Previous to heading as much as Hokkaido for a ski journey, my buddies flew in from Calgary and we spent just a few days in Tokyo as they adjusted to the time distinction. 

Once I was contemplating all of the choices accessible for us, the Westin Tokyo struck steadiness between worth, services, and entry to the remainder of town. 

Westin Tokyo – Reserving

I managed to attain a beneficial journey agent charge for our keep, which is at all times useful in cities like Tokyo the place resort costs are typically fairly excessive.

Usually, money charges for the Westin Tokyo vary from ¥30,000 ($300 CAD) on the decrease finish to upwards of ¥100,000 ($1,000 CAD) per evening on the larger finish. Count on to pay round ¥50,000 ($500 CAD) per evening on common, though decrease charges can be found farther prematurely.

For those who’re seeking to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors, count on the associated fee to vary from 50,000–74,000 factors per evening, with a mean of round 65,000 factors.

Relying on the money charge, you’re possible higher off saving your factors for an additional property, because the price in factors is kind of excessive. With our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.9 cents per level (CAD), you’re prone to get mediocre worth at greatest for a redemption.

Westin Tokyo – Location

The Westin Tokyo is positioned within the Mita district of Meguro Metropolis, simply on the western border of Minato Metropolis.

The resort is positioned in a largely residential space, which is sweet for those who like quiet areas however not nice for those who prefer to be within the coronary heart of the motion.

Within the speedy neighborhood of the resort is the Yebisu Backyard Place, a purchasing space with just a few eating places sprinkled round as properly. 

The Institute for Nature Research, which options a big botanical backyard, will be reached from the resort in round quarter-hour by foot.

The realm surrounding the closest metro station, Ebisu, has loads of eating places and outlets, and is rather more vigorous than the realm across the resort. It’s a couple of 10-minute stroll away.

Ebisu station is on the Yamanote Line, which is a round line that gives entry to lots of Tokyo’s highlights. From the station, you’ll be able to simply entry Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku, in addition to Shinagawa Station, all in lower than quarter-hour.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is round 20 minutes by automotive or 45 minutes by transit through the Yamanote and Keikyū Airport Strains. Tokyo Narita Airport is a little bit of a trek, and it’ll take you round an hour by automotive or round an hour and 45 minutes by prepare.

Westin Tokyo – Verify-in

I’d really dropped off some baggage with the Concierge staff on the Westin Tokyo just a few days previous to my arrival. I wasn’t eager on bringing my snowboard and suitcase together with me to Osaka for just a few days, and the resort was very completely happy to retailer my baggage till I got here again.

My buddies flew in to Tokyo Narita, and I met them there after a fast flight from Osaka. We made our technique to the resort by prepare and foot, they usually have been very a lot relieved at hand their skis, snowboards, and baggage to the resort employees as we approached.

The resort opened in 1994, and is unquestionably attribute of occasions previous. The outside is straightforward to identify from a distance but it surely’s not essentially pleasing to the eyes; nonetheless, it will get higher as you head to the grand entrance.

The foyer lounge is grandiose, and was designed to emulate the sensation of a European palace. The house is marked by giant columns, tall ceilings, and a little bit of old-school magnificence.

We made our technique to the check-in desk, which is the place the resort confirmed the variety of friends within the room and notified me of an additional individual cost. We’d opted to have a rollaway mattress introduced in, and since we have been splitting the associated fee 3 ways, we have been completely happy to pay. 

My Platinum Elite advantages have been acknowledged, and the affiliate knowledgeable us of the resort’s services, together with entry to the Government Lounge.

I made some slight efforts at “suite-talking“, which weren’t fruitful, however I didn’t actually care an excessive amount of this time.

We headed over to the elevators and as much as our room on the fifteenth flooring.

Westin Tokyo – Double Visitor Room

As quickly as we entered the room, we had a little bit of a chuckle at the way it seemed with three beds squished collectively. On the similar time, it’s bigger than different resort rooms in Tokyo, and we wound up having greater than sufficient house between the three of us.

