ALPHABED INN Fukuoka Ohori Park

My husband and I had never stayed somewhere without front desk staff before, so make sure you have the check-in code and gate code before you arrive. There was only a family room left for the two of us, so we had plenty of space. Everything in the hotel felt updated and nice. My only complaint was the noise from outside. We could hear everything even with the window shut, and our room was at the front of the building on the fifth floor.

The beds were on the firm side, which seems pretty typical in Japan, but my family and I had a good stay for two nights. The hostel room was very clean and had a kitchen, washing machine, and a drying area in the shower. In the lobby there was a complimentary amenities bar with toothbrushes, tea, and candy. There's a park about a ten-minute walk away, plus plenty of restaurants nearby.

The rooms are clean and modern, and Ohori Koen station is nearby with a direct connection to the airport and Hakata station. The lobby is usually empty and runs on an automated system, though sometimes staff are around. The listing's cover photo shows the dome, but the hotel itself is a very narrow building, with roughly one room per floor across four or five floors. The neighboring building gets really noisy during the day.

The location is great, with a 7/11 right across the road. Our family room had bunks and a double bed and looked modern, but it felt very small for two adults and two kids. It would be fine for a night or two, though the limited space might be tough for longer. Since the hotel is unmanned, answers to questions or requests can take a while, and there was no flexibility when we asked about an early check-in. It's a reasonably good place for a short stay.