Zen Oyado Nishitei

First I wanted to eat Dinner here, because this hostel is Restaurant. Second I wanted to stay here, because this hostel is old Japanese traditional house. Last two or three years, I tried to reserve but always No vacancy. Dinner French cuisine was so delicious and beautiful, and morning Japanese cuisine too. Room is pretty cute and it's like a grand parent's house at countryside. When I visit Fukuoka, I absolutely stay this hostel again.

We stayed a few days at Zen Oyado Nishitei. This was our first visit to Fukuoka. We flew into Hakata, took the subway to the train station in town, then a bus to the main street nearby. I have been using google maps and following the dots to find my destinations, and while that got us close, I was unsure that the small street the dots were suggesting was the right street. We saw three young fellows and asked for help. They walked us the rest of the way. When we arrived, we mentioned them to the host and she went out to give them a gift of some cookies, but by then they had left. Beautiful flower arrangements and fine ceramics decorate the inn. Our room was one of the smaller 2 person rooms, but it was not too small, as we ate our meals in one or more of several private dining rooms downstairs. There's an extensive wine list, or you can order by the glass. Dinner consisted of 5 or 6 courses, all perfectly cooked and presented. We had steak one night and duck the next. Breakfasts also consist of several courses, all tasty and nicely presented. There's an onsen downstairs, next to a small outdoor garden where I stood to cool off after my soak(s). We were just arriving in Japan from California, still adjusting to the time difference. One day it rained all morning, so we slept in to the sound of the rain on the roof. Another day we spent in the park, which has a lake, museum and a series of islands joined by bridges. The owner drove us down to the park. She also has instructions available for reaching various attractions. One of these showed us a shorter more direct route to Hakata station. Quality has to do with taste, as evidenced by the exquisite design and decoration of this ryokan. It also has to do with attention to detail. Quality is excellent here. When we said goodbye after our short stay, we knew we now have a friend in Fukuoka and a fine place to stay when we return. Five stars well deserved.

Zen Oyado Nishitei is the perfect place to stay in Fukuoka, about a 5-min walk to major bus lines and Yakuin Station, from which you can go to Daizafu, for example. The rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated, and the futon very comfortable. Shared toilet and wash basins, and morning baths need to be scheduled - not a problem. The staff are very attentive. Breakfasts were excellent, as was the French-influenced dinner I had one night. High value for the price.

We stayed on the 13th of March, and had a truly memorable and authentic Japanese experience. The hospitality of all the staff and the owner of this little ryokan is superb and the house is nestled in a quiet neighborhood in the inner city area. The rooms and bathrooms at this guest house are impeccably prepared, clean, and very comfortable. We had a beautifully prepared degustation for dinner and the following morning an impressive Japanese breakfast. The owner and her staff are all so lovely and kind, we felt welcome from the moment we arrived until the moment we drove off in our taxi. If you have never had a ryokan experience, then this is a great place to start if you can make the journey down to Fukuoka. We would be delighted to return!

I can't recommend this ryokan enough. The service, the rooms, the food... everything was incredible. The rooms are beautiful, simply and tastefully furnished, the shared baths are immaculate (and sharing was not an issue at all), and the public areas well furnished and comfortable. The owner served and explained the items in our traditional Fukuokan breakfast and the front desk attendant arranged Fukuoka Hawks baseball tickets, saving us from having to make a special trip or wait to see if they were available before the game. The ryokan is well located in a neighborhood with a number of small restaurants and bars and is only a few minutes walk from the major avenue with bus routes. If you have a chance to stay here, don't pass it up!

Overall, this is the best experience I've had at any inn or hotel in my life. The service, the space, the food, the area -- everything is unbelievable. And it's affordable. The Inn: A beautiful old Ryokan with zen gardens, wood flooring, Western-style beds, but Japanese style everything else (which is my preference). The service from Yoko and other staff was stunning and good. The private bath was easy to reserve and beautiful to stay in. Room: As a lone traveler, I was not expecting such a perfect room. The bed was amazing, and it had a desk, a good sized closet, and nice sitting portion. Perfect place to stay for longer. As a Ryokan, there are shared bathrooms; however, there are many sets of toilets and sinks, and there should never be a problem using the facilities (which are regularly cleaned). Location: It's in a residential area, about 15 minutes walk from Tenjin station and 20 minutes from the Yatai stalls on the canals. Overall, an excellent location if you enjoy quiet but still accessible. My only regret is that my over-active traveler brain insisted that I move on and travel more. I wish I had stayed for a full week. An excellent place to be creative and enjoy Fukuoka.

I stayed for a full week while visiting family over Christmas. The whole place is spotlessly clean. My room was beautiful and the futon was very comfortable (the pillow was so good I plan to buy one for home). It was also a quiet area. All of the staff were welcoming and friendly, and their English is much better than my Japanese. The traditional Japanese breakfast, served in a private dining room, was delicious and very generous. In addition, I arrived back to fresh fruit in my room everyday. The shower was great, and soaking in the large Japanese tub was a real luxury. It is a very short walk to Yakuin subway station and the subway gets you to the airport, main train and bus stations, and most sites. The ryokan is also not too far from Tenjin and other places to visit if, like me, you like to walk.