Gorgeous Fukuoka hotels for exploring the sights tastes of the city

Exploring Fukuoka with the littlest members of your family is a magical experience when you stay at Okura Hotel. Plan a special play day at the delightful Anpanman Children’s Museum next door to the hotel, where the animated characters from ‘Let’s Go! Anpanman!’ are brought to life.

Back at the hotel, take turns splashing with the kids in the family-friendly swimming pool and taking advantage of the on-site beauty salon for a much deserved facial or manicure. When the little ones go down for a nap, laze by the heated pool with the latest bestseller or a cold craft beer, brewed fresh in the hotel’s own facilities.

Enjoy some family time before dinner in your room (carpeted so it’s safe for tickles and tumbles), where decorative headboards, recessed lighting and satin cushions give the impression of scattered jewels. Bubble baths will no doubt be another highlight for the kids before a family dinner at Teppan-yaki Sazanka. This on-site restaurant experience is fun for the kids and delicious for everyone, with high-grade Japanese beef, seafood and local vegetables crowning the menu.

Finding your way to Hotel Nikko Fukuoka is easy–just three minutes via an underground walkway from the central Hakata train station will bring you to the hotel’s spacious foyer, where an enormous double staircase and magnificent tiles create an air of opulence.

Enjoy a slow start to the day by browsing your complimentary morning paper in your spacious room styled in calming neutral tones. Leave yourself plenty of time to admire the stone and stained glass Chapel Priere, a gothic-style cathedral with some of the best acoustics in Japan and host to big-ticket musical acts. For the afternoon, opt for a leisurely stroll along the White Avenue fashion galleria.

A cooling end-of-day swim in the crystal clear water of the hotel pool will leave you revived and refreshed. Framed by arched wall windows, you’ll take in views over the city as you splash. After drying off, settle onto a lounge sofa at the Vol de Nuit piano bar and contemplate your dining options for the evening–are you craving a Cantonese banquet from Kohro, teppanyaki delights from Icho or rich continental cuisine from Le Célébrités?

Losing yourself in Japan’s temples and shrines is good for the soul, and the tranquil Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Hakata is just the place to stay while you hit ‘refresh’ on your spirit. With its own onsen (hot water spring) and easy access to Tocho-ji Temple, the oldest Shingon temple in Kyushu, plus Shofuku-ji Temple (the oldest Zen temple in Japan), you’ll be able to slow down and contemplate being in the moment.

The serene tone set by the temples extends to your hotel room, where plush carpeting balances against natural timber finishes and crisp white linens. Close your eyes and allow your personal in-room foot massager, standard in light-filled Premium Ladies rooms, to soothe your soles (and soul) after a day of sightseeing. If you’d like additional pampering in a full-size massage chair, book into a Premium business room.

Spend a healing hour in the hotel’s garden-view onsen to complete your quest for calm. Once you’ve reached a blissful state, dive under the rain shower in your room to ready for dinner at on-site Arashiyama restaurant. You’ll nourish your body with aromatic and satisfying dishes like beef shabu shabu.

The colourful gardens around a central pond at Nishitetsu Grand Hotel represent the interplay between mankind and nature. Vibrant flowers and perfumed trees contrast with the hotel’s soaring ceiling and sparkling crystal chandelier in the foyer, pulling you into a balanced retreat.

Spend your day strolling along the cherry tree-lined walking paths in Maizuru Park, just a short 15-minute walk from the hotel, surveyed by the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. Originally built in the 17th century, these remnants of history entice you to imagine a world far removed from modern-day hustle and bustle. Visit in spring for the magical event of viewing the castle through a veil of soft pink sakura petals.

Wash off the day in your marble bathroom before taking a seat at the hotel’s French restaurant, La Cascade. The sound of water on the stone walls of a grotto seen from the restaurant creates a gentle backdrop for delicately prepared dishes and exquisite desserts.

Scraping the azure sky, the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk immediately sets the tone for a luxurious bayside break. It’s perched right on the banks of Hakata Bay with showstopping views over the water, a theme that continues into the serene lobby that’s reminiscent of an underwater reef.

In the stone spa set between gleaming corner windows, watch the sky shift to pastels as the bubbles keep you warm. If some well-earned pampering is on the menu, book a treatment at the beauty salon or simply dive into the crystalline pool.

