We enjoyed our first stay in Shizutetsu so much that we cancelled a different hotel booking and returned to Shizutetsu on our return from a trip to Beppu. Location is less than 10 minutes from Hakata Station, hotel is very new, clean and staff were courteous. Room is small but very pleasant and had all amenities. It should be noted that rooms face the train tracks. However, two things happened that can be improved. First, we were an hour early when we checked in at 2 p.m. While we were waiting in the lobby, there was a sudden strong stink of excretion. The hotel staff said it was due to some pipes. We requested for a room immediately but were told we have to wait, even though by then it was 2:40 pm, just 20 minutes to go before the official check in time. In the end, we went out for a walk and drink.
The second thing that happened was we requested for a taxi to the airport the night before departure. At midnight, a staff told us she couldn't get a taxi for 5:30 a.m. We told her to please keep trying. We have never encountered a situation where hotel staff couldn't get us a taxi. At 5:02 a.m., we were woken by a call that the taxi would be waiting for us at 5:10 a.m! We rushed to get ready and got to the taxi at 5:15 a.m. 8 minutes to get ready?? There’s brushing of teeth, changing, checking out, last minute packing...it was just so unreasonable!