SUPER HOTEL Sendai station east Natural Hot Spring

The room size, location, staff, and feel of the hotel were all worth five stars to me. The front desk and breakfast staff were consistently kind during my three nights. On my last morning I showed up late for breakfast, which runs 6:30-8:30, but they still let me get some food. I really appreciated that, and the breakfast staff member deserves a bonus. The cleanliness is where things fell short. As soon as I arrived, I found 3-5 short, coarse body hairs, apparently not head hair, on the bed, behind it on the platform, and by the curtain. It was gross and made me doubt how carefully the room had been cleaned. Maybe it happened while the sheets were being changed, but they shouldn’t have been left there. There was just a thin sheet under the comforter, too, so I wondered how often the comforter gets cleaned. Those hygiene concerns made me uncomfortable from the start. I hope they improve the cleaning. I’d like to come back, but this gives me pause.

The room and bathroom were okay, though small, as in many Japanese hotels. The building is entirely a hotel, with the lobby and breakfast on the ground floor, plus a washing machine and dryer. It’s about a five-minute walk from the railway station, near restaurants and convenience stores, on the quieter side of town. There’s just one lift, so getting in and out can take a while at busy times.

Staff were warm and hospitable, even though their English wasn’t very strong. The hotel has men’s and women’s onsens on level 2, with no tattoos permitted. Breakfast is basic and fine for a business hotel, but western choices are mostly pastries and yogurt. I had a comfortable stay and thought it was excellent value. Sendai station, the loople tourist bus, shops, and restaurants are all a short walk away. The East Exit works, but North Exit 8 is usually the quickest route. If you want to shop or eat on the way into the station, the east gate is better. My extra double room was more than enough for me travelling solo, though two people might find it tight. There’s no dedicated luggage space, but the room felt modern and fresh. Some rooms face the train station, so ask for a quieter one if you’re sensitive to noise.

The staff were very nice, and the building seemed new. Despite having lots of rooms on each floor, it was somehow quiet and very clean. I wondered if it could be a problem if you had a bad neighbor and there were no other rooms to move to. It also felt like a good place to get away from regular tourists and young kids. If you’re drinking late on the west side, a taxi back here isn’t prohibitively expensive, so keep that in mind.