Review: The Westin Tokyo

To conclude our family trip to Japan, we spent a night at The Westin Tokyo hotel.  It proved to be the most luxurious Westin hotel we’ve ever stayed at.  From the extensive buffet breakfast, to the scrumptious afternoon tea in the Westin Club Lounge, it was an all-around amazing stay. 

If you are contemplating where to stay in Tokyo, we highly recommend The Westin Tokyo.  Here’s our full review of this newly-renovated 5-star hotel!

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The Westin Tokyo Review

Location

The Westin Tokyo is located in the heart of Tokyo, in the upscale Ebisu area, not far from Shibuya.  Across the hotel is the trendy Yebisu Garden Place Mall, with shops, a cinema, cafes and restaurants.  You’ll find your staples, like Starbucks, 7/11 and Family Mart nearby as well.

While the area is not as bustling as Shibuya, we quite enjoyed it, especially with a young child.  The immediate area surrounding the hotel is very pretty to walk around with some beautiful architecture, and we saw lots of locals out walking their dogs.  Since it was December when we visited, the area was nicely decorated with Christmas lights. 

It was nice staying in a more peaceful area, but still having access to some shops and eateries nearby.

The Westin Tokyo Address: 1-4-1 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 153-8580

How to get to The Westin Tokyo

The hotel is located only 15km from Haneda International Airport, so it’s a quick and easy taxi ride away, or you can opt for the subway if you don’t mind a longer journey.  Narita International Airport, on the other hand, is 73km away so it is a bit more of a trek.

By train/subway

Ebisu Station is the closest station to the hotel, about 700 metres away.  While that doesn’t seem very close, the walk is actually not bad at all and we did it multiple times with our 5-year-old daughter.  

From Ebisu station, there is a moving walkway all the way to Yebisu Garden Place which makes the walk much easier and quicker.  Our daughter loved speeding down the moving walkway.  

Once at the end of the walkway, you just need to cross the road and walk through Yebisu Garden Place, and then you’ll come to The Westin Tokyo at the other end.

If you’re coming from the airport with just carry-on luggage, you should have no problem. We saw numerous people with small-sized luggage walking from the station to the hotel.  

From Haneda, the journey will take you about 45 minutes, and from Narita, about one hour and 45 minutes.

Luggage Tip

Consider using a luggage transfer service!  There are counters at both Narita and Haneda airports where you can drop off your luggage and pay to have it transfered to your hotel.  It saves you having to carry it on the train and allows you to start sightseeing right away, if you like!

We used the JAL ABC luggage transfer service at Haneda to send our bags to The Westin Tokyo.  It cost us about $50 total for our three suitcases and when we checked into the hotel after sightseeing, the front desk informed us our bags were already there!

By shuttle bus

The hotel does not offer a shuttle but they can arrange private airport transfer (at a very, very steep cost).  There is an airport limousine bus that stops right at the hotel but it only serves Narita International Airport, not Haneda.

If you are arriving or departing from Narita, the limousine bus is the ideal option.  It only takes slightly longer than the train and is much more convenient.  However, make sure the timetables line up with your flights as there are only three buses per day.  You can check the schedule and book it directly online in advance (look under Ebisu/Shinagawa, then select The Westin Tokyo).    

The journey takes about 2 hours and costs ¥3,600.

By taxi

Taxis are pretty pricey in Tokyo so the only time we really recommend them is when traveling to/from the airport with lots of luggage.  

For our flight home, we took a taxi from The Westin Tokyo to Haneda International Airport.  There is a lineup of taxis readily available at the front of the hotel, so we didn’t have to pre-arrange or call for one.  We just went outside of the lobby and the bellman called over a taxi and loaded our luggage.

The ride only took about 25 minutes and cost us ¥8,100.  It was well worth it not having to navigate the train with our luggage and our tired 5-year-old.

Parking

If you have chosen to rent a car in Tokyo, the hotel offers valet for ¥2,000 per day.  There is an electric car charging station available, if needed.

Booking The Westin Tokyo

Hotels are quite pricey in general in Tokyo so you can expect The Westin Tokyo nightly rates to be on the high end.  Including taxes and fees, you’re looking at a range of $700-$1000 (CAD) per night.

