Published date: November 20, 2024
A Comfortable Hotel Where You Feel a Sense of Familiarity: The Best Place to Enjoy Seasonal Fruits Throughout the Year in Ukiha!
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
The manager, who resembles Arale-chan's father, welcomed me at the front desk. In addition to information about the adjacent roadside station, he kindly shared details about nearby restaurants, cafes, and tourist information.
The hotel provides coffee, tea, and miso soup at all times, allowing me to enjoy my breakfast and work on my PC while overlooking the autumn foliage from the lobby.
I found the separate bathroom and toilet very pleasing, and the room and exterior were comfortable for me.
I also purchased a notebook from 'Fairfield Quest'! I plan to leisurely visit all 29 locations and collect all the stamps. I got the signature from the very friendly manager at my first stop, Ukiha! The stamp design gives you an idea of what Ukiha is like. I'm looking forward to seeing what the stamps from other Fairfield by Marriott locations are like!
Experiences during the trip
I rented a car at Fukuoka Airport and drove for an hour using the toll road. The hotel is adjacent to a roadside station, making it easy to find. After checking in, I headed to the roadside station. In the evening, there weren't many vegetables, fruits, or sweets, but I was still able to buy some side dishes and baked sweet potatoes from outside.
The next day, around 8 am, when I peeked into the roadside station, I was able to go inside. I could see the farmers setting up their products, allowing me to buy directly from the producers. At this time of year, Shine Muscat grapes and persimmons are in season and enjoyable.
I bought breakfast and ate it in the lobby while working there.
For lunch, I strolled a few minutes down to a soba shop called 'Kifune' behind the hotel. I enjoyed the 100% buckwheat soba and delicious tempura (which included persimmons among the vegetables!). The kiwi vinegar before the meal was also refreshing.
For dessert, I visited 'Budou no Tane - Sakanoshita no Mise.' Their pudding and fig ice cream were both incredibly delicious, and it was a lovely shop.
In the evening, I attended a networking event with local businesses. I learned a lot about the roadside station, Ukiha in general, fruits such as persimmons and grapes, and wines.
I then visited 'Ishii Farm' where I met people at the networking event and enjoyed persimmons! The dried persimmons made here are so good that I had to be cautious not to eat too many. They say, 'Eat persimmons to stay healthy,' and I can see why... they are not only delicious but also good for your health. Ishii-san also taught me various ways to enjoy persimmons beyond just eating them fresh.
Next was a forest therapy session. Led by a guide, we walked 2 km over 2 hours. It was refreshing to disconnect from the digital world and enhance my senses. We observed the trees, bamboo, flowers, and leaves, smelling the scents and sometimes tasting them (be cautious as some shouldn't be eaten*), and I experienced the beautiful natural air.
For about five minutes, I lay down in the forest, listened carefully, and took deep breaths while looking at the greenery and trees, which cleared my head and heart.
Finally, I ended my trip at Kwanoya in Chikugo River Onsen (approximately a 10-minute drive from the hotel), leaving my skin silky smooth.
Two nights and three days were not enough... next time I would like to explore the beautiful white-walled town of Yoshii and trendy cafes in the area while combining it with workation!