Toyoko Inn Hakata Ekimae Gion

We arrived at 3:50 p.m., but check-in wasn't until 4, and they still made us wait another ten minutes for the room key. That didn't feel like good customer service. It felt very Japanese, following the rules strictly even when they don't make sense. Also, a ten-minute walk with luggage from Hakata Station isn't what I would call "ekimae".

The location is handy, about an eight-minute walk from Hakata Station, and the Gion elevator exit is right beside the hotel, making it convenient to get to the airport. Breakfast was okay, although the seating area is small. I had a business twin room. The air conditioning kept switching on and off to regulate the temperature, which was annoying and left me feeling stuffy in the middle of the night. The bed was quite hard compared with other Toyoko Inn hotels I've stayed in. They don't clean the room unless you stay four nights, and only provide fresh towels. Amenities were poor, with skincare items missing, unlike at other Toyoko Inn locations. This place feels dated compared with the others and needs an upgrade.

The breakfast is a nice perk, with a good selection like you'd expect from Toyoko Inn. The hotel is right outside exit 6 at Gion station, so the subway is extremely convenient, and Fukuoka station is one stop away. There's an interesting temple nearby and you can walk to the old district, though there isn't much else right around the hotel. The room was very small, with nowhere to open a suitcase except on the bed. It was fine for one night, but might feel claustrophobic over a longer stay. The hotel is typical Toyoko Inn quality.

For the price and its two-star rating, I didn't expect much. It does the basic job of giving you a bed. The hotel is cheap and sits next to Gion metro station, not far from Hakata station. By default, rooms are cleaned every three days. Between cleanings, they only replace the towels and leave a new plastic garbage bag.