Originally Posted by kaka

i just did what you did last week in a tighter timeframe. but unless your dinner last past 2300, I would recommend staying at fukuoka and take a train over (you have a choice between a 1200 yen local train, 1800 yen non reserved limited express train, or a 2400 yen shinkansen w a local train transfer at kokura).
you get better western style hotels at fukuoka (Hilton and a GH off my head)... or if you dont mind japanese business hotels, there is a toyoko inn 5 minute walk from kokura station where the shinkansen stops or a few others v close to the station. Theres probably a few places you can go for the few hours you're in fukuoka...