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The Toyosu Tuna Auction at Dawn, then Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: Clover Travel Co., Ltd.
The Toyosu Tuna Auction at Dawn, then Tsukiji Outer Market
The Toyosu Tuna Auction at Dawn, then Tsukiji Outer Market 2
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A 5 AM start at the world's biggest fish market — the tuna auction with a live interpretation of the hand signals, seafood breakfast, then old Tsukiji.

The Toyosu Tuna Auction at Dawn, then Tsukiji Outer Market: Key Facts

PriceFrom $153 per person
Duration3.5 hours
Group sizeUp to 12 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 2 available options

Tuna Auction, Market Tour and Seafood Breakfast

The full three and a half hours with the auction, the guided market walk, seafood breakfast at the market and the Tsukij...
3.5 hours
English
$153
Free cancellation

Tuna Auction and Market Stroll with Hotel Pickup, No Meal

The same route with hotel pickup arranged between 4:20 and 5:00 AM, without the breakfast.
3.5 hours
English
$153
Free cancellation

Full description

The tuna auction is the reason to set an alarm for four in the morning. Toyosu handles more seafood than any market on earth, and the auction is the moment the day's most valuable fish — bluefin that can run to hundreds of kilos — change hands in a few minutes of bidding conducted almost entirely in hand signals.

You watch from the second-floor public viewing deck, which is where visitors are permitted. What turns that from a curiosity into something worth the hour is the personal audio guide: your guide reads the signals in real time and tells you what is happening as it happens — who is bidding, what the fish is worth, why one carcass draws a scrum and the next does not. Without that, it is a room of men waving at each other.

Breakfast follows in the market itself, at the counters that serve the traders. This is the freshest seafood in Tokyo by a wide margin and it is eaten at seven in the morning, which takes adjusting to. Seafood ramen, sushi, whatever came in overnight.

Then Tsukiji. When the wholesale operation moved to Toyosu in 2018 the outer market stayed exactly where it was, and it is now the better place to browse — knife shops, tamagoyaki stalls, dried goods, and the small restaurants that never left.

Be realistic about the timing. You need to be at the Lawson at Toyosu Market by 5:00 AM sharp, so arrive around 4:45, and the tour ends at 8:30. Hotel pickup between 4:20 and 5:00 is available as a paid add-on. Groups cap at twelve. Transport between the two markets is included.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Meet at Toyosu Market by 5:00 AM

Tuna auction from the second-floor viewing deck, with live commentary on the bidding

Walk through the market's wholesale halls

Seafood breakfast at the market counters

Transfer to the Tsukiji outer market

Browse Tsukiji's knife shops, stalls and small restaurants

Finish around 8:30 AM

Includes

  • Professional guided tour of Toyosu Market and the tuna auction
  • Personal audio guide with live interpretation of the auction signals
  • Transport between Toyosu and Tsukiji
  • Walking tour of the Tsukiji outer market

Excludes

  • Breakfast (on the option without a meal)
  • Hotel pickup, available as a paid add-on
  • Drop-off service
  • Tips (optional)
  • Travel insurance

Important information

Meeting point

Lawson Toyosu Market Senkyaku Banrai, 6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061 — be there by 5:00 AM sharp; arriving around 4:45 is recommended.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 3.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $153
$153
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 27 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
C
Cindy– United States
September 5, 2026

Tim was fantastic! He was enthusiastic, friendly, funny and extremely accommodating. He was prompt meeting us with drinks as promised. He then handed our headsets so that we could always hear what he was saying, even in the crowds and when we got slightly separated. He took us to all the great finds that only a local can. I highly recommend this tour!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
M
Massimiliano– Italy
August 13, 2026

A really fascinating experience. The guide, EON, in particular, was brilliant. He was so kind and knowledgeable – brilliant!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
E
Edoardo– Italy
August 3, 2026

Very beautiful. Tim is a great guide with passion for his job. He told us everything about fish auction, its history, its insights very a lot of details. We have been lucky to have Tim!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
4
K
Krista
June 26, 2026

This tour was good in that you definitely got to see the tuna auction at Toyosu but these days Tsukiji is not much to look at other than more Tourist type shops and food. Our guide was from China and while very nice lacked some specific knowledge to some questions.

