Tsukiji Market, 5 Tastings

A 3-hour walk through Tsukiji with five tastings. From $97.17 per person, free cancellation.

Overview

This three-hour walking tour with Japan Wonder Travel starts at the main gate of Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple and works through the outer market, the old market site and the Uogashi wholesale area before looping back to the start. Along the way a local guide leads the group through five set tastings, with wagyu beef skewers, fish cake, Japanese omelette, fruit and either sushi or a Tsukiji seafood bowl depending on the day. Some days add a fish cutting show or Japanese sweets.

The format is a small-group walk, and reviewers regularly praise the mix of food, market history and everyday customs, with guides explaining the vendors, the history of the market and Japanese etiquette along the way. At least one reviewer advises skipping breakfast beforehand, and another describes the portions as full-sized snacks rather than tiny samples. On days when it runs, the tour closes with a session upstairs in a traditional building where the group prepares fish bowls under a chef's instruction, which some loved and one reviewer found unnecessary.

It suits travellers who eat fish without restrictions. The listing is explicit that vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and allergy requests cannot be accommodated, and that anyone unable to eat fish cannot join. Travellers with no problem climbing stairs will manage fine; lunch can be on the third floor of a traditional building with no lift.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Tsukiji Hongwan-jiThe group meets at the main gate of Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple, on the front side. The tour departs at the stated start time sharp, so arrive early.
2. Tsukiji Jogai MarketOne hour and thirty minutes in the outer market, with the main food tastings and street food along the lanes.
3. The Old Tsukiji MarketThirty minutes, passing Tsukiji Hitachiya.
4. Tsukiji UogashiThirty minutes in the wholesale area. Closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and other market rest days.
5. Tsukiji Fish Market and lunchThirty minutes at the market, then the tour ends back at the meeting point. Depending on the day, lunch is sushi or a seafood bowl, sometimes preceded by a fish cutting demonstration.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from what travellers repeatedly report.

• Come hungry. One reviewer warns against eating breakfast beforehand, and another describes full-sized snacks rather than small bites. Several reviewers mention the food being plentiful, so plan a light morning.
• Wear walking shoes. The listing recommends walking shoes, and the route covers the market lanes on foot for most of the three hours. Travellers should have a moderate level of physical fitness. One reviewer noted the group moved at an easy walking pace.
• Weather. The experience requires good weather, and it is cancelled or altered in poor conditions, with a different date or a full refund offered.
• Shopping and extras. Several reviewers describe buying extra items along the way, from fresh oysters and roast beef sushi to kitchen knives, with guides helping them choose. If something tempts you, budget for it separately since it is not part of the included tastings.
• Dietary restrictions. The listing states plainly that vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and allergy requests are not accommodated, and that travellers who cannot eat fish cannot join. Check with the operator before booking if your diet is limited in any way.
• Guides rotate. Reviews name many different guides, all described as informative and friendly. The listing sets a maximum of 20 travellers on the tour.

Common issues. The wholesale market closes on Wednesdays, Sundays and other rest days, and on those days the omelette, fish cake and fruit tastings cannot be served because those shops are shut. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and lunch may involve stairs to a third-floor room in a traditional building. No refunds are given for same-day cancellations or late arrivals, and the tour cannot be extended for latecomers. One reviewer felt the closing fish preparation session was unnecessary and rated the chirashi bowl fish below the rest of the food; most others enjoyed it. Dietary requests of any kind are declined.

Questions Diners Ask First