❤️Beach Homestay 2min to Surf Japan

Homestay in Higashikaigan Minami - Chigasaki Shi, Japan

About the Homestay

Beachy Japanese-y
  • Welcomes
  • Males
  • Females
  • Couples
  • Families
  • Students

"Slow down, relaxing beach town from the busyness of Tokyo yet lots to do and see!"
• Surfing beach w/ view of Mt. Fuji (2 min to beach)
• 10KM beach bicycle to Enoshima Island
• 20min Kamakura
• 30min Hakone Hot Springs
• 30min Yokohama
• 50min Tokyo

Easy communication w/ bilingual, Japanese-New Zealand & American couple.
欢迎中国人!

Traditional Japanese tatami room looking over a Japanese Maple tree in garden.

• Free bicycles use --cycle along beach to Enoshima Island.
• Free surfboards+bodyboards.

The space

This is Your Home. Take off your shoes, pour a cup of tea, and relax.

Homey, traditional Japanese house. Get the feel of Japan with friends.

Wake up to the ambient daylight through Shoji paper doors.

Start your morning with a bowl of our homemade Vegan Organic Miso Soup with seasonable veggies. Or help yourself to a bowl of granola.

Feeling jet lagged?
Make yourself at home to plenty of coffee and tea to jump start your day.

Want to see all the sights? Here's a ready made itinerary :)

Day 1
Lounge around with the cats or you might want to ask to be woken up for an early morning surf. You can use our surf and body boards and bikes freely. Yes, free of charge.

Take a leisurely cycle along the beach to Enoshima Island. Spend the day immersed in one of Japan's 7 "power spots" as you walk around shrines, eat white bait dishes, flattened squid crackers and get a sunset view of Mt. Fuji over the ocean.

Love Sake + craft beer?
Chigasaki craft beer and Nihonshu are famous, yet only made in small quantities. Get your hands on the Shonan label beer by Kumazawa Brewing or try a sampling at Mokichi Foods Garden restaurant.

Post-dinner Hot Spring:
Take a free shuttle bus from Chigasaki station to our hot spring. Bring a towel with you or rent one. No tattoos.

Day 2
Kamakura
Picture yourself in "Slam Dunk" when you ride the Enoden Train Line from Fujisawa (3rd stations from Chigasaki towards Tokyo) . Get an all-day pass to take that shot, get off again at Hase to say hello to the Big Buddha, and Hase-Dera Temple. You can walk through the woods to ZenAriaBenTen to launder your money ;) washing your money brings you 10x more!

Then make your way to either:
A) Kita-Kamakura (JR line) for Enkakuji Temple Saturday 1PM Zazen meditation, Kenchoji temple, and Meigetsuin for hydrangeas.
B) Kamakura station area Hachimongu Shrine and depending on the flower season, you can choose from so many temples!

For dinner, try Shonan Yakitori (chicken) just around the corner from home.

Day 3
Hakone
hosts more than just the best hot springs in Japan! Take the JR train from Chigasaki going away from Tokyo direction to Odawara. Change the train to Hakoneyumoto there or get out of the station. You can check out the Odawara samurai castle before getting in the zigzag mountain climbing train to Hakoneyumoto.

You can find several hot springs (onsen) that allow tattoos at the information centre. Just ask them with showing your tattoos.
Hakone Open Air Museum where the sculptures moods change with the seasonal backdrop of mountains, see Picasso works rarely seen, and play in the labyrinth.
Sail on lake on the colorful ship while viewing Mt. Fuji. And take the cable car to Uwakudani to eat hot spring steamed eggs and live an extra 7 years for every egg you eat!
There's just so much more to write to see in Hakone!

For dinner, eat like a local with a Teishoku set meal of main dish, rice, pickled vegetables at Kano Shokudou near Chigasaki station.

Day 4
Yokohama
Start early to make your own personalized Cup Noodle Ramen cups and custom ingredients. Very popular souvenirs and they are limited daily. Stroll around the Yokohama bay and the Sankeien traditional Japanese tea gardens featuring ponds, streaks and winding paths.

