Kamakura Prince Hotel — Seafront Resort on Shichirigahama with Enoshima and Mt Fuji Views
Picture waking up, pulling back the curtains, and finding your window perfectly frames the open sea, Enoshima Island, and — on a clear morning — the unmistakable silhouette of Mount Fuji. That is the daily reality at Kamakura Prince Hotel, perched on the hillside above Shichirigahama beach. Guests who have stayed here have a habit of saying the same thing: the view alone is worth the trip. With a score of 8.9/10 from 661 verified reviews, it is not hard to see why they keep coming back.
To be straight about it: Kamakura Prince Hotel does not compete on modernity or design flair. What it offers instead is something money can rarely buy — position. The hotel sits on a hillside slope at Shichirigahama so that all 97 rooms face Sagami Bay without obstruction. There is no bad room here. Wake up to the sound of waves, watch the afternoon light shift across the water, and on the right morning, find Mt Fuji hanging above the horizon through your floor-to-ceiling window. The 3rd and 4th-floor rooms face Enoshima Island directly and offer the clearest views of Fuji on clear days.
"Woke up at 5am and opened the curtains — calm sea, pink sky, Enoshima floating in the middle of the water. Felt this was absolutely the right choice over staying in central Kamakura."
The location does more than just look good. Kamakurakōkō-mae Station on the Enoden Line is a one-minute walk from the hotel entrance, which means you step outside and immediately board one of Japan's most photographed coastal railways. The little green Enoden trains hug the shoreline, thread through residential lanes, and rattle past local surfers — guests frequently use their balconies to photograph the train passing with the sea behind it. One honest caveat though: Kamakura's main temples — Kotoku-in (the Great Buddha) and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — are about 20 minutes away by Enoden. If your trip centres on temple-hopping from dawn to dusk, Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura right at the central station would serve you better. Kamakura Prince is built for people who come for the coast.
Le Trianon, the hotel's French restaurant on the second floor, faces the sea and earns consistent praise in reviews. It uses local Kanagawa produce and the region's Hayama beef as signature ingredients. The breakfast buffet here attracts more comments than almost anything else in the hotel — guests repeatedly describe it as "varied and surprisingly good" and "much better than expected for the price". The Onzoshi Kiyoyasutei Japanese restaurant handles dinner in a more traditional atmosphere, and Lounge Ajisai serves afternoon tea and drinks for those who want to sit and watch the bay change colour through the afternoon. Between the three, most guests find there is no pressing reason to go elsewhere for meals.
The seasonal outdoor pool runs through the summer months and has a direct view of Sagami Bay — on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji from the poolside, which is a combination few hotels anywhere can claim. The hotel also runs a bicycle rental service that suits the flat coastal road along Shichirigahama perfectly, and a complimentary shuttle between the hotel and the station that guests appreciate despite the walking distance being minimal. It makes a real difference when you are arriving with heavy luggage or leaving in the rain.
About the rooms themselves — this is where honesty matters. Most standard rooms are showing their age. At 27–33 square metres they are not large by current standards, the decor in many units is dated, and some recent reviews on TripAdvisor mention bathroom maintenance concerns including signs of mould in certain rooms. The hotel's overall cleanliness score of 9.0/10 suggests most guests find it acceptable, and many note the rooms are tidy even if worn. But if a fresh, modern room interior is what you need, the Kamakura Suite or Shichirigahama Suite (59–72 sqm, from ¥65,000) are in a significantly better state. Spend the extra if room condition is important to you.
To sum it up plainly: Kamakura Prince Hotel is the best place in the area if your reason for visiting Kamakura is the sea. The view, the coastal train at your door, the breakfast watching the bay — that combination is hard to find anywhere else at this price point. An 8.9/10 from 661 guests is not accidental. But if you are planning a day-heavy temple itinerary, or if you need a hotel room that feels new, it is worth weighing the trade-off. For the right traveller, this is exactly the right choice.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Views of Sagami Bay, Enoshima Island and Mt Fuji from every room — guests consistently say waking up to this view every morning makes the stay worthwhile
- ✓ Breakfast at Le Trianon receives strong consistent praise — varied, high quality and better than expected for the price point
- ✓ Enoden Kamakurakōkō-mae Station is one minute away — the most convenient access to Kamakura's scenic coastal railway
- ! Some rooms are noticeably dated — recent reviews flag bathroom maintenance issues in certain units including signs of mould
- ! About 20 minutes by Enoden from central Kamakura's main temples — not ideal if temple-hopping is the primary plan
- ✓ Hillside position at Shichirigahama with unobstructed bay views — the sound of waves audible from rooms
- ✓ Seasonal outdoor pool with Sagami Bay view — Mt Fuji visible from poolside on clear days
- ✓ Enoden railway immediately outside — connects the full Kamakura and Enoshima coastline from the front door
- ! Standard rooms at 27–33 sqm are compact and several show dated decor — upgrade to a suite if room condition matters
- ! Some reviews note inconsistent front desk service — though the majority of service mentions are positive
- 💡If Kamakura's main temples (Kotoku-in Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu) are your primary goal — the hotel is about 20 minutes away by Enoden train. Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura, which is one minute from the central JR station, will serve a temple-focused itinerary much better.
- 💡If a fresh, well-maintained room interior is important to you — consider booking the Kamakura Suite or Shichirigahama Suite (59–72 sqm, from ¥65,000) rather than a standard room. Several standard rooms show wear and some recent reviews flag bathroom issues. Worth spending more if room condition is a priority.
- 💡If the outdoor pool is a deciding factor — confirm with the hotel before booking. The pool is seasonal (typically July–September) and is not available year-round. Particularly worth checking if you are travelling outside the summer months.