi making class and guided market tour at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, hosted by a 100-year market family. You walk through hidden shops and specialty stalls with an English-speaking local, then move into the kitchen to make 10 sushi pieces—tuna, salmon, vegetable rolls, inari sushi and a tuna roll—using fresh ingredients from the market and authentic Japanese knives. Your finished sushi goes into an original handcrafted wooden bento box, which you eat on-site. The group stays under 8 people, and children ages 3–9 get 20% off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tsukiji Market Tour and Sushi Making

• Guided walking tour of Tsukiji Market
• Visit hidden gems and specialty shops
• Learn about market culture and history
• Make 10 pieces of sushi with guidance
• Use authentic tools and fresh ingredients
• Present sushi in handcrafted wooden bento box

The Experience

How do you fit a real sushi education into a short Tokyo morning? This class starts with a walking tour through Tsukiji Market itself, the wholesale district that supplies Japan's top sushi restaurants. An English-speaking guide who belongs to a family that has worked the market for a century takes you past the tourist corridor into specialty shops—the knife makers, the seaweed vendors, the fish stalls where chefs buy. You learn what makes an ingredient worth the price, what the market does before dawn, and why Tsukiji's traditions still matter to Japanese food culture. The group stays small, under 8 people, so the walk moves at a pace that lets you stop and ask.

Then you step into the kitchen and make sushi. Not a demonstration you watch—you roll, press and shape 10 pieces yourself using the same authentic Japanese knives and tools a professional would use. The instructor guides you through tuna, salmon, seasonal vegetables, traditional inari sushi and a tuna roll, all made with fresh fish you've just seen in the market. Fresh wasabi comes with it, not the tube paste from a supermarket. When you finish, you arrange your sushi in an original handcrafted wooden bento box made by Japanese artisans, and you eat it right there in the space where you made it. The whole experience takes 2 hours, and you leave with the box.

Arrive 10 minutes early at the Sushizanmai Bekkan building in Tsukiji—the tour starts on time and late arrivals may not be able to join. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the market section. If you have allergies or dietary requests, tell the operator in advance; same-day changes are harder to arrange. The sushi you make must be eaten on-site for food safety reasons and cannot be taken away. Some market shops take cash only, so small bills or coins are useful if you want to buy anything during the walk.

What’s included

• English-guided walking tour through Tsukiji Market with a local insider.
• hands-on sushi making class where you create 10 pieces.
• premium tuna, salmon and seasonal vegetables.
• authentic Japanese knives and tools.
• fresh wasabi.
• original handcrafted wooden bento box.
• English-speaking sushi instructor.
• all applicable fees.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SMILING TOKYO

Is this one for you?At 2 hours total, this fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day, leaving time to explore more of Tokyo before or after. The class is hands-on and you eat what you make, so it works best if you are comfortable with raw fish and can arrive 10 minutes early to start on time.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

35 verified traveler reviews

5 ★33

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How much sushi do I actually make in the class?

You make 10 pieces total: tuna, salmon, vegetable sushi, traditional inari sushi, and a tuna roll. Each one you roll and shape yourself with guidance from the instructor, using authentic Japanese tools and fresh market ingredients.

What happens to the sushi I make—can I take it home?

You eat your sushi on-site in the kitchen where you made it, arranged in the handcrafted wooden bento box. For food safety reasons, it cannot be taken away, but the box itself is yours to keep.

Is this just a market tour, or do I actually learn sushi technique?

It is both. The first part is a guided walk through Tsukiji Market with a local whose family has worked there for 100 years—you see hidden shops and specialty stalls tourists usually miss. The second part is a hands-on sushi making class where you learn technique and create pieces you eat the same day.

How many people are in the group?

The walking tour is limited to 8 guests, which keeps the pace manageable and gives you room to ask questions as you move through the market.

Do I need to speak Japanese or have sushi experience?

No. The entire experience is guided in English, and the instructor walks you through each step of the sushi making. No prior experience is needed.

What if I have a food allergy or dietary restriction?

Tell the operator in advance of any allergies or dietary requests, including vegetarian preferences. They will do their best to accommodate, but same-day requests may not be possible. Kosher requests cannot be accommodated. If you are feeling unwell, do not join, as raw fish is handled during the class.