Hey friends,
My partner and I will be heading to Japan in April for our first visit and we’re looking for advice about the timing of going to Takayama and staying at a Ryokan while there.
I know that the Takayama Spring Festival is held on April 14th-15th (Friday/Saturday). We would like to at least check out one of the days of the fest, but would also like to see the city without the big crowds the festival would bring. I imagine the Saturday will be the busier of the two days
Would it make sense to try and swap Kanazawa and Takayama so we’re there the day before the festival and then the first day? Or will it likely be packed the days around it regardless, in which case maybe we try to go visit in between Kyoto and Osaka? We’d appreciate any advice or just insight on what to expect being there during this time.
A few items we want to do in the area are: going to The Hida Folk Village, see Gero (maybe on our way out) and try doing a hike at Hida-Osaka Falls.
4/8 – 4/12 Tokyo
4/13 – 4/14 Kanazawa
4/15 – 4/16 Takayama/Gero
4/17 – 4/20 Kyoto
4/21 – 4/22 Osaka
4/23 – 4/24 Hakone
4/25 Travel home
2 comments
[https://www.hida.jp/english/festivalsandevents/4000208.html](https://www.hida.jp/english/festivalsandevents/4000208.html)
Night of the 14 is Nightime festival. So yes I would try to be there for the 13-14, but sleep in Takayama both nights.
If you need, move some of the Tokyo days to the end of the trip, this way you can focus on shopping on the last day of the trip (instead of moving the stuff you buy all across Japan, so you can keep the same order, but just add Tokyo at the end.
Keep in mind that if it rains, the festival will be cancelled for the day so the floats don’t get damaged. For that reason don’t commit to a single day in Takayama, or be prepared to change your plans.
I went in 2019 and a lot of people only came for the first day of the festival only to miss out because of the rain. Next day was packed.