8HOTEL Chigasaki

The pool is the center of the hotel, with the rooms arranged around it along open hallways. You can look down at the water from all over, and there’s a big screen showing surfing videos while you swim. It’s a very stylish, Instagram-friendly place, so bring your sandals and your account. The small café does a morning set with a hot dog, soup, and a drink for 1,000 yen, and there’s a lounge where you can buy other drinks. The sauna is there too, though other guests may try to air-fry you. Sunday yoga sounds nice, but it starts at 7 AM, so set an alarm. You can reserve a free tuk-tuk ride to the beach. It seats three, though the driver seems optimistic about fitting in more.

It was quiet in the off season, and a nice place to unwind. The muffins were really delicious.

I loved stepping in and seeing the pool right away. I’d spotted the hotel on Instagram before our mid-August stay with my girlfriend, so that first view really stuck with me. The tuk-tuk on the grounds added to the resort feel, and the staff were polite and friendly from check-in through the rest of our stay. The rooms are simple and clean, arranged around a courtyard-like pool area. The sauna and pool were a highlight: you can use the pool as a cold plunge, though the water was a little warm, and swimming there felt wonderfully relaxing. There are loungers by the water too. At night, the lights and surf videos on the big screen give the place a different, stylish atmosphere. Chigasaki Station is about a 7-8 minute walk away, and there’s parking if you’re driving. It felt open and resort-like, just right for a date or a quiet weekend away.

The rooms are pretty minimal, but having a pool and sauna on site made it easy to relax. It’s a good fit for couples or friends, and I’d happily return. It’s only a 3-minute walk from Chigasaki Station, which is really convenient. Summer dates book up quickly, so reserve early.