Miyagawa Morning Markets

The Miyagawa Morning Markets in Takayama are a vibrant, 300-year-old tradition located along the east bank of the Miyagawa River. Unlike typical tourist markets, they began as farmers' markets where locals sold produce and flowers. Today, they offer a lively mix of fresh local vegetables, handmade crafts (like sarubobo dolls and wooden goods), pickles, miso, and seasonal fruits, as well as ready-to-eat snacks such as Hida beef buns, tamagoyaki, and soy milk doughnuts. The atmosphere is friendly and unhurried, with vendors often offering samples. Running roughly from 7:00 AM to noon daily, the best experience comes from going early—not only to avoid crowds but also to see the market at its most authentic, as locals shop for their daily groceries before the tour buses arrive.

Miyagawa Morning Markets in Takayama, Gifu (Japan) — one of the most talked-about morning markets in the region: 🌞 Good Vibe • A charming, traditional riverside morning market that’s been operating for centuries and still draws locals and visitors alike.  • Set along the scenic Miyagawa River, it offers a pleasant atmosphere for a morning stroll with fresh air, flowing water and friendly stall owners.  • Many visitors enjoy just walking around for about 15–20 minutes, though you can easily spend up to an hour sampling snacks and browsing.  ✔ Fresh produce & local specialties • Lots of seasonal vegetables, fruits, homemade pickles, miso and regional foods prepared by local farmers.  ✔ Friendly interactions • Friendly vendors who are happy to chat about their products — many reviews highlight how welcoming and personable they are.  ✔ Street food & sampling • Several stalls offer takeout foods like Hida beef skewers, takoyaki, taiyaki, buns and sweets — with some offering tastings before you buy.  ✔ Scenic setting • The riverside location and views of fish and ducks add to the relaxed, photogenic feel of the market.  ✘ Short market length • The market isn’t very long — visitors often see everything in a short walk — so some say it’s quick to browse.  ✘ Tourist-oriented • Some feel that parts of the market lean a bit toward tourist goods and souvenirs rather than purely local produce.  ✘ Limited seating / coffee spots • A few reviews mention there aren’t many places to sit down with a drink — you’re basically eating while walking.   • is worth visiting especially in the morning, preferably before noon.  • Arrive early (7–10 AM) for the freshest goods and fullest selection.  • Bring cash, as many stalls are cash-only.  • Pair your visit with a walk through Takayama’s old town (Sanmachi street) nearby. 

The Miyagawa Morning Markets has a charming riverside setting and a traditional atmosphere that makes for a pleasant morning stroll. It’s nice to browse the small stalls and soak in the local vibe. That said, the food options felt quite limited, and much of what was available didn’t justify the price in terms of quality or portion size. Several items seemed overpriced, and overall the market feels quite tourist-oriented. It’s still worth visiting for the experience and atmosphere, but you might want to skip most of the food. The exception is the onigiri shop, which was simple, fresh, and reasonably priced — definitely the highlight among the food stalls.

There is free water, sake at the lobby at specific time. Some traditional snacks are available as well. Parking space is enough and I can get a slot in front of the hotel. Two public onsen which you can use if its not occupied. The is no clear instruction to customers that there is no bath cleaning facilities in it including water and soap. I cannot imagine how many of visitors jump into it without bath, thus I did not enjoy it much. The bath facilities information can only be found in the TV bath usage information page. I take bath at room before going to onsen. It's strongly suggesting post the message in front of the onsen and brief it from the staff as well. As not enough one know this practice before going to onsen. The renewal room is large at 4th floor, you have to get 1 stair up without elevator. The room is packed with beds, tables and chair and not much free spaces. The in room onsen is wonderful and keep yourself private.

A nice morning market that has good local food eg hida-gyu buns, Takopachi, roasted sweet potatoes etc. There’s many souvenir shops too that sell nice stuffs. Nice morning walk through the markets with much to see.