JR KYUSHU HOTEL Blossom Fukuoka

The room met my needs, and the hotel’s decor was interesting. My bed was the sort you sleep on your back in, as is common in Japan. The location was great, and the staff were welcoming and very helpful. My Japanese is poor, but their English was excellent, and Google Translate filled in the gaps. I’d recommend it and would seriously consider staying again next time I’m in town.

There are JR, Shinkansen and subway lines, plus a bus terminal nearby, which made it easy to plan trips. Blossom Fukuoka was a little pricier when I booked, but the location and service had their perks. We used it as our base while I used the JR Northern Kyushu Pass 3 days, and I took time to get familiar with the transport and nearby facilities. It’s a short walk from Hakata Central, around the corner after Miyako and Lawson. We left our bags before lunch, and when we came back they were already in the room, a really nice gesture. Our superior double room felt spacious enough. You can pick up extra amenities in the lobby, and there are an ice machine, laundry machine, dryers and microwaves on level 4.

The staff were friendly, and our room was clean and adequate. There’s no hotel parking, but we found a public spot nearby. We hadn’t realized there were two JR hotels close to each other, so we first went to the wrong one. Reception explained we needed to drive to the other side of the station to reach the hotel we’d booked. Cheaper options may be out there, but choosing this one worked out fine.

A really nice hotel with good staff, right next to Hakata station. There are lots of cafes and restaurants nearby. If you’re using Fukuoka as a base for a Kyushu trip, this is one of the best locations you could pick.