5
M
Michelle
April 18, 2026

Tim was an awesome tour guide, patient and knowledgeable. We really loved our sushi breakfast - it was the most amazing sushi! The markets were a feast for the eyes!

5
P
Per Göran
April 6, 2026

Wonderful tour with an excellent guide, Tim. He made the whole experience super with his happiness and high engagement.

5
C
Colin
March 26, 2026

Tim was an excellent guide, extremely knowledgeable and patient. The tour was excellent value for money and exceeded our expectations. Would recommend!

5
K
Katherine
March 16, 2026

Our tour guide Emily was excellent and very knowledgeable about both markets. She also took us to some of her favorite spots and stalls.

5
O
Olivia
March 9, 2026

Had an amazing tour of the markets with Alex! He was very knowledgeable about the markets and their history. He also showed us some great spots a little off the beaten path and gave excellent suggestions on where to get the best food for the best price. He kept us perfectly on schedule, and the transport between the markets was super smooth. I’ll definitely be recommending this tour to anyone looking to explore the fish markets and Tsukiji Market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lawson Toyosu Market Senkyaku Banrai, 6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061 — be there by 5:00 AM sharp; arriving around 4:45 is recommended.
The price does not cover breakfast (on the option without a meal), hotel pickup, available as a paid add-on, drop-off service and tips (optional). Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Yes, if you tell us when you book rather than on the day. Vegetarian and vegan are routine; allergies need naming specifically so the host can shop differently.
Clover Travel Co., Ltd.. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Professional guided tour of Toyosu Market and the tuna auction, Personal audio guide with live interpretation of the auction signals, Transport between Toyosu and Tsukiji, Walking tour of the Tsukiji outer market
The duration of the The Toyosu Tuna Auction at Dawn, then Tsukiji Outer Market is typically 3.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or late October to early December for autumn colour and the clearest skies. Contrary to most advice, October is Tokyo's wettest month (234.8 mm), not the June rainy season. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Tokyo guide.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card and budget ¥1,000–¥1,400 a day. Do not buy a JR Pass for a Tokyo-only trip — it costs ¥50,000 and excludes Tokyo Metro and Toei entirely. Note JR East raised Tokyo fares on 14 March 2026, so Metro is now cheaper than JR on several routes. See getting around Tokyo.
Shibuya Sky releases tickets only 14 days ahead at 00:00 JST — it cannot be booked months in advance. teamLab Borderless tickets drop at 12:00 JST on the 1st of each month. Our 3-day Tokyo itinerary lists every booking deadline.
Yes — a Japanese licence or an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. 1968 Vienna Convention permits are not valid in Japan. Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan need an official JAF translation instead. Arrange it before you fly; see the Tokyo go-kart guide.
Yes — the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko takes about 1h 45m for ¥2,200. But manage expectations: Fuji is visible on 84% of December mornings and only 23% of July mornings, and cloud builds through the day, so go early. Details in our Mount Fuji day trip guide.
Edomae sushi (the Tokyo Bay style, where curing began as a workaround for having no refrigeration), monjayaki — a runny griddle dish unique to Tokyo with 80+ specialists on Tsukishima's Monja Street — and soba. Also worth knowing: Tsukiji Outer Market never closed; only the wholesale auction moved to Toyosu. See the Tokyo food guide.
The crossing itself takes about ninety seconds. What makes it worth an evening is one street back — Nonbei Yokocho, a lantern-lit alley of tiny bars a minute away that almost nobody who photographs the scramble walks into. Note street drinking is banned in the area 18:00–05:00 year-round, though the ordinance carries no fine. See the Shibuya Crossing guide.
Yes, some. Japan's cashless ratio reached 58% in 2025, so over 40% of payments are still cash — and card refusal is most likely at small independent izakaya, ramen ticket machines and market stalls. Tipping is not expected anywhere.
Starting from$153