Toyoko Inn Kokura-eki Minami-guchi

To me to find a hotel room in Hakata over the weekend at a right price seems to be very difficult so far and this time it was next to impossible. So what to do... Solution was to go to Kokura which is only one station away by Shinkan-sen! (If you have Japan RailPass it would cost you nothing and traveling time is only about 20 min.!) I have stayed in Tokyu-Inn in various locations in the past and normally they offer good service and the price for a night. And this Tokyu-Inn Kokura Kokura-eki Minami-guchi was not the exception. Location is close to the Station (ca 5 min. walk); the staff is friendly and efficient. Room is standard (as in all the Tokyu-Inns) but everything is there (see photo). The room charge includes simple breakfast (don't expect too much!) At the end of the day I saved a lot and I could go to Hakata for the meeting and the dinner.

Our trip this time, we stayed at Toyoko inn hotel chain for almost our trip . It is convenient to make a reservation and payment . Even though the room space is limited but you have everything in it. Moreover , breakfast buffet is offered for free. On the day we checked out , I left my IPad with all accessories in the bag at the dining table that we ate breakfast. We knew at around 4:30 pm at Toyoko inn , Hakata ekimae . I asked the front officer to call the officer of Toyoko inn, Kokuraekimae minamiguchi. They cooperated each other and I got it back when I came back to hotel after I went out for dinner at 8:00 pm! Without charge! I so impressed the way they cooperated and their service. We will surely continuing use this hotel chain for our next trip. Thank you so much Toyoko inn Kokuraekimae minamiguchi and Hakata ekimae.

Toyoko Inn's are everywhere througout Japan. They are very consistent in their room designs, which is a great thing if you travel throughout Japan and need to stay at a hotel you know will be good! There appear to be two Toyoko Inn's close to JR Kokura Station, and this one is "Kokura-eki Minamiguchi" (Kokura Station South Exit). It's a small block southeast of JR Kokura Station, so there is no need to call for a taxi if the luggage load is light. I booked online, several months prior, for a non-smoking Single room. The room is pretty spacious, and this time I noticed that the common "pre-fabricated" bathroom was slightly more spacious than at competing hotels and extended stay hotels in Japan. The bed is more of a U.S. "full size" bed, definitely bigger than a twin. The room also has a remote for the in-room AC/heating unit. Internet access is available either by LAN or WiFi. I can't vouch for either, as I rented Pocket Wi Fi throughout my trip this time. There is a free breakfast every morning (until 9 or earlier I believe) that consists of miso soup, fish, onigiri (seasoned rice triangles, two kinds when I was there), tea and a few other appetizers, in a small buffet style setup. With Toyoko Inn's, and other business hotels (I'm assuming), you have to give them your room key whenever you leave the hotel. When you return to the hotel, you can ask the front desk for your room key. I do speak some Japanese, enough to get by with the day to day, so I would tell them my room number whenever I came back to go to my room. There is a coin laundry at the hotel that runs for 24 hours, and vending machines for drinks at the ground floor. I've stayed at one other business hotel, but I prefer the Toyoko Inn. The rooms are very clean, service is consistent and the free breakfast is a nice touch. Great for a solo traveler if you don't plan on sleeping in :)