Shop at Minato Mirai, the red brick warehouse then grab a bite at Hard Rock Cafe or go underground in the shopping centers for lesser known but fantastic restaurants from Sushi to YakiNiku.

How is Japanese beer made?
Kirin Yokohama Beer factory gives brewery tours.

You learn the history of beer brewing and its production processes. Smart brewery students finish the tour with a tasting of freshly brewed beer.

What about Tokyo?
We commute to Tokyo for work. It's 55 minutes on just one direct train. ¥1000~ one way.

You can ride the train with Eugene to his work area: Roppongi Hills.

Check our Mori Hills and the variety of art exhibitions. Delicious vegetarian restaurants in there.

Rush across Shibuya Scramble--
the most people crossing in the world! Walk along to Harajuku for young fashion and Harajuku Koen Park for people watching.

The cheapest view in Tokyo is not Tokyo Tower or Sky Tree. It's the Shinjuku Metropolitan Building. Overlook Tokyo for FREE!

Akihabara for your anime, electronics and game needs. Rock down to electric avenue!

Just want to take things slowly?
Great! The beach is 2 minutes away. Rest, read, swim, surf, gaze at Mt. Fuji...

Explore local restaurants--Chigasaki has friendly locals dining!

Many of our homestay guests stay for 7-10 days just to slow down and live our local lifestyle.

Learning Japanese?
We speak both Japanese and English at home. Request which language you prefer.
Staying with us a while? There are free daily Japanese lessons at our local culture center.

Our home is professionally cleaned before you check-in by Noda-San. She speaks some English and is very friendly :)

Guest access

• Downstairs bedroom
• Family/living room
• Kitchen
• Laundry washer (hang dry)
• Garden
• Bath
• Car Park (1)
• Surf boards
• Bicycles

Interaction with guests

Introvert or extrovert?
We connect with our guests. Of course, you have freedom to come and go in quiet solitude, as you please. I'm an ambivert (introvert and extrovert mix) and he's an introvert.

Easy communication:
We are both fully bilingual and bi-cultural (Japanese-New Zealand-American) so you can ask every cultural question you want!

Zen meditation:
I often attend easy Zen meditation at the temple in Kamakura on Saturday 1PM. Wanna go?

Eating:
Your schedule and our schedules vary, so use the kitchen freely!

Breakfast?
We eat organic vegan miso soup for breakfast. You can join us. Because your schedule is free, you can pour yourself a bowl of granola anytime. Feel free to buy groceries and keep in the fridge if you'd like to cook your own meals.
Sometimes we have dinner together like Japanese Nabe hot pot soup in winter.

Tea or coffee?
Help yourselves to a variety of teas or a slow drip coffee. Let's have a chat at the Tea Table sitting on cushions in the family room overlooking the maple tree.

Surfing?
Surf check is 6AM. Morning is best to join us for a surf. Of course, you can go by yourself anytime (waves are better in the morning).

Free surfboards & bicycles.

Getting to the house?
I can meet you at the station or give you taxi directions if you are independent. It's a 2KM walk (18 min walk according to maps) from Chigasaki station or a ¥810 taxi ride.

Got Rolling suitcases?
Poor with maps?
One taxi ride on me!
We will pay you back for your first taxi ride from Chigasaki Station south exit (with receipt) ¥800.

Most days I'm available to get you settled and you can have freedom to come and go as you please with a key.

Other things to note

Never get lost :)
We will pay for your first taxi ride from Chigasaki Station south exit to our home (¥800) with receipt.

Japanese are sensitive to foreign voices. Please be quiet when walking around the neighborhood.

