Grandouce Hakata

Absolutely terrible. We booked for two adults and three children, but the room was barely big enough for two adults. It turned out to be exactly the same room our friends had, even though they’d booked for only two adults. We gave up on this booking and stayed at Dream Inn Hakata nearby instead. For the same price, the rooms there were much bigger and cleaner. Be careful with this company: all its properties are centrally managed from one location, and the reviews and room details on third-party sites can be misleading.

The place was farther away and smaller than I expected for the price. Reception was at a different location, quite far from the hotel. The staff couldn’t give us the room key, so we had to wait in the room building’s lobby with nowhere to sit. Their internal instructions had been mixed up. I’ve stayed at many hotels and ryokans on this trip, and sadly this was the worst.

Getting the key wasn’t easy, but the price was nice and the area was quiet.

The room was incredibly clean, and getting in was simple with the machine at the entrance. I booked through Airbnb. From the Chikushi exit of Hakata Station, it’s about a 10-minute straight walk along the train tracks. Inside, everything was clean, including the shower, and it had the amenities you’d expect in a single-person apartment. They even provided an iron and Lysol. The heating worked well, and the TV was large, with no issues.