English

Do you have a morning market in your town?

Morning markets are held all over the world in various places and on various scales. However, in Japan today they face extreme pressure from large stores, and these gatherings of specialty stores that make up the shopping streets and morning markets may not be as lively as they used to be.

However, even now many morning markets are held in each part of the country, and those that have been around for a long time are still alive with a rich history and tradition.

One of such morning markets, that has continued since a long time ago is the Hida-Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market in the center of Japan in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.

The Miyagawa Morning Market is well known and is bustling from the early morning as the main tourist attraction in Hida-Takayama.
It is said the Miyagawa Morning Market originated in the early 1800’s as a mulberry tree market for sericulture held within the Takayama Betsuin Temple. Since then, for over 100 years the market was held in different locations, but settled in its current location around 1960.

Approximately 30 white morning market association tents run a straight line along the Miya River, flowing through the center of Takayama City. Across from this, permanent shops line the street.

With the mottos, "locally produced and consumed" and “food safety and security," the Miyagawa Morning Market sells seasonal vegetables, fruits, and processed goods such as homemade pickled vegetables. In addition to foodstuffs, traditional handicrafts popular as souvenirs, such as sarubobo and ichii itto-bori, are also sold directly from the craftsman.

The market is near the old town area, so in addition to being able to start shopping before the souvenir shops open, you can hear, in foreign terms, an explanation of each store’s specialty and the proper way to eat or preserve it from the owner. Because of this, it is popular for foreign visitors to enjoy tasting and shopping while enjoying interaction with the locals.

Won’t you come to Miyagawa Morning Market to feel the original landscape of Japan, experience culture, hear the dialect, and meet the people of Takayama?