I have reservations at both the BW and Washington hotels in Takayama during the spring festival. Would be staying solo in a double room. Any help in choosing between the two hotels would be much appreciated.

The Washington is right across the street from the station which might be convenient. Is the price the same?

I think the Washington might be a bit less expensive. Across the street from the station might be a bad thing due to station noise. I think there were kids out in front of the station at night playing music. Also it is on the main drag. frommers.com has a blurb on the BW but nothing on the Washington.

I got the BW reservations online and then modified them by calling Takayama at the end of last month. I also called JTB USA in January and they said that the hotels were not making rooms available until mid-February.

JTB called back in the last day or two saying that the BW rooms sold out almost immediately after they became available, but the Washington was available. Almost for that reason alone I could stick with the BW.

Maybe stick with the BW then. In pictures, the Washington looks like a typical business hotel.

Thanks for that observation. It was my general impression that the Washington Hotel chain was of typical business hotels. The BW must be that or better.

I've stayed at the BW. It is a surprisingly good hotel: spacious room, quiet and well maintained, comfortable bed, good breakfast, and convenient location (one block from the station).