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I’m back in Fukuoka for my final two nights in Kyushu. And for this leg of the trip, I’m staying at APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome. The APA chain has long been my go-to in Japan for its combination of price, location, and consistency. So even though this was my first time at this specific location, I’m heading in expecting the usual reliable, comfy experience.
So what exactly was the room experience like? What are the average room rates? And is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good is APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome Actually?
Find the best rates and room availability through my affiliate link here! It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I’ll receive a small commission to continue making more reviews!
–Check-In & Room Pricing–
–Standard Room: Overview–
–Bed Area–
–Nightstand Area–
–Main Table Area–
–Room Hallway Area–
–Bathroom Area–
–Room Service & Cleaning–
–Check-Out & Luggage Storage–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–
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🏠 Check-In & Room Pricing 🏠
There are two ways to check-in at APA Hotel: contactless through their touchscreen kiosks, or at the front desk with the staff. Either way, simply present your passport and your booking number, and you’ll receive your keycards and a small receipt outlining your stay details.
Side Note: There are several APA Hotels around this side of Hakata Station, so make sure you’re at the right one before checking in! (Pro Tip: this one has the number “353” below the APA logo outside.)
And right by the lobby area, there’s an amenities room featuring a coin laundry, vending machine, ice machine, and a microwave.
Prices will vary by season (especially volatile on weekends around the Hakata/Tenjin area), but on average, expect to find APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome at around 60 to 90 USD per night – with the occasional spike to at least 100 to 150+ USD if there’s a major event or concert going on.
Find the best rates and room availability through my affiliate link here! It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I’ll receive a small commission to continue making more reviews!
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🛏️ Standard Room: Overview 🛏️
For my two nights at APA Hotel, I’m staying in their Standard Room.
At 10m², it’s definitely on the smaller end of business hotels in Japan – even by APA standards (most locations I’ve stayed in are around 11 or 12m²). Despite its size, I never really found the experience to be cramped at any point, as APA employs a couple of creative ways to maximize what little space they have.
Before we dive into the specifics, here is a quick look at some other room features:
Room Layout: This can vary depending on which area of the building you get. (Check out my other APA reviews for reference!)
Air Conditioning: Operates on a central heating/cooling system controlled by the hotel, with each room having a control panel to personally fine tune the temperature and fan speed.
Flooring: APA Hotels all use carpet floors in their rooms.
Wi-Fi: Excellent! Log-in details are listed on the TV screen.
Stay Duration: Check-In time is at 3 P.M., while Check-Out time is at 10 A.M.
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🛏️ Bed Area 🛏️
APA Hotel’s Standard Room comes equipped with their signature “Cloud Fit” double bed. Looks like a standard fluffy hotel bed, but honestly? It’s a contender for one of the best sleep experiences I’ve had in Japan!
The mattress features a firm base topped with an impressively light, plush-like layer that’s incredibly comfy. Combined with their duvet-style blankets and their two different pillows (soft down-style and a flatter, firmer one), this setup is the perfect way to relax after a day of exploring.
To maximize the room’s smaller size, the mattress sits on APA’s dual-purpose bedframe. Featuring a high clearance at the bottom, the base also serves as a hidden luggage-storage area, wide and tall enough to slide two checked bags (opened or closed).
Right next to the bed is a control panel for the room’s lights and AC system, plus some power outlets for your phone, and a HDMI port wired directly to the in-room TV.
Speaking of the TV, you’ll find it mounted on the other end of the bed, with the main screen highlighting your check-out times, room service schedule, and Wi-Fi password – plus a selection of TV and movie channels.
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🛏️ Nightstand Area 🛏️
Next to the bed is a small nightstand featuring an assortment of amenities: an electric kettle, a notepad, tissue paper, a plastic-wrapped TV remote control, and a complimentary bottle of mineral water (one per person per booking).
Tucked below the nightstand is a set of yukata robes and obi sash, and a mini-fridge equipped with a small freezer compartment.
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💻 Main Table Area 💻
The main table area features a decently spacious work desk, a wheeled desk chair, power outlets (including a built-in universal plug), a LAN port, and a large mirror with overhead lighting.
And under the desk drawers: a laundry bag, extra tissues, hairdryer, cups (glass and paper), and complimentary packets of coffee and matcha. Also, APA provides dual trash bins specifically marked for regular and recyclable waste.
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🏠 Room Hallway Area 🏠
From the entryway leading up to the bed area, you’ll find a mounted clothes rack with six hangers (instead of a dedicated closet), a full-length mirror, room shoes & slippers (in-house and take-home varieties), a shoehorn, and a bottle of anti-bacterial clothes spray.
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🛁 Bathroom Area 🛁
Your standard Japanese business hotel-style bathroom – definitely on the smaller end, but very compact and feature-rich.
The shower area features a shower head with two angle-adjusting shower mounts, a bathtub spout, an OK-sized bathtub, and a trio of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner.
Over at the sink area, the same bathtub spout also doubles as a sink faucet – saving precious space while providing some satisfying water pressure.
And on the other side of the bathroom, a Japanese-style toilet with electronic bidet, body & hair towels, a wall rack, and tons of amenities (cups, razor, toothbrush, comb, shower cap, cotton swabs, hair band, and a textured washcloth)
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🏠 Room Service & Cleaning 🏠
Room-cleaning services at APA are carried out every third night, where your bed will be made, trash bins cleared, plus some other light cleaning.
As for replacement amenities, you’ll receive an ‘Essentials Kit’ (or what I like to call a “Survival Bag”) hanging from the exterior front door handle- containing a laundry bag, fresh towels, toiletries, and a packet of coffee & matcha.
On non-cleaning days, if you’d like to have your old towels kept and trash bins emptied, place them outside your door in the morning, and the staff will handle it while you’re away.
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🏠 Check-Out and Luggage Storage 🏠
APA Hotel’s contactless check-out process is extremely simple: just drop your keycards into the ‘Express Checkout’ box by the elevators, and you’re good to go!
Luggage storage is also available if you need the hotel to hold your bags for the day. Scan their QR code by the front desk, fill in your details, and the staff will take care of your bags until you return.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome actually? It’s obviously no spacious luxury hotel, but for a budget-friendly business hotel, it does exactly what it’s designed to do – and very well at that! It’s modern, comfy, and clean, and the slight tweaks they use to optimize what space they have makes it feel much larger than the listed 10m² room size. This specific location is especially convenient as well, with Hakata Station and Canal City Hakata just a quick walk away.
Room rates are subject to Fukuoka’s usual weekend volatility, but even with the spikes, it remains one of the more affordable choices around the Hakata area.
So if you’re staying around the Hakata side of Fukuoka and need a simple, clean, and convenient place to stay, then head on over to APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome!
Find the best rates and room availability through my affiliate link here! It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I’ll receive a small commission to continue making more reviews!
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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗
APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome is located right around Hakata Station, and notably only 20 minutes away from Fukuoka Airport (2 subway stations + 12-minute walk).
From Hakata Station (Kuko/Airport, Nanakuma, JR Lines), exit via Central 3, Hakata Gate, or any West Gate, and the hotel is around a 12-minute walk.
From Kushida Shrine Station (Nanakuma Line), exit via Exit 7, and the hotel is around an 8-minute walk.
And from Canal City Hakata, the hotel is about a 6 to 10-minute walk away.
Full Review: Anime & Figure Stores at Canal City Hakata
APA Hotel Hakata Ekimae 3-chome
🌏 Location 🌏
3 Chome-11-6 Hakata Ekimae, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0011, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NurmijJa7Qo2YDPs8
💻 Website 💻
https://www3.apahotel.com/
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