The Luigans Spa & Resort Double Room

For the first night of our 2-day trip to Fukuoka, we stayed at The Luigans Spa & Resort, a resort hotel located near Uminonakamichi Station. The hotel is just a 3-minute walk from Marine World and offers ocean-view rooms overlooking Fukuoka city. However, the surrounding area is quite isolated, with no convenience stores or restaurants within a 3-kilometer radius. Although it takes about 40 minutes by train from Hakata Station, the location is still within Fukuoka city. The hotel provides a free shuttle bus to Hakata Station, running about 10 times a day during peak season and 5 times a day during off-peak season. The journey takes over an hour. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed ferry from Hakata Port or Momochi Port, which takes about 25 minutes but costs around 1,200 yen one way. Since the shuttle schedule didn’t align with our arrival time, we took the train to the hotel and planned to take the 12 PM shuttle back to Hakata. Check-in starts at 4 PM, so we spent some time in Hakata before taking the JR train with one transfer, arriving at the hotel around 5:30 PM. We were assigned a room on the top floor (7th floor), located centrally but slightly to the side, offering an ocean view of the outdoor pool and Hakata Port. Although we didn’t receive an upgrade, the room seemed to be a good one. The high ceiling with a spinning ceiling fan added to the resort ambiance. Planes pass by every 5–10 minutes, and the view of Fukuoka city across the sea offered a fresh perspective, even after visiting Fukuoka over 30 times. Compared to the Karatsu Seaside Hotel we visited in May, this solo staycation had a different vibe. I separately reserved the self-service afternoon tea and the steak dinner course, which were charged to the room. After dinner, I enjoyed a night walk and admired the night view. Being a humid late summer coastal area, there’s a warning for cockroaches, but you won’t encounter them unless you actively seek them out. The hotel also features a spa and large public bath, which are free and unlimited for guests, though it’s not a hot spring. The outdoor pool is free during the day, and the night pool party is available at a 50% discount for 2,500 yen. Rental fees apply for swimwear and other items. The room is equipped with an 80-inch smart TV, allowing you to enjoy videos on a large screen. The welcome gifts included nuts, Nespresso coffee, alcoholic beverages, and popcorn from the minibar, making it convenient to enjoy a drink and snack in the room even without a convenience store nearby. After the pool party ended around 10 PM, only the public bath remained open. The last admission is at 11:30 PM, and it closes at midnight. After a night stroll, I visited the public bath and then fell asleep while watching the live performance of Baby Monster’s Kanazawa concert. I woke up around 5:30 AM and relaxed in the rocking chair, waiting for the sunrise. Although the sky was cloudy and I couldn’t see the sunrise, the clear weather made for a beautiful morning. Breakfast is by reservation, with three time slots: 6:45 AM, 8:00 AM, and 9:15 AM. I naturally chose the first slot, as the Japanese tend to prefer the earliest time, making it the busiest. I was seated by the window where the night pool party had been held, enjoying breakfast with the morning sunlight. The mentaiko was of excellent quality, and sparkling wine was also available. There was a wide variety of fruits as well. Breakfast costs 3,800 yen if ordered separately. Usually, I book a room with breakfast included if it’s reasonably priced, but if the room is offered at a special rate, I add breakfast on-site. With a late check-out at 12 PM, I rented an electric bicycle at 8 AM and headed to Shikanoshima. The island is about 6 kilometers from the hotel, accessible via a mix of bike paths and two-lane roads. I cycled around the island and also visited Uminonakamichi Park. A sudden downpour delayed my return by about 50 minutes, and I got back to the hotel around 11 AM. I used a bath additive for a relaxing half-bath before completing check-out at 11:50 AM and taking the shuttle bus back to Hakata. Thank you. -Total Cost- Accommodation: 15,500 yen Afternoon Tea: 1,650 yen Dinner: 11,000 yen Accommodation Tax: 200 yen Electric Bicycle: 2,000 yen Bicycle Insurance: 350 yen = 30,700 yen