Kids over 2 years old count as extra guests @ 2000 yen/night/person
• Surfing suburb in Kamakura area
• 2 min. to beach!
• Easy commute to Tokyo/Yokohama
• Traditional paper doors & tatami
• Surfing beach w/ view of Mt. Fuji (2 min to beach)
• Cycling/running path (2 min)
• Private access to garden

CONVENIENT
• 20 min. to Kamakura temples,
• 30 min. to Hakone Hot Springs or Yokohama
• 50 min. to Tokyo + Shibuya (1 train),
• 10 KM bicycle ride along beach path to Enoshima Island

EASY COMMUNICATION
• Fully bilingual Japanese/English
• Bi-cultural: Yuji (Japanese) lived in New Zealand for 16 years, Soness (American) in Japan 20 years)
• Co-working (fast internet & video studio)

Our Space:
Traditional-style Japanese home with Tatami, paper doors, and Ofuro. Your host, Tohoku earthquake surviving cat, will bring you good luck ;)

Traditional Japanese house 2 Story house. Master bedroom upstairs, part-time clinic office, downstairs your room, living room, and kitchen. Small garden with seasonal trees: Japanese maple, Biwa fruit, and flowering trees and plants.

About your family:
Yuji--
Job: Physiotherapist / Personal Trainer
From: Aizu-wakamatsu, Fukushima; moved to New Zealand at 16 years old; Traveled around the world as a river guide. 16 years abroad.
Sports: Karate (black belt--practices weekly), surfing, snowboarding, rugby, rock-climbing, gym, rafting,
Character: zen peaceful & happy

Soness--
Job: Trains TEDx speakers + TED & three-time TEDx Speaker + voiceover for anime
From: USA (Florida & Pennsylvania); moved to Japan 20 years ago
Interests: surf, snow, skate, online course development, online marketing, Zazen meditation on Saturdays in Kamakura
Quirky: cooks 3 meals a day in a rice cooker.
Character: happy & positive

Nadia & Nikki--
Job: Boss Cats (supervising Soness at work)
From: Fukushima, Tohoku
Interests: playing with toys, walking about, sleeping
Characters: friendly & intuitive (guests call her Nurse Cat)
Quirky: missing teeth. Survived Tohoku earthquake and nuclear power plant

Your home access:
There are lots of blankets and a double and single futon. Feel free to use the internet and bikes freely. We have extra surfboards/bodyboards you can use, too.
The downstairs bedroom, living, kitchen, and surfboard shed.

I can meet you at the station or give you taxi directions if you are independent. It's a 2KM walk from Chigasaki station or a taxi ride.
Most days I'm available to get you settled and you can have the freedom to come and go as you please with a key.

Restaurants in your neighborhood:
• Vegetarian-friendly: Mexican, South Indian, Serendipity Cafe, Rachien Smoothie, Italian, fusion cuisine, wine bars, Thai, soba (fish broth)
• Japanese: Soba, horse sashimi, Yakitori, sushi, sashimi, izakaya (tapas style bar), ramen, okonomiyaki

Hot spring Rysenjinoyu just a 4KM bicycle ride only (or a shuttle bus from the station during daytime).

*Additional guests (2-4): 2,000 yen/per person/night.
** Please have your air travel tickets and visa confirmed before requesting a reservation.

I work from home from 9AM. I know, my Japanese Aunty thinks to work from home means "unemployed" but really, I coach TEDx speakers around the world, so calls and emails take place from 9AM. Thanks for understanding that I'm not just hanging out on the internet playing games :)

My Pets

Cat

Bedrooms available for booking

Minimum stay is for 2 nights

Maximum stay is for 7 nights

Check-in date must be before 29 Sep 2024

Available for given dates

Long stay? If you have a reoccuring schedule where days in the week do not require accommodation, you can unselect those days below. This will inform the host and reduce the price of your stay.

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Room 1: Japanese Tatami Garden Room (possible Ensuite for 2 extra guests)
From ¥5,142 per night
Twin Room
Sleeps 2

Bathroom shared (with family / other guests)
2 Futon Bed

Bedroom availableNot available for dates

• 6 Tatami size • Ensuite: 10m² available for 2 extra guests ¥2000/each • Double sized futon + 3 single futons • Down pillows & comforters • Garden view • Half closet • Towels, hair dryer, toiletries in common bath • No other guests

Facilities
  • Desk and Lamp
  • Air Conditioning
  • Dresser / Drawers
  • Closet / Wardrobe
  • Mirror
  • Fridge
  • Hair-dryer
 1 guest
2 guests
Nightly Price
¥5,400
¥9,000
Weekly Price
¥36,000
¥60,000
You have selectedNightsPrice of StayBooking FeeTotal

About the Area

Beachside (south),
very quiet suburb. 2 min from beach. Near Kamakura, Enoshima Island, & Hakone. Only 30 min. from Yokohama and 50min. to Tokyo by a direct line train.
2 KM from station. (18 minute walk by Google maps)
400 meters from bus stop
Restaurants: vegetarian-friendly, ethnic, and Japanese.

