Published on Nov, 2024

Our guide was Mr.Shuji an avuncular old gentleman who , with old world courtesy and graciousness took us for a delightful tour of the Tsukiji market and Kappabashi street. Our tardy purchases meant that instead of staying with his timetable, we photo finished to our Shinkansen connection to Tokyo. Very considerately he accompanied us to the railway station,showed us the entrance to our platform and wished us safe travels. Have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him to anyone !

Published on Oct, 2024

Knife shopping was the key driver for booking this tour, but we got much, much more out of the experience with our guide, Hiro Chikata. It was only our second full day in Tokyo, and we had already trekked back and forth twice through a long underground passage to a Ginza station near our hotel. Instead of taking us on that same boring route, Hiro took us on a longer walk to a different metro line station, which had us strolling through beautiful parks and a green residential neighborhood instead of a boring repeat trip through a tunnel. Our first destination was the Tsukiji outdoor shopping market with a stop beforehand at the lovely Hongan-ji Temple that's nearby. Hiro helped thread our group through the maze of shops and stalls, filled with hungry fellow travelers. We tasted some samples that were being offered, had some snacks (onigiri, for one), and bought souvenirs. We did a quick viewing of Japanese chef knives at one shop, but decided to move on when we learned that they didn't offer international shipping. (This was a must for us because we were leaving Tokyo on a cruise ship that doesn't allow knives onboard, for obvious security reasons.) Our second destination was Kappabashi Street, but on our way there Hiro wisely steered us to the basement level food hall in the Mitsukoshi Department Store. The wide array of Japanese food options - including bento boxes that were mini works of art - was all just beyond belief! Hiro also knew to take us to an upper floor of the department store where we had our lunch on an outdoor terrace. (We liked this lunch option so well we made a point of coming back there the next day!) Guided to Kappabashi Street, we dipped in and out of the various kitchenware shops, finally arriving at a gorgeous knife shop that Hiro recommended where we ended up buying three knives that we had shipped home. (Pro tip: when they ship your items via DHL Express, they really mean EXPRESS - DHL attempted delivery just TWO days after our purchase, so we had to have them delay delivery until after we get home.) We also visited some of the plastic food shops where their offerings are just mind-blowing. Afterwards, we ending up skirting the Senso-ji temple area on the way back to our hotel because we were booked on another tour with our cruise line that was going there later in the week. Along the way, we popped into shops of interest (including a Hello Kitty store) and took note of the many couples in kimonos heading for the temple area for photo shoots of their own. The tour does require a fair amount of walking, but our group of three travelers in their late-60's (similar in age to our guide) with one 33-year old did just fine. Just- make sure you wear comfortable shoes! We got all we expected and much, much more out of this tour and from our guide, Hiro, who filled us in on a broad range of Japanese cultural topics, not just on knife shops. Highly recommended!

Published on Aug, 2024

I booked this tour because it combined a tour of the typical sites of Tokyo with knife shopping. First, the tour was by foot and train. We just followed our tour guide's instructions and it all worked out well. Even when it was over, he made sure we were on the right train, knowing which exit to take. He would have travelled all the way with us but that wasn't necessary. Because it was just our family, we could customize what we did. For the most part, we followed his lead. We learned a lot and saw some of the sites we wanted to see. When we went knife shopping, I really didn't know what I was doing. Our guide helped some and facilitated others helping. Again, this was all customizable. We visited about 10 shops and we could have kept going. But, I found what I wanted and we moved on. Other than knife shopping, I think my favorite part was the Tsukiji Fish Market area. My understanding is that the true fish market by the water is somewhere else but this place with all the small markets was awesome. Wish we could have spent more time there.

Published on May, 2024

It was a great morning - Izumi was very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. He adapted the tour based on my requests and my goal of leaving Japan with a new set of cooking knives was accomplished

Published on Mar, 2024

My travel agent arrange for my husband and I to take a private tour to the knife district with Miya. She was absolutely the best! She met us at our hotel and we traveled there using the subway. The subway system in Tokyo is amazing. We never could have experienced it in a large group tour. Miya had emailed us prior to our trip to learn exactly what we wanted to see and the types of Japanese food that we would like to try. She then arranged for us to go to two knife shops and both were excellent. They carried different products and the sales clerks were extremely knowledgeable. I was even able to get a name engraved on the one for a friend and have them shipped. I had also wanted to see shops that sold the miniature plastic foods. In the end, I didn’t buy any, but I did get some pictures. Miya selected the perfect restaurant for our lunch. We dined on some traditional Japanese dishes that were quickly prepared for us. The chef was very entertaining. Miya speaks excellent English and readily translated when I had questions for some of the sales people. She knew where to go for the duty refund. Because it was just for my husband and I, we were able to learn so much more about our Japan. We had so many questions and Miya answered them. It was so much more than my husband and I thought it would be. We definitely recommend Miya to anyone who is traveling to Tokyo.