Tokyu Hotels in Fukuoka

This was my third time in Fukuoka, and this stay was just an overnight stop. It's super convenient to get here from the airport – just four or five stops on the K Line (airport line). The hotel's back entrance is only about 50 meters from the subway exit. Inside, there's a faint, pleasant essential oil aroma. The room was small but perfectly adequate, and it even had a luggage rack. Out the front, there's a canal. If you turn left and walk a few minutes, you'll find a street full of food stalls. Cross the bridge and there's a small park with a cafe and a beautiful villa that's a cultural heritage site. If you turn right out the front and cross the road, you'll find the original Ichiran Ramen. I tried to go twice but couldn't get in. One time, at over 9 PM, the wait was 40 minutes, and another time, at 10 AM, it was 100 minutes! The ramen shop is open 24 hours, so if you want to avoid the queue, you might have to go much earlier or much later.

The hotel is located on the 'Hakata Exit' side of Hakata Station. If you follow Google Maps and exit from Hakata Station's West 5 exit (there's a short flight of stairs up, but a down escalator), walk straight for about 50-100 meters, then turn right, you'll see the 'REI Hotel' sign. It's less than a 3-minute walk from the exit to the hotel, which is incredibly convenient. Stepping out of the hotel's main entrance and turning right puts you directly in front of the 'Hakata City' shopping area, which is surrounded by various malls. You can pretty much satisfy all your shopping needs there. To the right of the exit you came from, there are escalators leading to the overpass that connects to different malls. There's also a Welcia pharmacy right next to the hotel that's quite cheap! However, the selection is a bit limited. Overall, I feel it's not as fashionable as the Tenjin shopping district. Traveling solo, the room was surprisingly spacious compared to other places I've stayed during my trips to Japan. The window faced the fire escape. I could easily open both a 26-inch suitcase and a 21-inch carry-on at the same time. The hygiene was decent. Unlike the small bathtubs common in Japanese hotels, this one had a shower stall. They provided two bottles of Ito En mineral water. Basic toiletries can be picked up for free at the front desk on the first floor. While many Japanese hotels I've stayed at offer complimentary toiletries, the selection here was quite limited. To the right of the front desk, there's a free beverage machine, but honestly, none of the soft drinks were very good. There are vendor rooms on the 6th and 9th floors, equipped with a microwave, coin-operated washing machines, and vending machines. For travelers with large luggage, you can take the airport bus for your return journey. Take the escalator up to the overpass, turn right, there's a downward escalator, then enter the station and follow the overhead signs straight to the Chikushi Exit. Once outside, walk left past Starbucks and Lawson convenience store, and you'll see the airport bus signs. It's quite convenient as you don't have to carry your luggage up and down stairs throughout the entire process. However, unlike some other airport buses, they don't load your luggage into the compartment for you; it's a regular bus, so you have to carry it on yourself, which is fair considering the lower price.