Tokyo Tsukiji Market Food Tour & Sushi Cooking Class

Summary

Walk Tsukiji’s lively market then make sushi in Tokyo’s top cooking school

You’ll meet your guide at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple before weaving through Tokyo’s bustling Tsukiji Outer Fish Market—sampling snacks and learning local secrets—then head to Japan’s largest cooking school for a hands-on sushi lesson. Enjoy your homemade lunch with new friends and take home recipes (and maybe some imperfect sushi rolls). It’s lively but never overwhelming—just honest fun.

What’s the experience like?

Li, our guide, waved us over at the entrance of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple — I’d barely finished gawking at the stone lions before she grinned and asked if we’d ever tried tamagoyaki. I hadn’t. She bought one from a stall nearby, handed me a warm slice, and said “Japanese omelet — sweet, right?” It was still steaming and softer than I expected. The smell of grilled fish drifted through the air, mixing with something sharp and salty from another stand. People were everywhere but somehow it didn’t feel rushed — just busy in that Japanese way where everyone flows around you.

The Tsukiji Outer Fish Market is honestly a sensory maze: tiny alleys packed with vendors calling out prices, old men filleting tuna with knives longer than my arm (I’m not exaggerating), stacks of seaweed and buckets of shellfish I couldn’t name. Li pointed to a little shop selling konnyaku — “devil’s tongue,” she explained, which sounded ominous but tasted kind of chewy and cool? She laughed when I tried to say it in Japanese; I probably butchered it. We sampled pickled ginger and nibbled on dried squid while she told us about how the inner market moved years ago, so now this outer bit is where all the action is for visitors. Honestly, you could just wander here for hours.

After about an hour or so (time blurs when you’re eating everything), we hopped on a short ride past Ginza — those neon signs even in daylight are wild — and ended up at ABC Cooking Studio. It’s huge inside; bright white counters, big windows, lots of chatter from other groups. Our instructor showed us how to press rice for sushi without squishing it flat (harder than it looks). Rolling maki was trickier — mine looked like it exploded but tasted fine. We made a konnyaku dish too since it was August; they gave us the recipe to take home though I doubt mine will look as pretty.

Sitting down together to eat what we’d made felt oddly satisfying after all that chaos outside. There was a quiet moment when everyone just focused on their first bite — soy sauce, fresh fish, sticky rice — and for some reason that sticks with me more than anything else from the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tsukiji Market and Sushi Cooking Lesson

• Meet guide at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
• Walk and explore Tsukiji Outer Fish Market
• Pass by Ginza district by bus
• Attend sushi cooking class at ABC Cooking Studio
• Enjoy your sushi creation for lunch

Top questions

Is this tour only in English?

The tour includes an English-speaking guide throughout.

Do we visit the inner wholesale fish market?

No, only the outer market is included due to relocation policies.

How long does the whole tour last?

The experience takes about 3 hours total.

Is lunch included?

Yes, you eat what you cook during the sushi lesson for lunch.

Where does the tour start?

You meet your guide at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple's main entrance.

Are there any age or height restrictions?

The minimum age is 9 years old and minimum height is 130 cm (4.2 ft).

Is transportation between locations provided?

Yes, transport between Tsukiji Market and the cooking studio is included.

I have dietary restrictions—can I join?

The menu may vary by season; contact organizers ahead for details.

Can I bring luggage or a stroller?

No strollers or luggage are allowed during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes guidance from an English-speaking local expert at Tsukiji Outer Fish Market with plenty of tastings along the way, transport over to ABC Cooking Studio near Ginza for your hands-on sushi class (apron provided), drinking water at the studio, plus all ingredients for your meal—which you’ll share together before heading out into central Tokyo again.