Nishitetsu Grand Hotel

You’re right in the middle of Tenjin, with department stores all around, a drugstore downstairs, and the underground shopping street close by. Modern supermarkets and the central post office are only a couple of blocks away, and getting around is easy. The rooms have plenty of space and are clean, though the décor feels dated. I did miss having laundry or drying facilities. The hotel has an elegant, old-fashioned feel, like it belongs to our grandparents’ time. There’s parking downstairs with staff on hand to help, and taxis are easy to find. The roomy lobby has a currency exchange machine, an ATM, and two elevators serving different floors. There are also several fine dining restaurants in the hotel.

The location worked well for me, close to Tenjin subway and just five stops from the airport, with lots of shopping nearby. The hotel was nice and clean, and everything in the room was in order.

We had a group of 15, staying in six rooms, and the staff handled us well. There was loads of lobby space where the family could sit together. The location made it easy to get around, with every point of interest within at least a 15-minute walk. Rooms are small, but two or three people and their luggage can fit. The building is a bit old, though it doesn’t feel run down, and housekeeping did a great job cleaning the room every day. I highly recommend it!

The hotel’s big entrance and drive-up drop-off area are wonderful ^_^, and I was impressed when a staff member welcomed me outside on arrival. Inside, the grand lobby has huge antique sofas that are comfortable enough to make you want to sit there when you get back. There’s not much else in the way of hotel facilities, mostly restaurants, a cafe and a few shops. The hotel is properly staffed and still carries its old pride and heritage. Breakfast is available if you pay for it, and they also host weddings. Staff were professional, with that very Japanese formality. I read about the hotel’s glory days in the history book on display, though they were clearly a long time ago. It feels like an antique grandfather clock. For the price, the location and room size are reasonable. The room has a proper window and a layout looking out to the surrounding area. Mine was quite dated, like an old Fukuoka building, and smelled a little dusty and moldy when I first walked in. It felt a bit gloomy too. The ventilation system and carpet seem old, and they provide an air freshener machine to help. Still, the toilet was clean and the bedsheet fresh. The shower had strong water pressure, and the toiletries were supplied in the old-fashioned way, which I liked. I could hear people talking at night in rooms next door or outside, so the soundproofing didn’t seem very strong. The bed was a pity, I could feel the springs, and the sleeping clothes were a little too tight for me. I also knocked my shin on the luggage stand, which housekeeping had left blocking the entrance. The drinks cabinet was hard to get to because it sat perpendicular against the wall, behind the curtains. Those details may not matter much to everyone, but in an antique hotel I’d have appreciated a more thoughtful setup. Even with those issues, it was an acceptable, good enough stay for my solo trip, especially at a reasonable price. Give and take, I still think the hotel deserves its 4 stars.