Unbelievable Japan Hotel: Hokke Club's Shonan-Fujisawa Secret!
Unbelievable Japan Hotel: Hokke Club's Shonan-Fujisawa Secret! - A Messy, Honest Review (and a Plea to Book!)
Okay, so I’m finally back from the Hokke Club’s Shonan-Fujisawa "Secret." And let me tell you, after weeks of travel, it was a secret I desperately needed to unclench. This isn't going to be your dry, bullet-point review. No. This is going to be real. This is going to be… well, me, babbling about a hotel. Buckle up.
First Impressions: The Good, the Hmmmm… and the Slightly Confusing
Finding the place was the first test. The location is… well, it's in Fujisawa, which is near Shonan. Right there, you've got your first taste of Japanese directions. But hey, the car park (yay, free!) was easy to find. Getting into the hotel? Smooth as butter. Express check-in? Nailed it. But the doorman? I swear, he gave me the side-eye for my travel-weary outfit. (Sorry, dude, three weeks on the road does things to a person!)
Rooms: Your Little Zen-Zone (Mostly!)
The rooms are… Japanese. Meaning, efficient. Clean. My room was immaculate. And the best part? Blackout curtains! Honestly, if I could wrap myself in those curtains and live in a permanent state of darkness, I might. The bed was comfy, and I devoured a book in the reading light, something I haven't done in ages. The bathroom? Standard Japanese, meaning small, but functional. The extra toilet? A godsend after that spicy ramen I had. Plus, a bathtub AND a separate shower! Luxury!
What about the… "Internet access - LAN"? Well, it’s there! But who uses LAN cables anymore? I’m a Wi-Fi addict. Thankfully, free Wi-Fi in all rooms. Praise be! And it worked. Pretty reliably. I’m a travel blogger; I need Wi-Fi. (Don't tell anyone, but sometimes I sneak away to the pool to just upload photos of cats, don't judge me.)
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Secure (Almost Too Secure?)
Okay, Covid. Let’s address the elephant in the room (or, more accurately, the everywhere in the room). They really take it seriously. Hand sanitizer everywhere. Staff in masks. Daily disinfection in common areas. Room sanitization opt-out… they gave you the option to not have your room sprayed down! I think I saw them sterilizing the air with some kind of futuristic laser beam contraption. I felt safe, sure, but… maybe a little too safe? Like living in a hospital. Still, better safe than sorry, right? And knowing they're using anti-viral cleaning products is a big plus. Hats off to the staff; they really went the extra mile. They have the hygiene certification. I’m not sure what it means, but I assume it's good.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Ramen, Please!
Breakfast. Buffet. Asian and Western options. I went straight for the Asian. This is Japan, people! The miso soup was amazing. The coffee, however… well, let's just say I was grateful for the complimentary tea in the room. The coffee shop was alright, but I found myself craving something more local. I needed to get out and eat! 24-hour room service? Nope. I wanted to be in the local ramen shop.
I did try the “restaurants,” and they are there. International cuisine, Asian cuisine in the restaurant, and even a vegetarian option. I was so tired of ordering my meals! Sometimes I just wanted to sit, but I loved the a la carte options. I wanted to eat some desserts and have some coffee/tea. This place, as a Westerner, was a bit confusing. I wanted some western breakfast.
The "Spa" and Relaxation Stuff: A Mixed Bag
Okay, so the “Spa/sauna” situation. They have a sauna and pool with a view, and a spa. Oh my god, the pool was perfect, to have the pool with a view. Then I spent an afternoon in the spa and steam room. I could have spend a whole afternoon there. The gym was a bit… sparse. It had machines, but it didn’t exactly inspire me to pump iron. The Foot bath? Absolutely divine. I came back and did it again. The Massage, I didn’t get one. The Body Scrub? I wish I knew about that. The steamroom was so relaxing.
Things to Do: Fujisawa and Beyond
Okay, so Fujisawa itself isn’t exactly… Times Square. But the hotel is a good base for exploring the area. There’s the Enoshima Island (which, yes, is worth it), and access to the beach. It is not the most action-packed hotel in the world, but it's not about that! A shrine nearby, and they had some facilities for disabled guests.