If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member, this is an excellent hotel to use your points or 85k Free Night Awards on.  Our room cost 84,000 points per night so we used up one of our 85K FNAs for it.  The cash price would have been $942 CAD.

When not booking direct, we like to book through Booking.com as the rates are usually very competitive AND they offer free cancellation with no prepayment required.    

• The Westin Tokyo Phone Number: +81 03-54237000
• The Westin Tokyo E-mail Address: tyowi.reservations@westin.com

Arrival and Check-in

As we approached the hotel on foot from Ebisu Station, it looked very ordinary and unassuming.  However, once we entered through those front doors, we realized this was no ordinary Westin.  This was the most luxurious one we had ever stepped foot in.

We were greeted by an ornately decorated Christmas tree, complete with a train and gondolas, as we stepped into the lobby.  There was also a bride and groom taking photos on the beautiful staircase.  The lobby was buzzing with well-dressed folks.

 

We made our way to the reception desks where we were quickly greeted by the friendly front desk staff.  It was only 1:30pm but they already had a room ready for us, despite check-in being officially at 3:00pm.  They also informed us that they had our luggage stored for us (we had it transfered from the airport) and sent it up to our room.

Despite it being a busy weekend, there were no lines in the reception area and check-in was very efficient.

• Standard Check-in Time: 3:00pm
• Standard Check-out Time: 12:00pm

Bonvoy Elite Status Recognition

During check-in, the front desk agent thanked us for our loyalty to Marriott and explained our elite benefits to us.  He let us know that for our welcome amenity we were entitled to either 1000 points, two beers, or an upgrade to the buffet breakfast at The Terrace.  Choosing the upgraded breakfast was the obvious choice.

Additionally, as Platinum Elite members, we are entitled to 4pm late checkout, complimentary room upgrades (including suites), and access to The Westin Club. 

Initially, the front desk agent explained that the hotel was quite busy so he could only offer us 2pm checkout.  However, when I contacted the front desk again by chat to request a 4pm checkout due to our evening flight, they happily obliged.

We often enjoy suite upgrades when traveling internationally, but here at The Westin Tokyo, we only received an upgrade to a higher floor.  Since the hotel is very popular and there are not many suites available, this came as no surprise.

Rooms

The hotel boasts 448 newly-renovated rooms and suites.  Of the 448, only 20 are suites, so the likelihood of a suite upgrade is slim, unfortunately.

Room types include:

• Deluxe (1 King or 2 Double, 452 sq. ft.)
• Premium (High Floor, 1 King or 2 Double, 452 sq. ft.)
• Executive (Club Lounge Access, High Floor, 1 King or 2 Double, 452 sq. ft.)
• Deluxe Suite (Club Lounge Access, High Floor, 1 King or 2 Double, 904 sq. ft.)
• Executive Suite (Club Lounge Access, High Floor, 1 King, 1356 sq. ft.)
• Presidential Suite (Club Lounge Access, High Floor, 1 King, 2260 sq. ft.)
• Imperial Suite (Club Lounge Access, High Floor, 1 King, 2260 sq. ft.)

Room Review: Premium 2 Double Guest Room

Since we were traveling with our daughter, we booked the entry-level 2 double bed room.  As mentioned above, due to our elite status, we were automatically upgraded to Room 1505, a premium high floor room with a Tokyo Tower view.  

As soon as we entered the room, I was struck by the beautiful and airy modern design.  It was honestly nicer than I was expecting.  I didn’t realize all the photos I had seen online were prior to the recent renovations, so I was expecting to see the dated decor I had seen in other reviews.  What a nice surprise!

Entryway

Upon entering the room, there was a spacious closet on the left with an iron, ironing board, slippers, a bathrobe, plenty of hangers, shoe horn and brush.

There was a set of drawers, with the top drawer containing the safe.

Bathroom

To the right was a mirrored door leading to a very spacious bathroom.  

On the left side of the bathroom was a large soaker tub, and in the right corner was a separate shower stall.

