Kamakura Guesthouse

The staff keep this lovely house immaculately clean. Staying here feels like an authentic 'Japanese' experience, with futon on tatami and a wonderful irori in the living room. There’s an attached restaurant serving nice food and drinks at a reasonable price. It isn’t close to Kamakura’s main attractions, but you can rent a bicycle and explore.

The living room made it easy to meet other guests, since people were always hanging out there, and the staff were genuinely friendly. Kamukara Guest House is a lovely traditional Japanese home with a personal feel, and everything was very clean. I was disappointed to find out the bar that used to be downstairs had moved to Fukuoka, since the website didn’t mention that. Still, I’d happily recommend the hostel and book again.

There’s a shared room where guests can eat and spend time with the hosts until midnight, so it’s a good fit if you enjoy meeting people. I even got to try mochi baked over charcoal and dipped in sweet soy sauce. The female dorm is roomy and on the first floor, with the women’s toilet nearby; there are two showers downstairs, and lights go out at 10 pm. The guesthouse sits in a quiet neighborhood, less than a 10-minute walk from the Shonan-Fukusawa monorail stop. The hosts are friendly and ready to help.

It’s a lovely, really clean house, and staying there gives you a chance to see what a “real” Japanese home is like. The staff were nice and helpful, too. It is a little way from the station, though the monorail is only a five-minute walk away and you can catch it from Ofuna.