With the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka in June of 2023 a whole bevy of new and unique luxury facilities have been coming up one after the other in Fukuoka. In this article we will introduce a few of the hotels and glamping facilities that have been making waves in town! 

Since opening in June 2023, The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka has commanded discussion in the city. The crème de la crème of the fleet of hotels operated by the international Marriott International group (Headquartered in Maryland, USA), this hotel opened in the middle of the bustling city atop the Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City complex. 

As soon as you approach from the first floor front entrance, you’re whisked away to another world that showcases the refined sensibilities of The Ritz-Carlton brand. All of this elegance and beauty may be slightly overwhelming, but allow us to allay any fears you might have. With the courteous guidance of the staff and the gentle scent of the black moth orchid fragrance permeating the air, those worries will quickly become an afterthought. 

The hotel reception is located on the 18th floor of the tower, a panoramic view of Hakata Port greeting you as soon as you alight from the elevator (left photo). You can also spend a moment relaxing in the adjacent lounge as you wait to be checked-in (right photo). 

The 147 guest rooms and 20 suites can be found from the 19th to 23rd floors, each one possessing a view beyond compare. Rooms can be selected from 3 categories: Bay View (facing the sea), Sky View (facing Tenjin), and Park View (facing Ohori Park). The hotel’s design possesses a playful flair that incorporates influences from the traditional handicrafts of the region as well as Fukuoka’s rich history of communication and trade with Asia. The influence of Fukuoka’s culture can be felt throughout the building. The hotel is furthermore outfitted with a spa and fitness center as well as a pool restricted to guests, giving it a resort like feeling even though it is in the middle of the city. 

In contrast to the spa and fitness center, the hotel’s top class restaurants are open to non-guests as well. On the 18th floor of the hotel you will find Diva, a café that would be perfect for those seeking a spot of afternoon tea, the open interior of lunch and dinner specialist Viridis, Japanese restaurant Genju specializing in kaiseki, sushi, and teppanyaki, and finally The Lobby Lounge and Bar specializing in domestic and international whiskies and cocktails. No matter where you choose to go, a fantastic view awaits you. Though, for those seeking a view a cut above the rest, the view from the bar and grill Bay on the 24th floor is hard to beat.

The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka is designed with a thoroughly modern Japanese design concept, replete with allusions to Fukuoka’s culture of textile making as well as making use of natural or solid wood. For example, the walls of the dining room are decorated with Kurume city's "Rantai" lacquerware technique, and the partition cloth is made of Hakata-ori fabric. In another part of the hotel, the wall is decorated with Koishiwara and Takatori ceramics. In many parts of the hotel you will find many such traditional wares on display which has given this hotel the reputation of being a kind of museum for Fukuoka prefecture’s traditional crafts. 

As soon as you enter this hotel an extraordinary experience awaits you. For those looking for a definitive world class hotel experience, look no further. 

The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka
Address: Fukuoka City, Chuo ward, Daimyo 2-6-50, Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City
TEL: 092-401-8888
Check-in is at 15:00/Check-out is at 12:00 
official website 

*The Marriott Group has developed the Marriott Bonvoy, a worldwide benefits program, and you can accumulate and use points from this at The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka. Why not enjoy world-class benefits at a great price?
 

Upon entering this hotel visitors tend to be struck by the creative juxtaposition of the chandelier with digital signage art piece, set to a backdrop of bright pop music. It would be more accurate to liken this entranceway to a restaurant or bar than a traditional lobby. In recent years lifestyle hotels, or hotels where unique interior design and other value added components are major selling points, have risen in popularity, and in 2019 “THE LIVELY Fukuoka Hakata” opened as Fukuoka’s first lifestyle hotel in the middle of western Japan’s most famous entertainment district, Nakasu. 

Designed with a sense of playfulness, the lobby, front desk, bar, and restaurant, are located on the first floor. In various places depictions of Hakata itself decorate the walls. On the 2nd floor there is a coworking space open to those staying in the hotel. Interestingly, for every person working on their computer you will find another reading quietly, others chatting amongst themselves, and even some playing billiards. Here, you get the impression that far from being only a place to work that everybody is enjoying the space in their own way.

Among the 224 hotel rooms the main type is the double room, and the hotel can be used for purposes of either business or leisure. There are even loft type rooms that feature bunk beds, perfect for families or group travelers (the photo is of the standard queen room). Furthermore, there are options to have your room decorated, game rentals, and many other unique ways to help personalize the experience.

THE LIVELY hotel series also has locations in Tokyo and Osaka, but what makes this Fukuoka location special is the bar on the first floor. The bar is located in a wide and open space shaped somewhat like a vault or atrium and offers their own special dessert menu in addition to the drinks. Of particular note are the desserts on the e-mode, short for emotional mode menu that changes with the season or during special events. There are many regulars who frequent the bar for the sole purpose of trying the sweets (the bar is not restricted to hotel guests).

