Gen Hotel Kamakura is a budget hotel located in Kamakura, Japan. The hotel has a tasteful modern Japanese design and the rooms are quite spacious.
What facilities does the hotel have?
The hotel facilities are minimal and there’s no reception. However rooms come with a kitchenette area, a double induction hob, and a minibar with local Kamakura beer at ¥500. Room amenities include a humidifier and air conditioner, as well as nice room wear, a razor and toothbrush.
Note the check-in process a little bit complicated. Before our arrival, we had to upload our passport photos and personal details via a web form. When we arrived, check-in was via a touch screen which connected us with a remote receptionist.
Is there anywhere to hang out in the hotel?
The hotel offers a roof space for guests, which is spacious but not very impressive.
What are the rooms like?
The spacious rooms have a beautiful Japanese-style interior and nice tatami floor area, making it a great place to hang out, roll around and do yoga, HIIT or whatever your exercise regime might be. The high ceilings provide a sense of space, but the table and chairs are Japanese style floor level, which might not be comfortable for everyone.
The rooms are large for this price point, and are closer to the size of an apartment hotel. The room wear provided is also very nice. There’s no view to speak of from the hotel, as it’s only a few stories high.
There are plenty of power outlets in the room and near the bed, including USB charging points.
How big are the rooms?
The rooms are closer to apartment size, spacious, and they offer plenty of room in which to hang out.
Are the rooms comfortable?
The rooms are comfortable and are equipped with a humidifier and an air conditioner to ensure a comfortable stay.
What’s the view like?
The hotel is relatively low rise, so there isn’t an interesting view.
What’s the location like?
Gen Hotel Kamakura is in a prime location. It’s a short walk from Kamakura station, with plenty of shops and restaurants within a few minutes’ walk.
How do I get there from the airports?
Kamakura is quite a long way from the Tokyo airports, but you can get to Haneda in about 90 minutes and Narita in 2 and a half hours, with only one or two changes.
How is the access to trains and subway?
The hotel is conveniently located near Kamakura Station, making it easy to access the JR Yokosuka/Shonan-Shinjuku train lines and the Enoden Line to Enoshima and Fujisawa.
What’s the surrounding neighbourhood like?
The surrounding area is very quiet at night, as is the case with pretty much everywhere in Kamakura. During the day, the nearby area around the station is quite busy with tourists.
Are there many good places to eat nearby?
There are many good places to eat nearby, with numerious restaurants within a few minutes’ walk. Do be warned though, everything closes earlier than in Tokyo — typically last orders are around 8:30pm.
What points of interest are within walking distance of the hotel?
As with most of Kamakura, there are temples and sights just a short walk away, such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. The beach is about a 15-minute walk away.
Breakfast Options
There’s no breakfast served at the hotel, but there’s a nice cafe, Verve Coffee, open from 7 a.m. across the road.
Who should stay here?
Gen Hotel Kamakura would be a good hotel for younger, budget travellers who don’t mind fiddling with a touch screen to check into their hotel.