Takayama GTG on April 13, 14, or 15?
 

Interested in a Fodorite get-together in Takayama during the spring festival this year? I believe there are a couple of Fodorites who are planning to attend the festival this year.

I've got a ticket to Nagoya on United. Will arrive there on April 9. Probably stay at the Nagoya Hilton (15000 yen, or 16500 with breakfast, for a standard room) the first night. Probably will visit Kiso Valley, maybe Kyoto or Osaka or Tokyo depending on where the hanami is best. Then to Takayama Best Western for 13-16th. Nagoya Hilton again on the 16th and fly home on the 17th.

possible. isn't 4/9 too late for hanami?

I think it might be late for Kyoto and Osaka. In Tokyo last year the peak was April 8/9, IIRC. But the blossoms do last for a week (at least the ones in D.C. do), so maybe it will be good. Won't know the blossom forecast until the beginning of March.

I have read that Osaka castle is a good place for cherry blossoms. Plus I definitely want to visit that castle, sooner or later, as it was an important site in Japanese history.

Yes...yes...but...but...I have to work at some point on each of those days.

Kanazawa??? :)

You can even visit our oh-so-Japanese house. Actually, we are just about the only things not Japanese about it, so anyone who wanted a sneak peak into typical Japan would be more than welcome to have a look.

mrwnrfl...spend the extra for the exec floor if you are getting in fairly early in the evening - they have enough out for evening hors d'oevres to do you well enough for dinner on most nights. The free snacks, drinks, pool/bath/fitness club, and breakfast in the lounge in the morning are great benefits. The rooms are the same, though. We find the lounge staff there outstanding in all respects...efficient, friendly, and they can help you arrange just about anything. If the exec floor is not your thing, do spend the extra 1500 for the b-fast included rate, as it costs more than that, and it's a big, lovely spread on the 2nd floor. Beats Starbucks across the street, expecially when you body thinks it's dinner time.

Also, get in touch with Hilton Honors and join before your trip. They will generally give you a fast track to Gold with 4 stays if you ask very, very nicely for it and tell them you intend to stay at Hilton properties and have some reservations in place to back you up. Gold is nothing special in the states, but in Japan and Bangkok it gets us consistently upgraded rooms (almost always to exec) and free pool/fitness and breakfast. It's a good deal.

Cherry blossoms...last for week or so, unless there is wind or rain. I like the tail end best, as they look like snow.

I originally had plans to go to the festival in Takayama (Best Western), but cancelled the reservations as I looked at some pics on the net and decided the crowds would be too overwhelming for my daughter.

I am hoping to see sakura in Tokyo on the 8th when we arrive there. Will be in Tokyo area 8th through 14th, 15th head to Hakone for one day/night, then 16th - 18th in Kyoto, 19th & 20th in Takamatsu, and back to Kyoto night of 20th - 22nd. 23rd in Kyoto til 6 pm, then to Osaka for the night to depart the next day.

Going to baseball in Osaka?

I just got to HHonors Silver status. Good thing I checked my status as I found that they made a mistake and my account is 1 stay short. I looked for but did not see an executive club choice. They did have deluxe rooms for about 20,000. Good to hear about the breakfast; I thought it would probably be worth it.

Maybe Chunichi Dragons baseball. Definitely will have to stop at an onsen, probably Gero. I'll keep Kanazawa in mind, too.

mrwnrfl...definitely get on the phone with Hilton Honors to request a fast track to gold. It's usually only 4 stays in 3 months, and with 2 already planned...if you could get the gold before Nagoya it would be great...we are always upgraded to exec floor there with gold, even during Expo we were upgraded. So, we end up paying about 16,000 yen for the night for the 3 of us on exec floor.

On hilton.com, I found exec floor rates for Nagoya at 27,000 per night...at that price, I'd go for the 16,500, or if you are gold, the 15,000 and no matter about the upgrade as you'll get breakfast for being gold regardless. As silver, you don't get breakfast, but you do get free pool and fitness. To see exec floor rates I've found you've got to choose the towers/exec option in the room preference field in the reservation form, or else when you get the list of rates, at the top of the page choose list all rates and you'll get it then too.

oh, I see, you have to check the box to see the exec club rates.

I now have res at Nagoya Hilton for 1 night, Osaka Hilton for 2 nights (at 18,500), Nagoya again for 1 night, the Best Western in Takayama for 3 nights, and Nagoya Hilton for 1 night. Subject to change. I did request the fastrack to Gold and will hear back by e-mail in 5 days. Also called the BW in Takayama and the lady confirmed that they had my reservation for there.

Sounds like you have a plan.

I got an e-mail today from HHonors:

Dear mrwunrfl:

Thank you for your request regarding an upgrade to the Gold VIP Level.

Based on the documentation you have provided, we are happy to extend a special one-time offer to fast track to the Gold VIP level. If within the next 90 days, from today's date, you record 4 eligible stays or 10 eligible nights at any participating HHonors hotels, your account will be automatically upgraded to the Gold VIP tier status through April 30, 2008.

We look forward to your meeting the challenge ...

Great! If you wanted to be gold before your trip, you could do 4 stays (4 nights not in a row at the same property or 4 nights even in a row but at a different property each night) at an inexpensive place near home...like a Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn or Embassy Suites. Gold status does get you good stuff in Japanese Hiltons. If you become gold beforehand, make a note in your reservation requesting the upgrade to exec floor.