Inside the shower were Westin’s signature White Tea shampoo, conditioner and body wash.  Water pressure was very good.

There was a wide vanity with a single sink. 

On the left was a box full of amenities, including hair brushes, shower caps, tooth brushes (including a kids toothbrush!), shaving kit, hair ties, etc. 

Next to it was a nice hair dryer.

Beneath the counter was a cool-looking glass weigh scale.

Finally, it would not be a Japanese bathroom without the fancy bidet toilet!

Minibar

Entering the room, you have the minibar on the left. 

There is a Nespresso machine with 4 pods provided (2 decaf), a nice kettle, some teas (English Breakfast and Japanese green tea), and two bottles of complimentary water.

Inside the cabinet is a mini fridge full of chargeable drinks (sodas, Evian water, beer). 

Behind another cabinet door, you’ll find an ice bucket.  Ice machines are available on every floor by rooms ending in #14.

In the top drawer, there is a price list with some snacks, liquor, and a bottle opener.

Bedroom

The bedroom area is quite large by Japanese standards.  Out of all the hotels we stayed at in Japan, this was the most spacious.

The two double beds were the signature Westin Heavenly beds and were so inviting. I found them to be the most comfy beds out of all the beds we slept in in Japan, although they still weren’t Western-sized.

Between the two beds was a nightstand with a phone, alarm clock, writing pad and pencil (no pen?), Westin’s signature Sleep Well lavender balm, and the light controls.

Inside the drawer were some pamphlets, including the spa menu, an emergency flashlight, and three (!) religious books.

On the opposite sides of the beds, you’ll find a universal outlet, Japanese outlet (same as North America), USB outlet and USB-C outlet!  Love having all four options.

In front of the beds is a nice-sized wall-mounted TV.

Pajamas

To the left of the TV is a small bench with a drawer that contains pajamas! 

I loved that the Westin Tokyo even provided kids pajamas for our daughter!  They were even the perfect size for her.  So cute.

Every hotel we stayed at in Japan provided their own pajamas, and I found this so fun!  The Westin Tokyo pajamas have a lovely floral print and are comfy to sleep in.

Sitting Area

By the panoramic window, there are two comfy lounge chairs and a large round table, perfect for sitting with a coffee and taking in the stunning views.

There’s no dedicated workspace in this room so the large table will have to double as a desk, if needed.

View

We loved the wide, unobstructed views over the city and all the way over to Tokyo Tower.  It was lovely to watch the sunrise in the morning.

The large windows let in a lot of light so the room is nice and bright.

 

 

The Westin Tokyo Restaurants

This large hotel offers a number of fantastic dining options:

• Ryutenmon (Chinese)
• The Terrace (International Buffet)
• Mai (Japanese, sushi and sashimi)
• Yebisu (Japanese, teppanyaki)
• The Lounge (afternoon tea)
• The Bar (cocktails)
• Escalier (cocktails with a view)
• The Westin Club (member’s lounge)
• Patisserie (sweet treats and deli)

Since we were only staying one night at The Westin Tokyo, we only had the chance to try The Westin Club afternoon tea and The Terrace buffet breakfast.  The other restaurants all looked amazing (I was eyeing up the Patisserie, in particular), but alas, they’ll have to wait for a future trip.

The Westin Tokyo Breakfast Buffet at The Terrace

Thanks to our Platinum Elite status, we were able to enjoy a complimentary breakfast in the hotel’s Terrace restaurant.  The Terrace is located on the ground floor, right by the lobby entrance.

Typically our Platinum status only allows complimentary breakfast for the member plus one guest, but here, they happily included our 5-year-old daughter as well, without charge.  This has not been the case at other Westins we’ve stayed at.

We arrived around 8am, and it was quite busy, but there was no lineup to get in.  However, around 9am, we saw a line growing.  We definitely recommend going earlier to avoid peak congestion in the buffet.

We were seated in the lounge area, which seems to be where they seated all the families with kids.  It was less congested in this section, so that was nice.

It’s no wonder the buffet is so popular – it is incredible!  I rank it up there with some of the breakfasts we’ve had at St. Regis’ around the world.  There is such a wide variety of options available, with specialty stations like onigiri hand-made to your liking, and made-to-order noodles and omelettes.  

