APA Hotel Sendai Eki Itsutsubashi

I often choose this place for business trips because the rate stays under 10,000 yen. It has large public baths and a big TV, and the in-room unit bathroom is clean and tidy. Sendai Station is about a 10-minute walk away. Checkout at 11 a.m. suited me well since I had a business meeting in the early afternoon.

This APA branch costs a few thousand yen less than the one north of Sendai Station, while comfort and service are basically the same. The tradeoff is the location: it’s much farther from the station, and getting there means crossing a bridge with no escalator or lift. That could be a problem for older people or commuters with luggage, so keep it in mind. If the walk works for you, this branch seems like the better value.

I stayed three nights in a very small room. The only thing I liked was the location. The dryer didn’t get all my clothes dry, even after an hour and a half, and each 20-minute cycle cost 100 yen. One morning I also waited more than 20 minutes to get down to the lobby because every elevator that arrived was full.

For the price, the tiny room is understandable. It’s one of the cheapest hotels near Sendai Station, and I found it acceptable as a solo traveler or for a business trip. The walk takes about 10 minutes, though you have to go around the overhead bridge, especially with heavy luggage. The room cleanliness was disappointing. The toilet stank, there was hair all over the carpet when I checked in, and the bed linen didn’t feel very clean. I managed for my three-night stay, but the chain is seriously stingy with amenities. I’d asked for a non-smoking room, yet I could still smell smoke along the walkway. Maybe it was coming from the lift, but I’m not sure.