If you want to experience the best of Toyosu Fish Market, it’s best to get an early start. Having replaced its famous predecessor Tsukiji in 2018 as the largest fish market in the world, Toyosu officially opens at 5 in the morning, though many of its workers begin toiling away even earlier. We’ll take you there at the more sensible hour of 7 o’clock for an exclusive behind-the scenes tour of the market through areas normally off limits to tourists. After the tour you will head to Sushi Hazan, where master chef Kenichiro Hirai will instruct you in the art of making sushi before treating you to a fine sushi breakfast.

Why Visit: Toyosu Fish Market is the best place to learn how fresh fish travels from the sea to the market to your sushi plate.

local_taxi6 min by car (4.3 km)

Incense has played a central role in traditional Japanese rituals for over a thousand years, dating back to the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century. The ability to identify, appreciate, and understand the many subtle and delicate scents of incense is known as kodo. To journey into this scented realm, you will visit the Ginza branch of Koju, a shop that has specialized in incense for over 400 years. There, a kodo master will teach you about the importance of incense to Japanese culture, conduct an incense ceremony, and lead you through a nosy game of the traditional scent-matching game kumiko.

Why Visit: Traditional incense purveyor Koju is the ideal location to experience the scents and ceremonies associated with Japanese incense.

local_taxi1 min by car (520 m)

Ginza became the most famous street in Tokyo in the 1870s when its gas street lamps amazed residents by lighting up the city at night for the very first time. To stroll through Ginza became a popular pastime coined Gin-bura, a phrase still familiar to Tokyoites to this day. Round off your day with a Gin-bura stroll of your own, taking in the district’s high-end boutiques, statuesque department stores, and stunning modern architecture. Of particular note is the Wako department store with its iconic clock tower, an Art Deco masterpiece that survived the Allied bombings (though not the ravages of Godzilla, on three separate occasions). As evening sets in, enjoy an unforgettable meal at one of Ginza’s Michelin-starred fine dining establishments.

Why Visit: Upscale Ginza offers the perfect combination of high-end shopping, gorgeous architecture, and fine dining.