Another unique facet of this hotel is in fact the presence of another hotel inside of it. This is a kind of progressive capsule hotel called The Millennials. The hotel’s “smart pods” are both incredibly compact and comfortably livable, and guests can use THE LIVELY’s facilities before retiring to their unit. 

At THE LIVELY, the hotel is transformed from being simply a place to sleep and redefined as “a place where people, information, and opportunities can come together”. Guests who come to THE LIVELY and The Millennials find themselves mingling and interacting with visitors to the bar and restaurant, creating an energetic and fittingly lively atmosphere. This is probably the best part of staying here; with each visit there is a new discovery, or friend, to make. 

THE LIVELY FUKUOKA HAKATA
Address: Fukuoka City, Hakata ward, Nakasu 5-2-18
TEL: 050-3138-2071
Check-in is at 15:00/Check-out is at 11:00 
official website

The Millennials FUKUOKA
official website

As the name suggests, INN THE PARK is a glamping (glamor camping) facility complex where you can spend the night in a park. The park in question is the Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, well known for its proximity to the sea and abundant nature, as well as numerous sightseeing and leisure activity spots. 

Prospective guests can choose from 3 main types of room, from the curious and eye-catching “spherical tents” to the popular cabins meant for couples or individual guests, and finally the terrace house type which comes with a bathtub. The popular spherical tents measure 6 meters in diameter and are two stories tall, making them quite spacious and comfortable to stay in. 

The cabin is adjacent to the sea (left photo) and faces directly onto the water. The room is compact but has an open feel on account of the single large window. Additionally, guests who stay at the hotels will be able to use the bathhouse, which similarly features a large window to provide bathers with an excellent view of Hakata Bay (right photo). Letting your worries melt away as you bathe to the lapping of the waves is as sublime as it sounds.

As for dinner there are two options, the restaurant or barbecue. The restaurant features high quality cuisine that would not be out of place at a high class hotel (left photo), and the barbecue features ingredients prepared with a small twist from the chef (right photo). Breakfast is available in a take-out style with a seasonal menu. Enjoy a picnic in the morning at your favorite place in the park. 

While INN THE PARK does offer barbecue, lunch, and tea options for day visitors, the real pleasure lies in the phenomenal night view of Hakata Bay and ability to walk about the park at night that only lodgers have access to. At this “hotel park” come spend a night you won’t easily find elsewhere!

INN THE PARK
Address: Fukuoka City, Higashi ward, Oaza Saitozaki 18-26
TEL: 092-692-7100
Check-in is from 15:00~21:00 (the dinner-inclusive plan is at 17:00)/Check-out is at 10:00
official website (Website is in Japanese, but multilingual support is available for making reservations from the link at the top right of the page)

Located in the west of Fukuoka prefecture, Itoshima is known throughout Japan for its abundant nature and beautiful seafront. Located at the entrance to Itoshima, Alba HOTEL & Glamping was established in July 2023 as a luxurious large-scale accommodation and glamping facility that had never existed in this area before.

The hotel sports 21 rooms, split into 6 different types including luxury, corner, and royal suites, which all vary in size. What they all have in common however are their excellent views of the waterfront (depicted in the photo is one of the corner suites). Furthermore, all of the rooms come with a terrace, jacuzzi, and even projectors. 

On the roof of the hotel there are a whopping 4 glamping units too! The view from the roof is superb, and no matter where you look you have an unimpeded view of the sea. Once night falls the night sky fills with stars so vivid it is as if you could pluck them from the sky. Each tent comes with its own infinity pool, and there’s even a shallow pool available for children to play in. Outside of these offerings there are plenty of other glamping opportunities on terra firma, in addition to trailer houses for group or family use. 

Dining options include a restaurant (left photo) in the hotel and outdoor barbecue facility that comes with a projector. Following dinner guests can either head down to the bar for a drink or to the luxurious outdoor seats (right photo) to add a refined finishing touch to the day.

In the near future the hotel has plans to repurpose the first floor of the neighboring building to add a plethora of amusements and activities including an indoor pool, darts, ping pong, golf, and manga café. While it certainly would make for a great base of operations for those exploring the Itoshima area, with its comprehensive list of amenities Alba HOTEL & Glamping is well equipped to provide you with plenty of fun on its premises. 

Alba HOTEL & Glamping
Address: Fukuoka City, Nishi ward, Imazu 4787-10
TEL: 092-806-3939
Check-in is from 15:00~24:00/Check-out is at 11:00 
official website