Local Area Facilities
  • Park
  • Swimming
  • Beach
  • Cinema
  • Library
  • Museum
  • Shopping Centre
  • Water sports
  • Sports arena
  • Fishing
  • Restaurant
  • Bus Stop
  • Train station
  • Hospital

Meals

Hosts can offer a complimentary light breakfast at their discretion. All other meals, including a full breakfast, might incur an additional cost, if offered. Meals and any additional payment should be arranged directly with your host.

Included in the stay
  • Complimentary Light Breakfast
  • Use of Kitchen

House Rules

**** Please note that we only accept requests from guests who are certain of their travel dates - Please only get in touch if you are sure of the dates that you are looking for accommodation ****

1. Please respect the neighbors as noise travels quickly through Japanese walls. 2. Please be quiet walking through the neighborhood as Japanese call police when they hear "foreign" voices.
3. No smoking inside or near the house.
4. Do not feed the cats people food.

Wheat products:
I have a life-threatening allergy to wheat.
It is often in rye, barley, oats, soy sauce, malt, flour, and gluten, including sauces, gravies, breads, cereals, and foods made with these ingredients.

This is similar to a peanut allergy because if I breathe (such as toast in an oven)
or touch a surface (a plate or table that has cake)
that has wheat, I will have anaphylaxis.

Please do not bring these items into the house.
Thank you for understanding.

Smoking Rules

Your host is a non-smoker.

Smoking is not allowed.

24 Reviews

  • Picture?ss=bah7cekicgdpzay6bkvussinz2lkoi8vahn0l0f2yxrhci8znzy5oti zxhwaxjlc19pbgy7afrjigxwdxjwb3nlbjsavekidgrlzmf1bhqgowbussipzxhwaxjlc19hday7afqw  8406869881c8c705e123b8f047606e4f3dfd98ca&style=small

    Malaysia
    Age 25 - 34

    5 hearts
    February 2024

    This was my first ever homestay experience, and it exceeded all of my expectations. I instantly felt welcome in Soness & Yuji's home, and enjoyed a hot pot dinner my first night (which was very welcome during the cold winter!). I loved the traditional tatami room and had a ton of space. The Wifi worked great which also enabled me to easily take meetings and work remotely. Soness helped me organize a stained glass craft class and a Buddhist Temple cuisine cooking class which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also had a blast biking around Chigasaki and got to explore Enoshima and the beautiful beach side. I wish I could have stayed longer and can't recommend this homestay enough!

    Read more »

    Host reply
    Homestay Host Family Soness in ,

    We loved having you here, Rui! Such a joy to see you embrace every moment! Nikki Kitty misses you! You bring so much joy. So happy that you got to enjoy doing local crafts and culinary arts. Can’t wait to see you come home again soon!

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    England
    Age 45 - 54

    5 hearts
    June 2019

    Soness and Yuji are very welcoming hosts and made me feel right at home. They have a comfortable and spacious house in a quiet, leafy street, with the guest room opening onto the pretty garden. Their two cats are also very friendly! There is the beach 5 mins away, with good surfing and cycle paths to Enoshima and beyond to Kamakura to explore. The local public transport is excellent with Tokyo an hour away. Shops, restaurants, supermarkets and the main railway station are all walking distance. Enjoy!

    Read more »

    Host reply
    Homestay Host Family Soness in ,

    We loved having you here, Mark! You fit in our home and our community and lifestyle! We got to enjoy conversation over hand-rolled sushi dinner, a night out for dinner and stand up comedy, and general hanging out. You are so nice and helpful, too! And what fascinating stories and an awesome life perspective! Come home again soon!

