Day 2 - Check in to Hotel Active! (Review)

We stayed in a twin room at Hotel Active! for 3 nights. Because the first night was a Saturday, the rate was much higher at 15800yen. The next two nights on a Wednesday and Thursday were 12800yen and 15800yen respectively due to a doctor convention in the town. Normal room rate is 9800 for a twin bed room and 8800yen for a double bed room. The normal rate is really very good. Generally, accomodations in Fukuoka are cheaper compared to Toyko, the big city. I emailed the hotel when I could not reserve the twin room online and the hotel responded very fast and made the reservation for me. This hotel is ranked is no. 1 in Tripadvisor. True to its name, it is a very good hotel though the room is really small. Very modern and clean boutique hotel. The stay was very cozy and comfortable. Sumptuous breakfast was included in the room rate and the spread was very good. You can also do your laundry free. Feel very good staying in this cozy chic hotel. Convenience stores are round the corner. Plenty in JR Hakata Station.
Room number was 821. The next time we checked in it was 1221.

The bed and the pyjamas were very comfortable! But there is hardly any walking space... The heater/aircon was individually controlled.


Big TV, free LAN internet and a humidifier on the right

Slippers

Hairdryer, mirror and tissues

Cups to collect free flow cocoa, latte, cappacino, mocha, tea from drink dispenser at the lift lobby. No water provided. You need to boil yourself using the electric kettle provided.

Compact bathroom complete with amenities (no moisturiser though) and toilet with washing facilities but hardly space to dress yourself after your shower


Shampoo, bath foam and hair conditioner

Vanity sink

Business Centre - 3 computers and one printer/copier for use

Laundry area complete with 2-in-1 washer/dryer near the lift lobby. Detergent provided

Lift lobby

Man-made onsen for the men. Ladies' onsen on 2nd floor with password access for entry

Aisle way to lobby. Breakfast area on the right. Forgot to take a photo of the sofas and fireplace in the lobby.

Breakfast Area

First floor map

Hotel exterior

"Hotel exterior at night

One of the many eateries near Hotel Active!

Itinerary :

Day 1 - Overnight Flight to Fukuoka, Kyushu via SQ

Day 2 – Fukuoka福岡Airport to Hakata Station博多駅 via airport shuttle bus/subway - > Deposit luggage at Hotel Active! -> Buy and book JR passes/tickets -> Limited Express Sonic reserved Train ride to Kokura小倉-> Transfer to JR Kaogoshima to Mojiko 門司港 駅 Kitakyushu -> Mojiko Retro Train Shiokaze-go (観光トロッコ列車 「潮風号」) -> Mekari Park via Mekari Spectacular Landscape Busめかり絶景バス-> Meraki second observation deck 和布刈第二展望台-> Kanmon Pedestrian Undersea Tunnel ナナオすくらっぷ 関門トンネル人道 to Honshu Main Island, Shimonoseki下関-> Sanden Bus to Karato Area -> Kanmon Steamboat/Ferry to Mojiko -> Mojiko Retro Town -> Mojiko Retro Observation Room -> Old Customs Building , 旧門司税関 -> Blue Wing Moji Bridge, ブルーウイングもじ -> Baked curry (yakikare 焼きカ) lunch at Ant Bee-> Kitakyushu Commerative Library of internation Friendship, 国際友好記念図書館 -> Mojiko Hotel -> Port House, 港ハウス -> Minato House -> Kaiyo Plaza -> Old OSK Line Building, 旧大阪商船-> Old Mitsui Club , 旧門司三井倶楽部 -> Check in to Hotel Active! Review -> Shinkansen to Kumamoto 熊本Night scene around Kumamoto Station -> Tram ride to Karashimacho Shopping Street 辛島町 Shimotori (下通り) -> Dinner -> Christmas Deco at Hakata

Day 3 - Breakfast -> Shinkansen to Kumamoto -> Around Kumamoto Station -> Train ride to Aso via local train JR Hohi line -> Around Aso station阿蘇駅 -> Bus ride to Aso West station -> Ropeway to Mt Aso阿蘇山/ crater of Mt. Nakadake, Aso -> Bento Lunch -> Bus to Kurokawa 黒川 -> Review of Iyashi no Sato Kiyashikiいやしの里 樹やしき -> Private Roten-buro Outdoor Onsen -> Kaiseki Dinner

Day 4 – Onsen -> Breakfast -> Hut/Teahouse by the river -> Kurokawa town -> Bus Ride to Yufuin 湯布院- > Lunch at Hidamari Shokudo -> Yufin Shopping Street , Yufumi Doori (由布見通り -> B speak Roll -> Yunotsubo Kaidou (湯の坪街道) -> Drop luggage at やわらぎの郷やどや -> Lake Kinrinko金鱗湖-> Kinsho Croquette, (金賞コロッケ)-> Check in to Yawaraginosato Yadoyaやわらぎの郷やどや(Review) -> Yufuin Station -> Lake Kinrinko金鱗湖 at late evening -> Dinner at ぶんご亭 -> Private Indoor & Outdoor Roten-buro Onsen - 露天-やわらぎの湯 -> public onsen

Day 5 - Private Onsen at 中の湯 -> Breakfast -> Yufunin Shopping Street -> Train ride Yufu ゆふ to Beppu別府-> Beppu Station -> En route to Hotel Aileホテルエール-> Deposit luggage -> Takegawa Onsen 竹瓦温泉-> Lunch at Youme shopping centre basement -> Kannawa鉄輪-> Kifunejo Castle 贵船城-> Yukemuri Tenboudai 別府湯けむり展望台-> Check in Hotel Aile ホテルエール(Review) -> Onsen -> Dinner

Day 6 – Sunrise -> Onsen -> Breakfast -> Train ride to Oita大分 on Limited express Sonic -> Around Oita Station大分 -> Train ride on JR Kyudai to Yufuin -> Train ride on Yufu no Mori (ゆふいんの森, The Forest of Yufuin to Hakata -> Check in Hotel Active! -> Train ride to Futsukaichi 二日市-> Walk to Nishitestsu Murasaki Station 紫駅-> Train ride to Nishitestsu Futsukaichi Station 西鉄二日市駅- > Transfer to Dazaifu Station大宰府駅- > Autumn Leaves at Komyozenji Temple at Dazaifu光明禅寺@太宰府 -> Dinner at Ippodu Ramen 一风堂拉面

Day 7 - Breakfast at Hotel Active! -> JR HAKATA CITY Tsubame-No-Mori Hiroba (Roof Garden) -> Gion Area祇園 - > 龙宫寺 Ryuguji Temple -> Shofukuji Temple (聖福寺, Shōfukuj ) -> Kushida Temple櫛田寺院-> Kami Kawabata Shopping Alley香美川端 -> Shintendo 新天町-> Ohori Park 大濠公園, Ōhori-kōen - > Fukuoka Castle Ruins 福岡城, Fukuokajō -> Late Lunch at Yayoiken Gionヤーよい轩-> JR HAKATA CITY Tsubame-No-Mori Hiroba (Roof Garden) -> Tenjin 天神Shopping ->Dinner at Ippodu Ramen Shopping at JR Hakata Station

Day 8 - Breakfast - > Morning flight Home Sweet Home