Kamakura Guesthouse

Warm housing, warm people

The staff were fantastic! If you want to cook everything is available to use. Everything very clean. We were there New Year’s Eve & staff made it best New Year’s Eve experience ever! We felt like part of family and will have wonderful memory for rest of our lives as it wasn’t just a place to stay, but a Japanese experience!

Kamakura guesthouse is a traditional Japanese house located by a canal in a quiet part of town. The common areas are super warm and cozy, so is the dormitory. The staff was adorable and we had a great time cooking together and listening to June playing the shamizen. The only downside is that it is a bit far from the center and the bikes are slightly expensive to rent (800 yens) but walking or taking the bus are possible options. Thanks for the lovely time at Kamakura!

I will admit that I am not a huge fan of hostels: they are notoriously noisy, often dirty, and generally chaotic. I enjoy the potential for camaraderie, but as I get older, that benefit does not outweigh the drawbacks. Kamakura Guest House changed my mind! Kamakura Guest House was everything that a hostel experience can be, given a group of committed, dynamic staff people who live in the house and care for it with love and meticulous attention to detail. From the moment we arrived -- late, as we didn't realize the check-in hours -- we were treated with kindness, care, and a warm welcome. We stayed as a family of four (two middle-aged parents, our college age son and his lifelong best friend) in the private room, which was spacious (with a vaulted ceiling!), spotless, and cozy, all at once. Perhaps our favorite aspect of the house, though, was the time we spent with our hosts. From playing music and singing together to sharing meals (for a *very* inexpensive price, they offered us a delicious, home-cooked dinner of oyako-don and fish grilled in the traditional fireplace, as well) and conversation, we felt like honored guests and friends. We also enjoyed our (again, very inexpensive) breakfasts in the small cafe downstairs. We were truly sad to say goodbye. Thank you, Kamakura Guest House, for rejuvenating the heart, mind, and body of this curmudgeon. Call me a convert!

The only small drawback I would mention was that the upper bunks in the private room are *not* for people with any type of mobility issues. My husband and I are both fairly nimble and fit (runners/bikers/hikers/dancers), and we both had falls or near-falls climbing up the steep ladder to the bunk. We spoke to our hosts about it, and they *may* be able to convince the owner to put in some sort of handle/bar. Currently, you must be very careful in navigating the ladder, as there are no designated hand-holds.

The folks at Kamakura guest house genuinely care about there guests experience. They create an environment where travelers of all kinds can meet and make friends.

It’s a hostel, so if you don’t like hostels, you probably won’t like the hostel like things about it.