The room opens as much as a small hallway, with a closet tucked off to the left. Inside, you’ll discover the standard further bathrobes, ironing board, and hangers.

Simply previous the closet is the room’s minibar, which got here outfitted with a Nespresso machine, a tea kettle, three bottles of water, and a mini-fridge with drinks for buy. I appreciated that the resort had proactively supplied three of every part prematurely of our keep.

Previous the minibar, the room opens as much as the bed room. The three beds took up many of the house, and the rollaway mattress was squeezed between the opposite two beds.

Reverse from the beds is the flat-screen TV, a DVD participant, a dresser, and a baggage rack. After we first entered the room, I used to be happy to search out the bags that I had left with the Concierge just a few days prior.

There have been additionally three units of Japanese pajamas within the dresser, which we after all needed to attempt on.

Within the nook of the room is a desk, which I used throughout the day when my buddies have been out exploring town. The chair was comfy, and it was a pleasant quiet house to work from.

Subsequent to the room’s home windows have been two armchairs, a desk, and a single ottoman. We’d chosen craft beers as a part of the welcome present, which have been introduced up shortly after check-in.

Towards the wall near the armchairs is a make-up desk, mirror, and air air purifier.

The view from our room confronted away from the Tokyo Tower, and we had a view of Meguro Metropolis as a substitute.

Heading again to the doorway, there’s a spacious lavatory full with a separate bathtub, walk-in bathe, Japanese bathroom, and huge self-importance. In line with the remainder of the old-school type of the room, every part concerning the lavatory introduced me again just a few a long time.

For those who respect the attraction of carpeted flooring, heavy drapes, wood furnishings, and a relatively beige wallpaper, you’re positive to be happy on the Westin Tokyo. Whereas the room definitely wasn’t trendy by any means, at the least there was cohesion all through the bed room, lavatory, and the remainder of the resort, for that matter.

As we have been utilizing the resort as a base for exploring town, assembly with buddies, and resting up, we had every part we wanted in our room. 

Westin Tokyo – Government Lounge

One of many components that weighed closely in my resolution to e book this resort was the presence of an Government Lounge, which I loved entry to with my Platinum Elite standing. Friends staying on Membership Degree rooms additionally get pleasure from entry.

The lounge is positioned on the seventeenth flooring of the resort, and is open each day from 7am–8pm. There’s a check-in desk with a small foyer, the place lounge employees greet you upon entry and make sure your room quantity.

The lounge faces north, and has loads of pure mild flowing in via an abundance of home windows. On the rightmost aspect of the lounge, there’s a good view of the long-lasting Tokyo Tower, so make sure you snag a seat on this half of the lounge to get pleasure from a view.

In any other case, you’ll be able to select from quite a lot of tables, the perfect of that are positioned subsequent to the home windows. The lounge employees rapidly made preparations for us as a gaggle of three, since most tables are arrange for pairs.

Breakfast is served within the lounge from 7–10am. We got here by every morning throughout our keep to gasoline up for the day.

Instantly upon getting into, the employees discovered us a pleasant desk, after which took our beverage orders instantly. I appreciated the attentive service we acquired within the Government Lounge on the Westin Tokyo, and it continued each different time we came around.

The breakfast gadgets are unfold out in three totally different areas, and employees additionally come round to take orders for eggs.

On the far finish of the lounge is the recent meals station. Whereas the choice assorted a bit every day, we at all times discovered some dumplings, quiche, spring rolls, steamed veggies, grilled hen, sausages, and bacon.

Alongside the inside wall within the centre of the room was an extended counter with a lot of chilly gadgets, together with a modest salad bar, recent fruits, rice balls, cheese, and chilly cuts. There’s additionally a pot of oatmeal on this space.

A central island within the lounge performs host to a lot of different breakfast gadgets, together with yogurts, pastries, cereals, and buns.

