What kind of hotel is THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier?
When I visited Fukuoka on a business trip in mid-November under a crisp blue autumn sky, I decided to stay at this hotel, which opened this year. To get straight to the point, the hotel offers incredibly good value for money compared to Tokyo. In particular, if you love drinking local sake, wine, beer, etc., like me, staying in a Hakata room on 14F with access to the executive lounge would be a great stay. There are also several affordable restaurants on 2F of the building where the hotel is located, and CANAL City Hakata is nearby, making dining and shopping very convenient.
I finished work around 5:00 p.m. and walked out of Hakata Station from West Exit 19 in the direction of CANAL City Hakata, and saw the hotel diagonally in front of me. Usually it takes about 7 minutes to walk from Hakata Station, but since I had a large suitcase with me, it was about 10 minutes on foot. On the first floor of the building where the hotel is located, there is a Starbucks and a bakery with a white noren curtain entrance. The entrance to the hotel is in the middle of the Starbucks and the bakery. You enter through an automatic door with beautiful wood grain. When the automatic doors open, I found elegantly designed lanterns placed at one-meter intervals to illuminate my feet. Inside, I found an elevator hall, the walls of which were inlaid with massive stones reminiscent of castle walls. From here, I took an elevator to the fourth floor, where the hotel’s reception lobby was located.
Upon arriving at the reception lobby, one was greeted by an open, high ceiling with bamboo planted behind full-length glass windows, giving the lobby a very Japanese feeling. In the center of the lobby, a huge vase was dynamically decorated with seasonal flowers. Also on the wall of the reception area was a Hakata fence kneaded with Hakata tiles, and in front of the reception area was a shelf tastefully decorated with pottery and crafts from Kyushu. Then, in the back corner of the lobby, there was a coffee machine with organically grown beans that could be used free of charge at any time.
A hot hand towel was provided upon check-in at the reception counter. Two automatic check-in and check-out machines were also located next to the reception counter. I signed in on a tablet device, completed check-in, and received a card key with a print of a Hakata-inspired print from a staff member before heading to my room.
This time I booked a Hakata King room on 14F. This is because staying on the 14F gives you access to a great executive lounge where you can drink as much alcohol as you want. There are only 13 rooms on 14F. Upon entering the room, I found a spacious bathroom with a bathtub on the right, and further on, a king bed on the left, with a modern design table and chairs in front of the bed. On the table, a vase made of bamboo was decorated with purple gentian flowers that bloom in the fall season. Sophisticatedly designed lanterns were placed on the bedside tables, and artwork depicting dignified plum blossoms in a serene setting was displayed above the bedhead. When I entered the bathroom, I could smell the scent of hinoki cypress. The bathroom, made of Towada stone and hinoki cypress, was spacious and luxurious. There were Pampuli of Thailand and C.O. Bigelow of New York bath amenities in the bathroom.
I then headed to the executive lounge on the 14th floor. Upon entering the lounge, I was surprised by the high-class interior and private, spacious ambience. Although this hotel is a luxury business hotel, the top floor had a stunning executive lounge that looked like something you would find in a 5-star hotel. In the center of the executive lounge was a tea room area with a magnificent one-piece wooden table, where the kimono-dressed staff prepared matcha powder green tea and Japanese sweets. I never get to enjoy matcha powder green tea in my daily life, so the opportunity to have it made right in front of me was extremely valuable. I felt as if I had come to stay at a luxury ryokan. I enjoyed matcha and Japanese sweets while looking out over the city of Hakata at dusk.
Then, at the counter in the back of the executive lounge, which was free of charge, was Tap Marche, a wonderful beer server, where I enjoyed a wide variety of craft beers. The alcoholic beverages available included red wine from Miyazaki Prefecture and white wine aged in oak barrels from Oita Prefecture, local sakes from Hakata, shochus from Kagoshima Prefecture, plum wine from Oita Prefecture, and spirits, tonics, and liqueurs from Kyushu. For a drink lover like me, it was a great place to be. Also, snacks included nuts, brezel, cookies, lemon cake, chocolate, vegetable and cod roe crackers, caramel waffles, and more. Then, there was also a cutting-edge coffee maker that could make a variety of different types of coffee. Tea was served by Dilmah, a well-known brand in luxury hotels, and in the fridge were Perrier, cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, fruit juice, oolong tea, Asahi beer, Kirin beer, Suntory beer, and green tea, vanilla, and chocolate flavored ice cream in cups made with Kumamoto milk.
