Rakuten STAY Kokura Station

The room was dirty, the floors disgusting, and there was a smell that wouldn’t go away. The lobby was filthy, and the halls were stained and smelly. The service was a zero. They wanted to come check the room, but only on their schedule, without working around us. I’m embarrassed for the owner, and I’ll never stay at a Rakuten property again. They should consider a secret shopper program or another independent service to inspect all their properties. I was horribly disappointed. The trouble started before I even got in. There was no way for me to open the door. Automated hotels usually email the code, but I had to wait until another customer arrived and opened it for me. That wasn’t the main issue, though. I’ve never had such a bad hotel experience.

Once I figured out which room number on the screen matched the Japanese writing, everything went smoothly. I followed the check-in instruction email from Expedia, completed self check-in on the tablet at the counter, and took a photo of the door code. It’s a great self-service hotel. The room and beds were spacious, and it had all the amenities, including an iron, microwave, and sink.

The layout and design are minimal but cute, and the place is spotlessly clean. I spent five days here and never felt uncomfortable. It’s self check-in, so you help yourself, but the instructions are clear for everything. You can also reach management quite easily through apps, so don’t worry. The location couldn’t be better, close to Kokuro Station and nearby bus stops. The bus stop is just a 2-3 minute walk from Rakuten, and it took us 30 minutes to get to Kyutech. The Wi-Fi is really good, though it blocks WA calls. Other WA features work just fine. You can take an ofuro every night. There’s a microwave and electric stove for cooking, and you can get ingredients from a nearby seven or family mart. I’d definitely recommend staying at this Rakuten Stay when visiting Kokuro.

We were on a budget trip and chose this place because the price was reasonable. It exceeded my expectations: it was so close to Kokura Station and right next to a Shopping Mall. The property was clean and new, and the room was spacious for four. We loved having a kitchen area with a Microwave and Fridge for storing our food. There’s no reception, so check-in is self-service. Once the booking is confirmed, they mail you the instructions. I enjoyed staying here.