Yamamoto Ryokan

It's a beautiful Showa Era Ryokan that's over 70 years old. There is a 200 yen accommodation tax when checking in (this tax applies for all accommodations in Fukuoka), which I happily paid for as I want to support sustainable tourism). You leave your shoes at the main entrance and use slippers throughout the Ryokan. You are provided a toothbrush, yukata, and a prepared tea set that you can pour hot water in immediately to consume. I believe I met the owner's father, who checked me in. He was incredibly patient, introduced me to my room (which was clean and tidy), set up my bedding, and guided me to where the facilities were while explaining in Japanese with some English translations. The amenities are a little outdated, but in exchange-- the accommodation is affordable and breakfast is an available option. The walls are also a little thin-- so you will hear some noise from the outside, this did not bother me though as the area was quiet during the night. The check-out time is 10AM and I easily did so by leaving my room key in the basket at the main entrance. In summary, the Yamamoto Ryokan is an affordably wonderful and historic place to spend your nights. They have an instagram: @yamamotoryokan and a cute Shiba Inu dog named; Charmie. I sadly didn't get to meet the dog but heard them barking in the morning.

I had another great experience at a Japanese ryokan. The owner was caring and efficient with what he needed to do before handing over room key.

We, three adults, stayed in Fukuoko City for two nights at the end of a 10 day trip in Kyushu. Having dropped our rental car and heavy luggage at the airport, it was easy to find our way to the Ryokan by subway. We found the hotel quite charming. The welcome, the room and the facilities were just great for us. We appreciated the shared kitchen area as well as the shared family bath, and our room was comfortable and quiet. I would encourage anyone with an interest in experiencing genuine Japanese culture to stay at Ryokan Yamamoto.