Library Hotel Higashi Nibancho

The room had plenty of space and was comfortable, with room under the bed for luggage. Noise from outside wasn’t well blocked, though it didn’t bother me much. Cleanliness was the bigger issue: there were mould spots in the bathroom, dust you could clearly see, and the toilet hadn’t been cleaned properly. Compared with other similar hotels I’ve stayed at in Japan, it needs more attention.

I only stayed one night even though I’d booked three. The room was dirty, with coffee stains all over the wall and hair in the bathtub, and the facilities felt very old. The lobby and fancy ground floor looked nice, but the room was a real letdown. I also saw reviews on trip.com from people who said they’d encountered bed bugs, so I hope this helps anyone choosing a place to stay in Sendai. I can’t recommend it.

Our room had a balcony, which was a nice touch, but the road noise made it hard to enjoy sitting outside, and October was a bit cold for it anyway. We stayed three nights during the yosakoi festival, just nearby. The room itself was spacious, and the staff were kind and helped with check-in and keeping our luggage until the room was ready. We enjoyed the stay overall.

The toilet paper holder on the wall was the one annoying detail. Otherwise, I liked that there’s a vending machine outside with Grape Fanta Soda, since the nearby 7-11 and Family Marts only had Coke. McDonald's is just a block away, and it’s about a 15-minute walk to Sendai station.