Accessibility: Making it Work (Mostly)
They have facilities for disabled guests, and the elevator makes it easy to get around. But, as with many things in Japan, you might need to double-check the specifics if complete accessibility is a must-have.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Extras
They have a convenience store, which is essential for late-night snack runs (and I did many). Laundry service, luggage storage, and daily housekeeping were all top-notch. I made use of the ironing service because, like I said, I needed to look respectable. The staff were helpful, and they had concierge service. I found a gift/souvenir shop.
The Honest Truth (and a Plea to Book)*
Look, is the Hokke Club the fanciest hotel in Japan? No. Is it the most exciting? Probably not. But it’s good. It's clean, comfortable, reasonably priced, and a solid base for exploring a part of Japan often overlooked. It's exactly what I needed after weeks on the road.
Here’s the deal:
You're probably tired of bustling cities and neon lights. You are here and you are looking for a place to get some relaxation.
And I'm going to give you a deal! Look, I know how hard it is to plan a trip. Let me help!
Offer:
Book your stay at the Hokke Club's Shonan-Fujisawa Secret! through my affiliate link (I’ll get a tiny commission, so thank you!) and I'll send you:
- My secret map of the best Ramen shops!
- A list of my favorite things to do around the hotel.
- My personal advice for surviving Japan!
Seriously, this isn't some sponsored ad. I’m just a travel blogger who wants you to have a good trip. This hotel is great. Book it! You won't regret it. And if you do, well… I'll be here to commiserate with you over a bowl of ramen. Because, let's be honest, even a bad experience can make a good story. And a good story is gold.
Unbelievable Views! Tanani Newa Home - Your Mt. Ganesh Kathmandu Escape
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my ridiculously chaotic adventure at the Hotel Hokke Club Shonan-Fujisawa in Kamakura. Warning: this is NOT a perfectly polished travelogue. This is the unfiltered, slightly-crazed, and hopefully hilarious reality of ME.
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (and Cheap Ramen)
- 1:00 PM - Arrival & Room Debacle: Okay, so picture this: me, jet-lagged to the core, stumbling into the hotel lobby with all the grace of a newborn giraffe. The front desk staff were lovely, bless their hearts, but my arrival was a symphony of fumbling with my luggage and a general air of "I have no idea where I am or what's happening." My room? A little… compact. Let’s just say, I'm pretty sure I could touch all four walls simultaneously. My first emotional reaction? A fleeting giggle of "Oh, this is going to be interesting."
- 2:00 PM - Fujisawa Exploration (attempted): I decided to be all "cultured tourist" and wander around Fujisawa. My navigation skills are… let's say, optimistic. I walked in circles for a good hour, almost getting run over by a scooter (seriously, those things are ninjas!), and ended up at a random park with a very confused-looking squirrel. My opinion so far? Fujisawa is charming… and full of hidden alleyways that are definitely not on Google Maps.
- 4:00 PM - Ramen Rescue: Hunger pangs hit with the force of a thousand sumo wrestlers. Found a tiny ramen shop nearby, practically inhaled a steaming bowl of the best goddamn noodles I've ever tasted. The broth? Liquid gold. The pork? Melt-in-your-mouth perfection. My reaction: pure, unadulterated joy. I felt reborn. Ramen is the language of the gods, and I understood it perfectly.
- 6:00 PM - Hotel Room Angst & Netflix: Back to my shoebox of a room. Honestly, it's starting to feel a little… isolating. But then, hello, Netflix! (Thank heavens for the internet). I sunk into the cozy duvet, flicked on Netflix, and started binge-watching a show about a cat who solves mysteries. It was the perfect blend of silly and comforting. Also, the bed was surprisingly comfortable. Double thumbs up for the bed!
Day 2: Kamakura! (Spoiler: It's Pretty Awesome)
- 8:00 AM - The Breakfast Buffet: A Comedy of Errors: Okay, so I'm a buffet-lover. I'm also a person who overestimates their ability to eat. The hotel breakfast buffet was… a lot. I piled my plate high with everything from miso soup to weird-looking pastries. I ended up with a stomach ache, but the food was delicious. Mission accomplished.
