Hotel Nikko Fukuoka

I stayed at Hotel Nikko for quite a while during my Fukuoka trip and thought it was very nice. All the front desk staff I met were friendly, polite, and helpful, and I'd definitely stay again. Hakata Station is only about a 3-5 minute walk away, and Ichiran Ramen is nearby too, which was handy. I tried the in-room massage service, a traditional acupuncture-style massage without oil. The day before checkout, the staff kindly brought a scale to my room when I asked so I could weigh my luggage. The hotel was undergoing renovations during my stay, and they told me about it in advance. I was usually out during construction hours, so it didn't disturb my sleep at night.

Room size and location were our main priorities, and both were very good. The hotel is clean and well maintained, though it's showing its age, especially the room and bathroom. There's just one plug by each bed and no USB plugs anywhere, so bring an extension and/or plugs. It only takes two-prong plugs, so bring an adapter. The breakfast buffet was average. The famous Fukuoka-baguette wasn't for me. I took out all the fillings and ate just the baguette, which was fantastic! There's also a soft ice cream machine at breakfast, awesome. The underground walkway wasn't as useful as I expected. It was much less confusing to walk along the street. Quick parking was possible to check in, then I drove the car back to the rental agency.

There are plenty of places to eat and have coffee nearby, plus a 7-11 and several pharmacies. The hotel is close to Hakata station and Amu plaza, which made getting around easy. The staff were consistently warm and attentive, always smiling, greeting guests, and ready to help. The rooms are practical, and the room itself seems to have been renovated, though the hotel has clearly been around for a while.

The reception team were exceptionally friendly and professional, and the room had useful touches like well-placed outlets and a Smart TV with Netflix and YouTube. I had a very mixed stay, though. The room felt gloomy because the lighting was dim and hard to adjust, and around 2 AM my phone, untouched on the bedside table, dialed a number I had called earlier that day. After I hung up, I heard a strange laugh from the ceiling. I tried to chalk it up to a glitch or poor sound insulation. Later, I could clearly hear intimate sounds from neighboring rooms too. The service was 10/10, but the noise and unsettling atmosphere left me without sleep. Not recommended if you're easily spooked.