Take in views of Hakata City or the glistening bay from your minimalist room dressed in natural woods and sea hues. For a traditional Japanese experience, book a Japanese Deluxe room to sleep in a luxe futon on tatami flooring and dine around a low-seated chabudai.

If you’d rather eat out, gather some picnic supplies and walk five minutes to Momochihama Beach Seaside Park. Make friends with the locals by joining a casual game of football or volleyball, then splash into the salt water for some aquatic fun before recharging with a coffee at an outdoor café.

Once you pass through the striking glass facade of Leopalace Hakata Hotel, you’ll find the minimalist, sheer-curtained curves of the cool foyer a welcome relief from the hubbub of activity outside. Up in your room, natural light floods through large windows to enhance the airy space. You’ll find a deep tub just waiting to be filled with suds, plus complimentary nightwear and slippers for when you care to wind down in bed with a warming green tea.

Getting out and about to explore Fukuoka is easy, with Hakata station a 3-minute stroll away. The station is part of the enormous JR Hakata City complex, where 11 floors and more than 200 shops mean thrilling sessions of intense retail therapy. See a movie at the giant cinema or opt for an intergalactic experience at the rooftop observatory.

If you’re in the mood for an Italian-style dinner, head back to the hotel’s Trattoria Ventuno for a buffet feast of pasta, salads, crusty bread and rich desserts. For Japanese bites that delight the senses, take a seat at the on-site Wafu eatery for exquisitely presented plates of sashimi, sticky tofu and red snapper.

Funky urban chic meets traditional Japanese gardens at With The Style Hotel, where you’ll get moments to chill out even in the heart of Hakata City action. A stay at this breezy resort-style hotel will indulge your artistic side, with art and music made recurrent themes throughout. Sip espresso by the pool to the gentle melody of rustling bamboo, or let the jets of the ever-hot whirlpool spa lend a soft percussion soundtrack to your relaxation session.

Back in your art-filled room, bask in the fresh air on your private terrace with a cheeky glass of champagne and a minibar treat. Light will pour in from a skylight above your bath, so you can bathe both in bubbles and Vitamin D.

For nighttime adventures, grab a taxi and journey 10 minutes to Nakasu, Fukuoka’s famed entertainment district. Next to Tenjin between the Hakata and Naka Rivers, the area has a down-to-earth, grungy feeling that makes for a super cool night scene. Fuel up for a night on the town with delicious ramen and grilled chicken skewers at one (or more) of the many open-air yatai food stalls.

Overlooking the city from the surrounding hills is the peaceful urban oasis of the AGORA Fukuoka Hilltop Hotel & Spa. Feel your senses awaken and your mind relax as you enter your own little sanctuary, where natural materials like stone and hand-crafted timbers will ease you away from big city stresses.

You can choose between Japanese Tatami or Western-style rooms here, so your stay can be as cultural or familiar as you like. Grab a book from the hotel’s well-stocked library and a coffee to go from the on-site café, then settle in by your window overlooking swaying trees in the garden.

For the ultimate calming ritual, sink into the hotel’s natural hot spring baths and let the mineral water carry away your cares. Follow with a holistic therapy treatment at the spa and you’ll be floating somewhere near Nirvana.

A sunset cocktail at the open-air bar will whet your appetite for dinner at Koyomi restaurant. As the lights come on across Fukuoka city, indulge in an authentic, multi-course kaiseki meal prepared with seasonal ingredients.

The non-stop entertainment around the Grand Hyatt Hotel makes for a fun distraction at any time of day during your holiday. Feel like a celebrity as you enter the lavish foyer at the hotel, where subtle lighting draws your attention to original sculptures and artworks.

The luxe atmosphere extends to your suite, where you’ll be enveloped in warm hues throughout your plush lounge. For a stay in the style of a traditional inn, book a Japanese Suite and prepare tea in your own tea ceremony room while hot water fills the hinoki soaking tub.

The hotel is connected to Canal City in Hakata, where there’s an abundance of restaurants, cafés, cinemas and shops to explore. For lunch, head to the Ramen Stadium on level five to try different varieties of the silky noodle soup from all over Japan.

In the evening, dress to impress and head to the red-toned Martini Bar in the hotel lobby–shaken or stirred, it’s your call. Treat yourself to sushi at its finest at ultra-intimate Shimizu; there are only 12 seats here, so be sure to make a reservation.