Lonely Planet Review

Lace curtains, free coffee and a lobby fax machine set the homey tone at this family-owned hotel. It's perfectly located, next door the Folk Museum, and a short block from Fukuoka's oldest shrine. The hospitable owner speaks English.

The Hakata JBB is one of several budget finds in central Fukuoka. In some ways, the hotel is a throwback to the earlier times on display next door at the small Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan Folk Museum. The inviting and simple lobby is outfitted with a long table and chairs for reading magazines or sipping the complimentary coffee, which the owner makes every morning. You'll often find fellow travellers sharing tips and coffee around the table. There's even a fax machine for guests to use. The rooms are on the small side, but the semi-double beds are larger than usual and the bathrooms are immaculate. Some of the upper floor rooms overlook nearby Kushida Shrine. Book ahead for a mid-July stay, around the time of the Yamagasa Festival.