Kamakura Seizan — Hotel in Kamakura

I very much enjoyed staying at Kamakura Seizan hotel the two nights of Nov 18-19, 2023. The superb location (and very reasonable cost) was initially the main draw on why I booked, since it’s just a 200-meter, 2-minute walk from the JR railway Kamakura Station, where I hastened upon my 5:30 a.m. arrival (from USA) at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (an easy 1 hour, 3-train trip).

The hotel’s staff are super-friendly and let me store luggage my first and third day (after checkout), allowing me three full days of exploring Kamakura’s marvelous big and small Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, gorgeous gardens, parks and forests in this enchanting south-facing beach-town ringed by forested hills.

Typical for Japan’s modern hospitality industry, my room was small but sleek, ergonomic, and attractive in a “modern zen” way, with a comfy bed occupying a long niche flanked by a useful wood ledge for laying out what I needed. Two minor drawbacks for this solo traveler: no tub in the stylishly tiled shower space (I sometimes need to soak these nearly 70-year-old bones & muscles after 10-12 hours on my feet exploring & hiking). And limited items for a vegan to eat at the free breakfasts (I was already out exploring even before they were served, so it didn’t matter), but there are numerous restaurants and konbini convenience stores nearby with delicious plant-based edibles.

Everything feels very new and stylish here at Kamakura Seizan, and there’s an atrium of green trees and a warmly inviting big café space on the ground floor (where one of the especially lovely, English-speaking ladies served me apple juice my last day to honor the free beverage coupons she’d given me on day 1).

It’s quiet here at the hotel, too, yet just two blocks from the main street promenade on Wakamiya-oji leading up 800 meters to the impressive Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine-complex, fun times along bustling Kamachi-dori street, and yes, the JR station hub for trains, buses, and taxis to get more quickly to where you want to go (though I walked almost everywhere in this very walk-able town, and the hotel is perfectly located for that). The JR station is immediately adjacent to the little Enoden station for the charming old tram that took me on two mornings to adventures starting at Enoshima island and at Inamuragasaki Cape, both affording stupendous views of majestic Mt. Fuji.

So Kamakura Seizan is a splendid central site for these explorations. I would happily stay here again on a return trip...

Though not in the busiest tourist areas, the location of this hotel is at the heart of Kamakura with shops and restaurants nearby. The hotel design is very stylish and new. The hotel does not have a carpark or drop off areas, therefore it can get a little inconvenient if you are going by your own car. The staff gave information about the closest overnight parking which is very helpful because parking in Kamakura is very expensive. For the room, it was quite disappointing. Though I already know about the room size and that the facilities is limited (no TV), when I actually entered the room, I find the lighting is insufficient as well. There was only a very dim ceiling light in the room, I had to turn on the mirror light and bring over the table light to the nightstand side to have slightly better lighting. The amenties were to be collected at the lobby so it was okay. However, the room only provides kettle and 2 bottles of water, there was no tea bag or coffee whatsoever. About the bathroom: the towels were placed inside a wire basket which is placed directly on the floor, and that makes me feel very concerned for its hygiene. There is a restaurant/bar and shop on the lobby floor. While I enjoyed the shop very much, I think it would be nice if the staff could introduces us to what the restaurant/bar offers (to supplement for the lack of tea bags / coffee in the room). Generally speaking, it gives me a feeling that the hotel is a budget hotel branded as a boutique hotel. At this price, there are far better choices...

What a beautiful, unique hotel located super conveniently close to the train station but on a quiet street. The exterior is very kool (see images). The room was nice too with rounded edges. Breakfast is included - 3 choices which were really lovely. We had a drink before we wandered into Kamakura for dinner and sitting there was really great. Super quiet and tranquil. ||We were delighted to stay here. The beds were fantastic as were the sheets and pillows. Spotlessly clean and quiet. The amenities (complementary) were splendid - hair brush, toothbrush, etc. In fact we never had street noise anywhere in Japan. I would say that It would be great to have a few hooks in the bathroom for towels. Also I know Japanese keep curtains up all the time for privacy but I would have liked a window that I could see out of (and open at night). Lastly, reading lights would be the icing on the cake of a beautifully designed room. ||Would highly recommend a stay in Kamakura and here at Kamakura Seizan. Staff were lovely too. Make sure you go to...