MARKETS · Japan
The good market tours fill weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Guided Tsukiji outer-market walk with tastings and lunch. Try wagyu skewers, sushi or a seafood bowl, plus tea and snacks.
“Since we were traveling after peak tourist season we ended up on an unplanned “private” tour! Kayoko was the best guide. She gave us a lot of interesting information about the different food/ingredients we saw as well as local history anRead more”
Walk Tsukiji with a local guide, visit a historic temple, and taste your way through fish-market stalls with a flexible plan.
“Haydn was really nice and knowledgeable about the food, but I was surprised that we went to a temple for the first part of the tour. While interesting, we could have done without the temple part.”
2-hour Tsukiji Fish Market guided walking tour with Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, English guide, photos, and optional street-food tastings.
“We had a wonderful visit to the Tokyo Fish Market with our guide, Jim. He created a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere and shared many interesting insights into Japanese culture—both from a local perspective and from his experience as a foreigner living in Japan. Jim introduced us to a variety of foods we probably wouldn’t have tried on our own, and we truly appreciated his guidance and clear explanations. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable tour in a small group of eight people, and we would gladly recommend it to others!”
Small-group Kyoto food walk with 7 tastings and brunch, plus photo help. Covers Gion, Shijo Bridge, Pontocho, and Nishiki Market.
“The market was so interesting and vibrant. We ate food we would never have found on our own. Hikaru was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable, informative with a great personality. He made the brunch a perfect experience. I highly recommend this tour.”
A 4-hour outer Tsukiji market walk plus pro-chef sushi making, ending with lunch of your nigiri and roll creations.
“Amazing, the tour, the information and the sushi making was so amazing. They were helpful knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend doing thia tour.”
Small-group Tsukiji Outer Market food tour: wagyu skewers, sushi or seafood bowls, tamagoyaki, fruit, and Tokyo market culture.
“Excellent tour! Kenji, our guide, showed us all the best places for authentic delicious street food and was also able to tell some fun facts along the way! A truly phenomenal experience, and the food is delicious! This was our second time doing this exact tour, as it was so good last time!”
A 2-hour small-group walk through Tsukiji with street food stops, a traditional fish-cutting show, and a visit to Hongwanji Temple.
“Wasn’t for me. Just was a very unorganized and hectic, the temple tour didn’t add a ton of value. Skipped a few stalls because it was too busy. I would really recommend saving your money and just walking the market. Nothing in the tour was worth the money of the guide.”
Taste Tsukiji Outer Market with a small-group guide, seafood samples and lunch, plus temple and shrine stops in Tokyo.
“Our tour guide, Kazu, was absolutely fantastic! His knowledge of the market, recommendations and kindness made this a most fascinating tour. My husband is a coeliac and Kazu went out of his way to ensure he received appropriate options even if he needed a substitute or slight change. Come hungry - there is a lot to try and eat. Thank you Kazu.”
2-hour small-group Kuromon Market food walk in Osaka with 6 tastings, local history, ordering help, plus Doguyasuji street stops.
“No need for a tour to begin with. Could have just visited and explored the market on our own. Self explanatory.”
Learn nigiri and maki at Tsukiji with a sushi master. Fresh market ingredients, pro knife tips, and the sushi you make, plus tea.
“Fun time with the family learning how to make, present and experience sushi! Yuko was a great teacher!”
A small-group Tsukiji Outer Market walk with 5 to 8 seafood samples, included brunch, and a guide to help you avoid the chaos.
“Keiko was a great guide. The market can be overwhelming with the amount of people and so many store options but Keiko walked us through the market and gave us tips. We love the food stops we did and we love how Keiko adapts depends on what we liked. Definitely a great tour!”
Sample Kyoto’s best bites on a small-group Nishiki Market walk plus shrine and temple stops, with culture context and enough food.
“While we could have explored Nishiki Market on our own, having a guide made all the difference. Taka, our guide, not only showed us the market’s hidden gems but also introduced us to some incredible local delicacies. He truly took care of us throughout the experience. If you’re looking for a bit of personalized attention while exploring the market, this tour is highly recommended.”
Tsukiji Outer Market walk with English guide, then a sushi and tamagoyaki lesson at ABC Cooking Travel. Eat what you make in Tokyo.
“We were a group of two families (four adults, two kids and two teens) traveling together in Tokyo. Everyone had a wonderful time on this half-day tour! It was enough to get a flavor of the local market/culture without losing the interest of the kids and teens (and husbands). We met Lucy at Tsukiji Hongan-ji. There was a little bit of a misunderstanding when we booked the tour. We thought that since the two families separately booked the same tour at the same time that we would be on the same tour, which is not the case (have one person book everyone on the same purchase to ensure that you're…”
Kyoto matcha tea ceremony with live koto at KOTOLILY KYOTO. Make creamy matcha, sip sweets, and add kimono photos.
“Such an amazing experience, the matcha, candies and Yurika playing the koto was fenomenal. Yurika was so nice and speaks very good English so it can help you with any request”
Osaka Kuromon Market food walking tour with a local guide. 6 stops, 6 tastings, plus kitchenware streets and Dotonbori views.
“Okan Niko's energy was the best part, her happiness was infectious.”
Pick the kind of day first. The tour comes second.
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