The Westin Sendai

From here it’s an easy walk to Tohoku University, Sendai Station, and a huge shopping area. The reception team were welcoming and supportive, and breakfast had tasty local and Western options. The rooms and shared spaces were spotless, and the rooms were well maintained with spectacular views from every floor and side of the tower. I couldn’t fault the place.

Service was outstanding everywhere, from the lounge and restaurant to the first floor and the staff on the 26th floor. The gentleman from Nepal who helped with check-in was especially good. The executive lounge and restaurant breakfast were excellent perks for loyal customers, too. I’ll definitely stay again. The room was fine, but it could use some updates. The bathroom toilet in particular needs updating. I wonder when the rooms are due for renovation.

Breakfast had excellent quality and variety for a hotel, and the room was very clean. I also liked the housekeeping setup: if you skip housekeeping, you can still get clean towels and emergency replacements, plus points. I stayed two nights and opted out for one day. The points showed up right away, before check-out, which I’d never seen at another hotel. The concierge team at The Westin Sendai really impressed me. Questions sent through the Bonvoy app or asked at the desk were handled quickly, and they were eager to help. They even called and followed up on things that would happen a week after I’d left. That kind of service is rare. As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member, I thought they could have offered a better room upgrade. I did get a small one. The station is about a ten-minute walk away. Walking is fine without heavy bags, but luggage can be a pain to drag, so I’d take a car with a lot to carry.

The views from the room and gym are amazing, and this looks like the tallest building in Sendai. It’s a modern place, much like an American hotel, with familiar amenities such as a gym and a Nespresso coffee pot. Staff were friendly and spoke decent English, and the central location was good. They left fresh towels and another bag of toiletries every day, which seemed odd to me. That meant a new wooden toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, Q-tips, and the like each time. One funny detail: the shower wall is opaque but you can still see the outline of whoever’s showering from the bedroom. I didn’t try the bar or restaurant, though they looked really nice and I heard good things from other guests.