Smile Hotel Hakata Review 2026: Solo Travel Stay & Prime Location

Hello, I'm D-young, your travel blogger! :)

The hotel I stayed at during my 2-night, 3-day Fukuoka trip was

Smile Hotel Hakata

It was a Fukuoka accommodation I was incredibly satisfied with – from its price and location to its facilities.

Plus, I'll even share some great restaurants near the hotel!

I'll introduce it all in today's post.

[Book Smile Hotel Hakata]

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Hakata vs. Tenjin vs. Nakasu: Which one should you choose?

Smile Hotel Hakata

The place I visited this time was

Smile Hotel Hakata

It's a fantastic value-for-money hotel, just a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station.

And yes, #PaidForByMe

I chose Hakata Station because I heard it's great for day trips to nearby areas, with JR and Shinkansen access.

Originally, I planned a day trip to Dazaifu or Kumamoto... ^^

(A sad ending: I overslept and couldn't go, haha!)

This hotel also accepts Kago Pass, so I sent my luggage ahead with Kago Pass and checked in at 10 PM.

That day, I walked over 20,000 steps!

Single Room

Here's a look at the overall room vibe!

It was clean, simple, and affordable – just perfect for me as a solo traveler 💛

I booked it on Agoda for 2 nights for ~ $163.

[Check Agoda for the best rates]

On the left, there's a shelf and a TV, and on the right, the bed.

I felt the bed was a bit wider than usual, and it turns out it was a semi-double bed!

And underneath the shelf, you'll find a refrigerator.

But the refrigerator wasn't working, so I checked...

and they said if I talked to the front desk, they'd give me something...?

What I got was something like a temperature-controlling clip,

but even after plugging it in, the temperature still wasn't adjusting,

so I decided to put my ice cream straight into my mouth instead of the fridge!

The Bathroom

The bathroom was super clean too! ✨

It was compact, but had everything I needed and was comfortable for showering, so it was perfectly fine.

For solo travelers, it's incredibly convenient and hassle-free.

The mirror might be a bit small, but it's totally fine! 😊

The sink faucet and showerhead are connected,

but it's designed so you won't get confused, which was great.

Temperature control is super intuitive too!

You'll find large slippers in the hallway, disposable shower towels,

and even disposable toothbrushes with toothpaste and razors.

You can take as many as you need.

This is the lobby on the first floor,

where breakfast is served in the morning,

and after that, they also store luggage here.

Those suitcases you see beyond the table are the stored luggage.

Breakfast

Breakfast is available from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM and costs ~$8.

When I left in the morning, I noticed quite a few guests enjoying it.

Local Eateries & Hotspots

💬

People often say that if you want to stay near great eateries,

you should book accommodation in Tenjin,

but Hakata has so, so many amazing spots too!! 🫪

There were so many places I wanted to try here,

I couldn't even visit a fraction of them...

But let me introduce a few of my favorite spots that I *did* get to enjoy! 🤍

Dacomettaka, famous as one of Fukuoka's top 3 bakeries!

It's located near Hakata Station,

and it's bustling with tourists and locals from morning till evening.

They're famous for their sausage bread and mentaiko baguette.

I went a little after 11 AM, and a lot had already sold out,

but I still managed to snag a mentaiko baguette!

The bread was a bit on the firm side,

but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

My second recommended spot is another fantastic bakery.

This one isn't right next to Hakata Station,

but it's on the way from the Smile Hotel towards Canal City.

Here, their shokupan (milk bread) is so delicious,

that their French toast is incredibly famous.

Honestly, the French toast on its own might seem quite simple,

I absolutely loved this combination of French toast, salad, and soup –

it was such a delightful meal!

Now, let's dive into another meal experience, this time at Ikkousha, a renowned ramen spot!

Funnily enough, this isn't a place I specifically sought out,

but I kept seeing seriously long lines every time I walked past it on my way to the hotel,

and my curiosity simply couldn't resist, so I went on my last day!

While it's a touch on the salty side,

the broth is incredibly rich and the pork flavor is just sublime, so I absolutely devoured it.

If you've had your fill of Ichiran, I highly recommend checking this place out!

You can always grab Ichiran as a kit,

so giving this place a try is a pretty good idea, haha!

This place? Oh, it's truly my secret yakitori haven!

It's literally a one-minute walk from my hotel...?

It's right across the street, diagonally! Haha!

The entrance itself felt magical, like stepping through a secret door,

and both the sake and yakitori skewers were incredibly delicious,

I truly had a wonderfully satisfying meal.

It was my very first time enjoying a solo drink out, and I left feeling utterly content! Hehe.

📍

Since it was my first solo trip to Japan in a long time,

I carefully considered security, cleanliness, location, and price

when choosing my Hakata hotel, and I was extremely satisfied.

Agoda offers free cancellation too, which makes it super convenient and great! 🤍

👇🏻 Book the best price with Agoda

Agoda Official Site | Free Cancellation & Discount Deals | Over 2 Million Accommodations3ha.in