Konnichiwa from the MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN Takayama team.
Do you enjoy trying local cuisine when you travel? If you do, be sure to try the ayu, or sweetfish, when you travel to Takayama in the summer time!
Summer time in Takayama is famous for delicious ayu, also known as sweetfish. The rivers in the Hida region, including the Miyagawa River running through the heart of Takayama, are clear and fast-flowing, perfect for producing some of Japan’s best-tasting ayu. Hida ayu is known for its delicate and refined flavor, as well as its refreshing aroma which has earned it the poetic nickname kōgyo, meaning “fragrant fish.”
The classic way to enjoy ayu is grilling it simply, with just salt. This is called shioyaki, and it allows the natural qualities of the fish to shine on their own.
One of the best parts about visiting Takayama is enjoying the food culture, shaped by the surrounding mountains and rivers. Ayu is one of the most iconic foods that can be enjoyed during the summer months. There is even a dedicated Ayu Map, created to bring together the various restaurants and shops around Takayama city where you can enjoy locally sourced and fresh ayu, a sign of how seriously the region takes this seasonal tradition.
If you’re visiting during the summer, we highly recommend trying ayu during your time in Takayama. Be sure to ask our guest services team for recommendations on where to try it!
