Starwood Preferred Guest - Japan experiences?

Hello,
I am going to Japan in late July, and would like to use a SPG50% cert. Does anyone have experience using these at *wood hotels in Tokyo and/or Kyoto?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Westin Tokyo:
I used the 50% certificate during a stay two weeks ago and the rate was at Y23,000. As a gold, I was upgraded to a Preferred Guest room with an East view (apparently this is better than the others). The rooms are big compared to many other hotels in Tokyo, and they are decently decorated. The hotel is at Ebisu and although many would see this as an inconvenience, I see it as a plus. I love the area and I dun mind the 10 minutes walk to the JR station.

Westin Kyoto:
Again, on a stay about two weeks ago, the room was going at a rate of Y21,000 using the 50% cert. Got upgraded to a renovated room which is nice and modern but tiny. It is located next to the Keage subway station which is convenient when you want to visit the downtown area. It is also close to Philosopher's Walk, a tourist attraction in Kyoto. Great hotel overall.

Hope this helps!!

Used free weekend nights 2 weeks ago and was upgraded to one of the newly renovated rooms (I'm platinum). I peeked in the corridor of the older section and it's a little dreary. The lobby is very nice and open, the bellstaff are extremely attentive. I stayed at Hyatt Osaka and Century Hyatt Tokyo on this trip as well, and neither was as well run for the checkin/out.

Room was rather large for Japan - 1 king and one twin. Bathroom was a good size as well w/separate bath & shower. Our view was of the backyard of a quaint home. Our floor (the 6th?) had access to a large terrace with lounge chairs that overlooked Kyoto w/view of the mountains. We also had access to the breakfast/cocktail area, a room with internet and reading material, and a lounge on the top floor. Made it feel like home. Fitness Ctr & pool were also nice and very clean.

Location-wise: very conveniently located for tourism purposes (at the southend of the Path of Philosophy, maybe 30 second walk from the Keage subway, about 10-15 minute walk to Gion). Nice neighborhood (not that there seemed to be a bad one in Kyoto).

Overall one of the best hotels experiences I've ever had.

PS: There was a 30 min wait at the Preferred Guest lounge for the complimentary breakfast (we usu went around 7:30am). Both mornings, they offered buffet passes to Aquablu (buffet on the 2nd floor). If this happens while you're there, take the passes! The spread down there is 10 times better than the complimentary meal upstairs and the wait is usually much shorter.

Used free weekend nights 2 weeks ago and was upgraded to one of the newly renovated rooms (I'm platinum). I peeked in the corridor of the older section and it's a little dreary. The lobby is very nice and open, the bellstaff are extremely attentive. I stayed at Hyatt Osaka and Century Hyatt Tokyo on this trip as well, and neither was as well run for the checkin/out.

Room was rather large for Japan - 1 king and one twin. Bathroom was a good size as well w/separate bath & shower. Our view was of the backyard of a quaint home. Our floor (the 6th?) had access to a large terrace with lounge chairs that overlooked Kyoto w/view of the mountains. We also had access to the breakfast/cocktail area, a room with internet and reading material, and a lounge on the top floor. Made it feel like home. Fitness Ctr & pool were also nice and very clean.

Location-wise: very conveniently located for tourism purposes (at the southend of the Path of Philosophy, maybe 30 second walk from the Keage subway, about 10-15 minute walk to Gion). Nice neighborhood (not that there seemed to be a bad one in Kyoto).

Overall one of the best hotels experiences I've ever had.

PS: There was a 30 min wait at the Preferred Guest lounge for the complimentary breakfast (we usu went around 7:30am). Both mornings, they offered buffet passes to Aquablu (buffet on the 2nd floor). If this happens while you're there, take the passes! The spread down there is 10 times better than the complimentary meal upstairs and the wait is usually much shorter.


The lounge which you had access, was this the lounge on the executive floor, did it offer some free snacks and drinks in the evening.

Concerning your room upgrade I was just wondering if considering since you were a platinum member they would assign a even better room, because Plats are supposed to be upgraded to the best available room including selected suites.

ThWilmesi,
We saw 2 lounges on what was likely the exec floor (7th). One served free breakfast in the morning, tea during the day, and cocktails & hors d’oeuvres in the evening. The other was a reading room (that doubled as a waiting area during breakfast).

The top floor (8th) had a quiet reading room as well that was staffed by a receptionist. The 6th floor terrace could be accessed by all guests.

I’m not sure how our room compared to the other renovated rooms, so maybe there were some suites we didn’t know about (I know we weren’t on the exec floor). In any case, it was the beginning of tourist season and the hotel looked pretty full, so we’re so glad we weren’t in the un-renovated section!

I was at the W Kyoto two weeks ago and got upgraded from an Exec Floor room to an open-plan suite (70 sq metres - huge!), albeit on a non-club floor. (Not that this makes any difference as the rooms are the same and I still got lounge access.) I am only a *wood Gold, but had paid a relatively high rate (Y40,000).

I also stayed at the Westin Tokyo the same week. The biggest rooms in Tokyo and great views from the higher floors. However, I would recommend the brand new Grand Hyatt, where I also spent 2 days, over the Westin. This is especially true if you are going on holiday - the GH is in the Roppongi shopping and entertainment complex, whilst the Westin is a bit isolated in Ebisu. However, if you can get the Westin for Y23,000 then that is a lot cheaper than the GH.