神倉書斎 [Kamikura-Hideaway]

The house is amazing, very clean, the owner super friendly and even sleeping on a mattress on the tatami mats was more comfortable than we thought. There is a great story about the house to read which made our stay very special. I can highly recommend it, especially for book/tale/art lovers and people who like to discover secrets…

It was a home away from home. Nestled against a mountain it is relaxing and quiet. The start of the climb to the Kamikura - Jinja Shrine is just a few steps away. The hosts are beyond amazing!! They have really good recommendations for local places to eat and can help with getting to train station. Make your reservation early.

Location and hosts.

Tetsuji is a very friendly and helpful person. The house is full of interesting items and books to explore. Very quite neighbourhood. We felt at home!

Nothing

The house is amazing one of the best we stayed in whole Japan! The story behind the interior are super interesting and little detail fells right. The location is wonderful to enjoy some silence after the buzzing cities. Also the shrine behind the house is worth the climbing.

Everything was nearly perfect here! So nothing to complain about.

This house is full of stories. After our arrival, the house's keeper quickly helped us become familiar with the place and was very warm-hearted. The house itself is very comfortable in terms of amenities and the overall living experience. But what exceeded my expectations was that the house itself serves as a fantastic experiential story space. There's a comprehensive booklet that introduces the history of the house and the fascinating stories that took place within it, and the entire space is filled with details corresponding to those narrated in the booklet, waiting to be explored. At the same time, these details did not detract from our living experience. On the contrary, the accommodation experience in this professionally designed space is outstanding. If we come again next time, we will choose this place.

everthing

Super cozy house for a couple or family. The owner, Tetsuji, is very kind and takes care of every single detail. The house has a misterious story that the owner explains in a notebook.

Staying at the beguiling Kamikura Hideway was one of the highlights of our three-week trip to Japan, a vacation that included stays at a number of luxury hotels. Tetsuji and Mio, the incredibly hospitable owners of the property, have created a full-fledged art project that doubles as a kind of homestay. The house once belonged to Tetsuji's grandmother, an adventurous soul who took in an Icelandic geologist boarder whom Osakan Tetsuji befriended as a boy during his summer stays in Shingu. A-San, as he was known, disappeared one day, never to be heard from again. When Tetsuji took over the property, he constructed a kind of installation, leaving A-San's desk, rock samples, and books and composing a remarkably well written 80-page account of his childhood experiences with his grandmother and A-San that conveys the melancholy of the loss of his friend and his grandmother, as well as the evanescence of childhood. The whole thing is remarkably affecting and beautiful. In addition to presenting this beguiling story, the Hideaway offers nicely appointed rooms complete with expertly chosen books and maps and trinkets, rather comfortable beds, as well as strong air conditioning, a necessity if you visit in the sultry summer months, as we did. The hike up to the Kamikura Shrine, which starts only 100 meters from the house, is both challenging and breathtaking, and Shingu offers some nice dining options, especially Ajito, a wonderful izakaya recommended by Mio. A fantastic place!

Finding the Hideaway was not entirely easy, as my Google Maps did not show it. We has a little adventure that finally was part of the fun, but I would recommend that visitors be sure they know where it is before venturing to Shingu!