IZA Enoshima Guesthouse and Bar

IZA Enoshima Guesthouse and Bar is a hostel-style stay in Katasekaigan, the entertainment district beside Katase Higashihama Beach. Enoshima Station is about three minutes away on foot, the Shonan-Enoshima monorail station about five and the beach about three, which makes it one of the easiest budget bases on this stretch of coast. It is aimed at travellers who want a bed, a shower and company rather than a hotel lobby. The choice of rooms is wide for a small guesthouse. There are private double rooms, private twins and private quadruple rooms with bunk beds, and there are also dormitory beds, including a women-only dorm and a mixed dorm. Rooms are compact and the style is basic, so expect to share some facilities in certain room types. Free WiFi, air conditioning, free toiletries, bidets, fridges, microwaves and toasters are available, and a terrace, a cafe area and a bar make the ground floor the social centre of the stay.

What sets the place apart is its mix of price and position. Staying on the Shonan coast means you can swim, surf or simply walk the sand in the morning, then ride the Enoden to Kamakura for the Great Buddha, Hase-dera and the hillside temples. Enoshima Aquarium is around twelve minutes away on foot, the shrine about eighteen and the Sea Candle about twenty, so a full day on Enoshima does not need a train at all.

The Enoden carries you the other way along the coast to Kamakura, which suits a flexible plan of beach days and temple days.

The bar and terrace are the reason many guests choose it. Evenings are relaxed and sociable, and a drink among other travellers is an easy way to swap tips about hikes, tides and the best seats on the Enoden. Guests tend to praise the staff and the location in particular, and the setup suits solo visitors, friends and couples on a tight budget. Light sleepers should ask for a quieter room or bring earplugs, since a bar downstairs and a lively beach district can mean noise at night.

There are practical points to check. The building has no elevator, so large suitcases mean stairs. The front desk may be unstaffed early in the morning, towels may need to be rented, and some room types share showers and toilets, so read the details of your room category before you book. Check-in begins in the afternoon and runs into the evening, with late arrivals possible after nine for a fee, and check-out is before ten. Parking is limited and paid, so travel by train. Pets are not allowed.

Choose it if you are a backpacker, a solo traveller or a group of friends who want to save money and meet people, and you like the idea of walking to the beach in the morning. It is less suited to anyone who wants quiet, an elevator, a private bathroom in every room or a restaurant with table service. Book early for the summer beach season and for weekends, when this part of the coast is at its busiest.