Our daughter loved the pastries (yay for sprinkle donuts!), Ryan was excited they had bowls of natto, and I was excited for the noodles, Indian options, and even Chai tea!

There is seriously something for everyone here.

• Hours: 6:30am-10:30am
• Cost: ¥5,000 (adult), ¥3,000 (Children 4-12 years)

The Westin Tokyo Club Lounge

Those with Bonvoy Elite status get complimentary access to the hotel’s excellent Westin Club lounge, located on the 22nd floor at the very top of the hotel.  This was one of the highlight’s of our stay and should not be missed.  It is honestly the best hotel lounge we’ve ever been to.

Upon entry, you give your room number to the desk so they can verify you have access, and then they seat you at a table.  The lounge is spacious and luxurious.  You can tell that it has been recently renovated as it is very sleek and modern.  The views are stunning.

The lounge offers:

• Breakfast from 7:00am-11:00am (buffet)
• Daytime Workation Area from 11:00am-2:00pm (soda and cookies available)
• Afternoon Tea from 2:00pm-4:00pm (buffet)
• Evening Cocktails from 5:30pm-7:30pm (9:00pm Fri-Sun), no kids under 12 (alternative options are offered for families with young kids, but we did not inquire)

Since we checked into the hotel around 1:30pm, we were excited to immediately take advantage of the Westin Club by attending the afternoon tea. 

We were expecting the lounge to be fairly casual like we’ve experienced at other Marriott hotels, but we were pleasantly surprised to actually be formally seated at a table.  The staff even brought over pillows so that our daughter could sit more comfortably in the large chair. 

We were very impressed by the afternoon tea offering. 

There was a large selection of delectable treats, including fruits, housemade cakes, and cheeses.

 I found the cakes in particular to be of high quality, and not dry and tasteless like some that can be found in other buffets.

For drinks, there were fresh juices, canned sodas, and a self-serve espresso machine.

Facilities

Fitness Studio

Located on the fourth floor, the Westin Workout Fitness Studio is open to all guests 24 hours a day.  We didn’t have time to use it, but we took a quick peek at it and it looked pretty nice.

I love that the Westin offers workout gear rentals for ¥500 per day.  

And if you haven’t packed any running shoes, not to worry!  You can rent a pair for ¥500 for your entire stay.

Spa

Also located on the fourth floor, next to the fitness studio, is the Le Spa Parisien. 

 

You can view their full spa menu with prices on their website.

Hours: 10:00am-8:00pm Monday & Wednesday-Sunday (closed Tuesdays)

Westin Garden

The hotel looked to have a lovely garden in the back but we unfortunately didn’t have a chance to go outside to check it out.  It also functions as a wedding ceremony site, so you can imagine how beautiful it is.

Nearby Attractions

There are a number of attractions within walking distance of The Tokyo Westin, including:

• Yebisu Garden Place mall (180m)
• Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (230m)
• Yebisu Brewery Tokyo [Sapporo Beer Museum] (400m)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (1.5km)

And you are only one stop away on the train from the infamous Shibuya Scramble Crossing!

Video Tour

Final Thoughts on The Westin Tokyo

The Westin Tokyo surprised us.  We obviously expected it to be nice, but it was definitely more luxurious than we were expecting.  In North America, the Westins we’ve stayed at are not nearly as fancy as this one.  Now we understand why the prices here are much higher as well.

The Westin Club was an amazing perk, and we were blown away by The Terrace buffet breakfast.  All the staff we encountered at the hotel were so friendly and welcoming.  We loved the newly-renovated rooms and decor.  The views were spectacular.

While the hotel’s location might not be in the heart of all the action, we found it easy to get to wherever we wanted to go within the city, and it was nice being just a 25-minute ride away from Haneda Airport.

We’d certainly consider staying here again for a special occasion during our next visit to Tokyo! 

You might also like:

• Review: The Westin Bellevue
• Review: The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur (Upgrade to the St. Regis Suite!)
• Review: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore – Worth it?

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