SHIZUTETSU HOTEL PREZIO Hakata-Ekimae

We planned to stay six nights, from Dec 27 to Jan 3, and ended up adding three more because we enjoyed it so much. We didn't want to check out and check in again, so we asked at the front desk if we could keep our room. The manager, I think, asked for our room number and already had the card for the next stay ready. We really appreciated the quick, friendly service from the hotel staff and cleaning team. The rooms were clean, the bathtub was large, and Hakata station is very close. It is a little noisy next to the Shinkansen, but complimentary earplugs are available on the second floor. We'd stay again next time we're in Fukuoka. Thanks : )

Check-in and check-out were straightforward, and the location worked well. Our room faced the railway. I slept fine, but my wife is more sensitive to noise and said she woke up a couple of times even with earplugs. If we stay here again, we'd choose a room on the other side.

The location is convenient, about a 10-minute walk from central Hakata station, and the price was nice. The standard room is quite small, though the bathroom isn't, and there's a good range of bath bombs, which is nice after a workday. Something unsettling happened during my stay: I got at least three WhatsApp messages that night from someone claiming to be the manager of Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Hakata-Ekimae. They asked me to confirm something through a link or my reservation would be cancelled. They had my phone number, reservation number, and check-in date exactly right, but it was obviously a scam. I don't know how they got the booking details, though I suspect the hotel's computer or account may have been hacked. I told the staff the next morning, but they seemed completely unaware. I hope this doesn't happen again.

There was a train viewing room on the seventh floor, with a great view of trains running across Kyushu. I could also watch the trains from my room below, and hear them, though the double-glazed windows kept the noise minimal. The hotel is only minutes from HEARTS Bus Station Hakata, with friendly staff and bright rooms that have more amenities than I usually find in smaller hotels. The toilet and shower area was spacious, with a generously sized tub that was great for relaxing after a day in Fukuoka. I arrived around 8:00 p.m. and the hotel's parking lot was full, but staff clearly explained where to park nearby, about a 5-10 minute walk away. It was easy to manage in a big city.