For drinks, the Government Lounge on the Westin Tokyo gives recent smoothies, fruit juices, espresso, and tea, in addition to a choice of chilly drinks from a fridge.

I loved coming as much as the lounge for breakfast within the morning, and normally opted for a Japanese-style omelette, a number of smoothies, and a few gadgets from the recent meals part.

After breakfast, the lounge serves as a quiet work space, and also you’ll have a alternative of self-serve gentle drinks and cookies at your disposal.

Afternoon tea is hosted within the Government Lounge on the Westin Tokyo from 2–4pm. It was fairly quiet after I popped in for some sweets, however there was a pleasant choice of gadgets accessible to snack on.

The night hors d’oeuvres and cocktail service runs from 5–6pm and from 6–7pm in two seatings. That is provided that the lounge is busy, and in any other case, it simply runs as a steady service throughout that point.

We got here up right here to toast my buddies’ arrival on the primary evening, after which made positive to seize some snacks and a drink earlier than heading out in town on the opposite nights.

The employees got here by to take drink orders, and there was additionally self-serve beer, wine, and gentle drinks. Moreover, there was a small choice of meals accessible, which may very well be sufficient for a meal for those who weren’t planning on having fun with every part else that Tokyo has to supply.

The truth is, we have been having a lot enjoyable that I stored my digital camera tucked away.

Westin Tokyo – Eating

The Westin Tokyo has a lot of eating venues all through the resort.

On the primary flooring, you’ll discover The Terrace, which serves buffet meals for breakfast from 7–10:30am, lunch from 11:30am–2pm on weekdays and 12–4pm on weekends, and dinner from 6–10pm on weekdays and 5–10pm on weekends.

You’ll additionally discover The Lounge and The Bar on the primary flooring, open from 12–10pm and 12–11pm, respectively.

On the second flooring of the resort are two eating places. Mai serves Japanese delicacies for lunch and dinner, and Ryutenmon serves Cantonese delicacies for lunch and dinner. 

On the twenty second flooring of the resort, you’ll discover Victors, which serves French delicacies for lunch and dinner, Yebisu, a teppanyaki restaurant open for lunch and dinner, and Compass Rose, a “sky lounge” that’s solely open from Thursday–Sunday and on holidays. 

We have been busy having fun with Tokyo’s sights, sounds, and tastes, and didn’t handle to squeeze in a meal at any of the venues this time round.

Westin Tokyo – Different Services

For a resort of its measurement, the Westin Tokyo options comparatively few different services for friends. Notably absent is a swimming pool.

Le Spa Parisien is positioned on the fourth flooring of the resort, and it’s open from 10am–7:30pm each day apart from Tuesdays.

The health centre, formally often known as the Westin Exercise Health Studio, can also be positioned on the fourth flooring of the resort. It’s open across the clock, ought to it is advisable work off your jetlag within the center the evening.

It’s a reasonably well-appointed house, with three totally different rooms complete. One room is a yoga studio, the primary room is host to treadmills, bikes, and elliptical machines, and the third room is a bit smaller, however options weightlifting tools.

I popped in previous to lunch day-after-day, and located the house to be totally appropriate for a good exercise

Conclusion

The Westin Tokyo is a traditional resort with many eating services, a grand entrance and foyer, and an Government Lounge with views of the Tokyo Tower. 

We didn’t spend an entire lot of time within the resort, as we have been out galavanting throughout town and assembly up with buddies for dinner. Our room was completely appropriate for a cushty, quiet keep, if not a bit cramped for a gaggle of three grown males.

The Government Lounge is certainly an incredible characteristic on the Westin Tokyo. You should definitely head up within the night for drinks with a view at evening, which you can even get pleasure from when you eat breakfast the subsequent day.

If yow will discover a money charge on the decrease finish of the vary, there’s positively some worth to be discovered on the resort. Nevertheless, given its location, you gained’t be very central to lots of Tokyo’s major attracts, though there’s a metro station comparatively shut by for getting round.