Tl;dr – Hilton will renovate an existing property – the Hotel Associa Takayama Resort – located in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan next year and looking to explore other areas of the island nation outside many of the tourist hotspots like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Okinawa, and Hokkaido, then this upcoming Hilton property might be of interest to you. Hilton recently announced the signing of the Hilton Takayama Resort, a rebrand of the Hotel Associa Takayama Resort. Located in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture within the greater Chūbu region, this property will add to the existing 33 Hilton locations across Japan (not including the SLH properties) to deepen the chain’s portfolio.
The hotel, located 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Takayama, will be an excellent base camp for guests visiting popular sites like the historic Sanmachi Suji district, experiencing the Miyagawa Morning Market, and visiting the Takayama Jinya—the only remaining example of a government outpost from the Edo period in Japan.
Plans for a pre-debut renovation include the installation of a new executive lounge and the expansion of the hotel’s suite offerings, in addition to the property’s 283 existing rooms. Although the resort already has a robust spa (more on that below), a new fitness center should complement the property’s offerings for those looking to stay active.
While photos of the existing resort might make you think ‘it’s dated’ – this property might be underrated and a link-up with Hilton could do wonders for the resort. The big draw of the current Hotel Associa Takayama Resort is its hot springs.
The resort boasts ten outdoor baths and two indoor baths, in a dedicated spa wing.
Other amenities include a karaoke room and a children’s play space. Currently, there are three restaurants and one lounge, and post-renovation, the food offerings should be similarly strong.
It’s always helpful to have point hotels in a competitive market like Japan, and I’m a huge fan of off-the-beaten-path spots. Though I don’t stay at many Hilton properties, there’s promise to this rebrand. If I find myself in Gifu in the future, I’d gladly check it out.