It was already past 6:00 p.m. when I was enjoying a variety of Kyushu sakes while viewing the sunset in Hakata. I was very tired on the last day of my business trip, so I decided to go to Umeyama Teppei, a Japanese restaurant on 2F of this building. I always stop by this restaurant when I come to Fukuoka on business because it is easy to use by myself and has many reasonably priced set menus. The fish dishes and sashimi are especially fresh and delicious. You can enjoy dishes commonly found in Hakata homes.
After dinner, I decided to return to the hotel and go to the communal baths on the 4th floor. Please check the TV in your room to see how crowded it is. The communal baths are separated into men’s and women’s baths, To enter the women’s bath, you need to enter your daily password. Please be sure to remember your card key and the password given to you by the staff when you check in. The communal baths are decorated with designs reminiscent of Hakata culture. Also, skincare priducts by Pola were provided.
After relaxing in the communal baths, I decided to go back to the executive lounge on the 14th floor to sit on a sofa by the window and enjoy a special Kyushu sake. Unfortunately, the night view of Hakata outside the large windows was nothing special, but this lounge was very comfortable and luxurious.
The next day, I woke up around 7:00 am. Looking out the window, I saw an endless expanse of crisp autumn sky. The city of Hakata has no tall buildings, so it felt more spacious than the Tokyo sky.
I had breakfast at a restaurant called “Nine Doors” on the second floor of this building. It was a Japanese-Western style buffet. I went to the restaurant around 7:30 a.m., and it was already so crowded and some guests were waiting, but they gave me a priority seat. Probably because I stayed on 14F. The restaurant had a unique design with exposed plumbing in the ceiling and looked like a stylish cafe.
The buffet tables had many ingredients and dishes that originated in Kyushu. There were fresh vegetable salads, delicacies that made use of Kyushu’s local cuisine, yu-tofu, pickles, and Japanese side dishes. There was also a variety of staple foods to choose from, including onigiri rice balls, Nagasaki’s Goto Udon noodle, focaccia sandwiches with Hakata chicken, croissants, and butter roll bread. Western-style dishes were especially delicious, such as sausage, bacon, and grilled vegetables. For egg dishes, the chef prepared omelets and fried eggs on the spot. It was a very satisfying breakfast considering the price range, with a wide variety of dishes and a high level of taste. It was also interesting to note that each dish was labeled to show which region it was from. Breakfast hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
At last, if your stay at the hotel is short, a standard or deluxe room will probably be sufficient. On the other hand, if you are spending a longer time at the hotel and would like to spend more time in a higher grade room or in the Executive Lounge, you may want to choose a Hakata room on the 14th floor. The Executive Lounge is open from 7:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 21:30.
Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
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Is the location easy to access?
The location is near Hakata Station. It takes 7 min on foot. The reception is on the 4th floor. CANAL City shopping mall is just near.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, pajamas, tea bags. There are PANPURI amenities with a jasmine scent in the bathroom. If you stay on 14F, bathrobes, a complimentary mini-bar and a coffee machine with capsules are available too. The free WIFI reception is excellent. Room service is available. There is a convenience store nearby.
Then, this is child-friendly. Cribs, bed guards, toothbrushes, slippers, etc. are available if requested in advance.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are indoor communal baths with saunas on 4F. They are open from 6:00-9:00, 15:00-25:00.
*Babies out of diapers are not allowed to use the communal baths.
*If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to use the communal bathing areas.
Also, there is a small gym on 4F. You need to bring sportswear, T-shirts and running shoes, etc. It is open from 6:00-9:00, 15:00-25:00.
There are vending machines and laundromats on 4F.
The hotel is a universal design. There are some universal rooms. If you bring someone with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they arrange a room near the lift. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing.
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My impressions
Overall, the hotel has great value for money. I would definitely stay here again when I am in Hakata, Fukuoka. Then if you want to relax in a tranquil setting, you may want to avoid staying during Lunar New Year, late April to early May, the weekends of Oct and Nov, and the end of the year and the New Year holiday. It will be especially crowded during the above periods.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier from the below space.
Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
Info about THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier
| Style | Luxury Business Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 30,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail address |
hakata_premier@jrk-hotels.co.jp |
| Internet Connection | Free WiFi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The parking lot is available at JPY1,500 per day |
| Location | THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier’s MAP |
| Access | Less than 10min walk from Hakata Station |
| Address and TEL | Tel +81 |
| Official Homepage | THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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