- 9:30 AM - Train Trauma & Hallelujah! The Daibutsu: Getting to Kamakura via train was an experience in itself. I, of course, got on the wrong train once. It was a comedy of errors on public transport, involving frantic map-checking and a lot of bewildered looks. But when I finally arrived at the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) - wow. Just… wow. The size, the serenity, the way it just… sits there. I felt a weird mix of reverence and childlike wonder. It's a profound experience.
- 11:00 AM - Hase-dera Temple & The Statues: The temple grounds were just beautiful. Green gardens, vibrant flowers, and countless statues. I spent ages wandering around, feeling a little lost in the calm. There was a small cave filled with statues of the goddess Kannon and the temple's many Jizo statues are super cute. This is where the tears started flowing. Not full-on sobs, but those tiny little tears, you know? Just overwhelmed by the beauty, the history, and the peace.
- 1:00 PM - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine: More shrines! More beauty! I felt so zen after, and felt spiritually recharged after visiting the shrine. The shrine was bustling with people, and it was a great place to people-watch.
- 3:00 PM - Coffee Shop Serendipity (and a near-disaster): Found a ridiculously cute coffee shop with the most amazing matcha latte. This is where things went a little sideways. Spilled the latte all over my favorite shirt. So, I went from zen to grumpy. Then, the shop owner, this sweet older woman, brought me a cloth and offered to clean my shirt. This human moment, right? And I swear, she laughed when I told her I'm a clumsy traveler.
- 5:00 PM - Kamakura Beach - Sunset & Feels: Saw the beach. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The sound of the waves. This is where the true beauty of the place hit me like a ton of bricks. The ocean is absolutely mesmerizing. I sat on the sand, feeling a mix of contentment and overwhelming gratitude and I couldn't help but get a little lost in thought; it was one of the best moments of my trip.
Day 3: Departure & The Bitter-Sweet Symphony
- 9:00 AM - Last Breakfast & Packing Panic: Another buffet assault! But this time, I paced myself. Still ate way too much, but at least I didn’t end up in a post-breakfast coma. Packing, always a disaster. Somehow, I managed to fit everything back into my luggage.
- 11:00 AM - Check-Out & Saying Goodbye (Kind Of): The hotel staff were super friendly. Check out? Easy peasy. My final thought? "I'll be back Kamakura- Fujisawa! This is a promise."
- 12:00 PM - Travel back: The travel back was nothing interesting just another long ride.
So, there you have it: My gloriously imperfect adventure in Kamakura and Fujisawa. I stumbled, I got lost, I ate too much, and I spilled coffee on myself. But I also saw some breathtakingly beautiful things, met some incredibly kind people, and felt a whole spectrum of emotions. And honestly? That's what makes travel, and life, worth it.
Cancun's Hidden Gem: Hotel Santa Maria - Paradise Found!
Hokke Club Shonan-Fujisawa: The Good, the Bad, and the Ramen (Probably)
So, Hokke Club... Is It Actually Secret? Because That Headline's A Bit Dramatic, Isn't It?
What's the Vibe? Like, Is It Instagrammable? (Asking for a Friend...Mostly)
The Bathrooms: Are They Tiny? Because Japanese Hotel Bathrooms, You Know...
Breakfast! Tell Me About the Breakfast! Because That's Crucial.
Okay, But Seriously: Location? Is It Near Anything Awesome?
And... and... speaking of trains, I *almost* missed my train to Kyoto because I was so engrossed in the anime airing in the lobby. The station was right there, and I was so focused on this ridiculous story that I had to RUN. A full-blown, sweaty, backpack-bouncing run. Did I make it? Yes. Do I recommend staying in Fujisawa? Absolutely. Do I recommend missing your train? Absolutely not.
Did You Have Any, You Know, Problem? Like, A Terrible Experience? Spill the Tea!
This is all very vague! Tell me the whole experience!
Would You Go Back?
