Hotel Ao Kamakura

My room had a huge shower and bath, bigger than what I've seen in many Japanese luxury hotels. The only issue was a smell from the toilet plumbing. Staff tried hard to fix it but couldn't, and I wondered if it had something to do with being so close to the sea. I'm not sure. It did spoil an otherwise nearly perfect stay, though I don't think the hotel was at fault. The place sits across from the beach and Enoshima Island, and even during tsuyu it was lovely, with hydrangeas all around. Rooms are decorated in different shades of blue, each with its own name, and many have ocean-facing patios. There are lots of free amenities, including the minibar. Service was always friendly and impeccable. Do stop by the soba restaurant, if only for the soba tea and black sesame ice cream.

The staff were so nice, and their English was almost perfect. The rooms were really big, and the beds were so good I didn't want to get up the next day. The hotel itself was just awesome, with a good restaurant and a lovely spot right by the beach. The train station is about a minute away. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to stay near enoshima for a night or longer.

The rooftop view was incredible, and on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji. I had one of my best stays in Japan here. The rooms felt very clean and comfortable, and everything seemed new. The employees were kind and helpful, and the breakfast was extraordinarily good. Thanks to the staff for such warm hospitality. I'll definitely come back.

This is a tough but fair review, and the reason for the low rating is pretty clear: my room had no proper windows, and the nighttime noise was very disturbing. There was one small obscured window in the bath and sink area that opened onto a dark enclosed alley. Two other obscured windows, one by the shower and one by the toilet, were fixed and couldn't be opened. That was it. I also heard what sounded like a train, though I hadn't noticed any tracks when we arrived and only spotted it as we left in the morning. Street noise and the train sound seemed amplified as they came through the alley. There are some good points. We arrived around 5:30 pm and were lucky to get one of the six parking spaces. It costs 1,300 yen per night; I don't know whether there is other parking nearby. The staff were pleasant and checked us in quickly, and the girls promptly brought a luggage cart, though we didn't need it since everything we had was on wheels. The hotel looks clean and up to date, sits right on the water, and has a quite good restaurant downstairs with small plates that are easy to share. The spacious rooms are well equipped with a safe, refrigerator, tea maker, bottled water, tea, and lots of soft pillows. There's a flat-panel television, perhaps 50 inches, but I can't comment on the channels because we don't watch TV. The bathroom was large, clean, and well stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand lotion, and other supplies. If you don't mind a room without windows and nighttime racket, this place may suit you. I need a proper window and peace and quiet, so I'd look at other options.