Access Tenjin

I stayed for more than two months and found this a very affordable base in central Tenjin. The room was clean and had a TV with HDMI inputs, fast Wi-Fi, closet, desk and chair, small folding dining table, working AC and heater, kitchenette, drinkable tap water that tastes good, and a decent bathroom with a tub and automatic toilet. For the low price and kind, helpful staff, I could live with the drawbacks. The service was consistently excellent, and it seems especially suited to month-to-month extended stays. The staff kept the same daily rate when I extended, even in high season. I appreciated knowing the rent was calculated per day and wouldn’t suddenly double or triple from April through September, as I’ve seen at other hotels in Japan. That peace of mind made travel easier. Parking in front costs 1500 yen, or there are cheaper lots a few meters away for 300 yen if you can find a space. A budget rent-a-car office is a five-minute walk away, handy for day trips. After spending weeks in Fukuoka, I doubt I’d find another hotel with these advantages at this price. I wish there were an “Access Tenjin” in Tokyo so I could stay longer there too, though that may be a far-fetched dream. The place is very clean, but it’s a furnished apartment, not quite a hotel. You’re expected to wash your own towels, or pay whenever you need a fresh set. Room cleaning isn’t included after check-in: it costs about $10 USD, needs booking two or three days ahead, and isn’t available on weekends. The cleaning itself is excellent and thorough. The laundry setup could be easier too, since the machines aren’t coin-operated. You pay at the front desk and turn a manual knob to start the water. That desk isn’t open around the clock, which could be a problem if your key stopped working; I’m not sure whether there’s a 24-hour emergency number. The blanket was huge and too hot for me, though blankets and pillows can be an issue for foreigners in budget or traditional Japanese hotels. I brought my own.