  • Graphic avatar placeholder

    United States
    Age 25 - 34

    5 hearts
    April 2019

    This guest awarded the host 5 hearts but didn’t leave any comments.

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    Scotland
    Age 18 - 24

    5 hearts
    January 2019

    Staying with Sonness and Yuji is about as close to the perfect homestay experience as I think you can get. They are both wonderful people, in a lovely house, in a very beautiful neighbourhood. They have amazing suggestions for local restaurants and things to do. I think there was a perfect balance of personal space as well having time for conversations or making miso soup together. Sonness was absolutely lovely and would always make time to help out with absolutely anything and is one of the kindest people I have ever met. Yuji is fantastic at what he does and a really nice guy, as well as being an absolutely amazing cook. They are a really lovely couple. Chigasaki is a stunning, relaxed area, with great food and a wonderful beach to take the bikes along to Enoshima for the day. The cats (particularly Nadia) were great company to be around when relaxing at the end of a busy day. I really feel like I was able to relax and was welcomed into their home, and as a part of their family. I cannot recommend staying with them enough. I look forward to meeting them again in the future :)
    Kona and I had such an amazing time, thank you so much for everything :D

    Read more »

  • Picture?ss=bah7cekicgdpzay6bkvussinz2lkoi8vahn0l0f2yxrhci8ynde4mdy zxhwaxjlc19pbgy7afrjigxwdxjwb3nlbjsavekidgrlzmf1bhqgowbussipzxhwaxjlc19hday7afqw  58d87aae83a470c235bfb8467eb725e5a8b7428f&style=small

    Austria
    Age 35 - 44

    5 hearts
    November 2018

    Such a lovely, welcoming and open(-hearted) place!
    I got a lot of support from Soness and Yuji for finding my way around, insider onsen tips and delicious miso soup - and we had a lot of fun!
    From Chigasaki, it's easy to go to Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama and Tokyo and I also enjoyed cycling and the sunset at the Chigasaki beach - definitely a great location.

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    Australia
    Age 55 - 64

    5 hearts
    November 2018

    We had a fabulous time in Chigasaki with Sonness and Yuki and Nikki the cat. Chigasaki is a hip little town and being near the sea the beach walks were great. We look forward to staying with them again.

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    Germany
    Age 55 - 64

    5 hearts
    October 2018

    This guest awarded the host 5 hearts but didn’t leave any comments.

  • Picture?type=square&height=200&width=200

    Australia
    Age 35 - 44

    5 hearts
    September 2018

    This guest awarded the host 5 hearts but didn’t leave any comments.

  • Picture?ss=bah7cekicgdpzay6bkvussinz2lkoi8vahn0l0f2yxrhci8ymtyzntm zxhwaxjlc19pbgy7afrjigxwdxjwb3nlbjsavekidgrlzmf1bhqgowbussipzxhwaxjlc19hday7afqw  f22c150e79811c765f3a37de0ffd8a3f368723bc&style=small

    Germany
    Age 25 - 34

    5 hearts
    June 2018

    It was such a great experience, we were really happy we stayed with Soness and Juji. They are really nice and will help you wherever you might need help. They even took us on a trip to Kamakura on Monday and told us where to go. If you don’t have an idea of what to visit, don’t worry: they got a whole box of guides on what to do.

    Oh and if they invite you to go to a restaurant with them or recommend you one, go there! We found a really great place this way.

    All in all a really good Homestay, we’re definitely going there again and recommending it to everyone that wants to visit The places around Chigasaki (Tōkyō, Kamakura, Yokohama and so on)

    Read more »

  • Picture?ss=bah7cekicgdpzay6bkvussinz2lkoi8vahn0l0f2yxrhci8ymty5nti zxhwaxjlc19pbgy7afrjigxwdxjwb3nlbjsavekidgrlzmf1bhqgowbussipzxhwaxjlc19hday7afqw  af377680661fcd670bf2f3ef92a4f8b59837a84a&style=small

    France
    Age 35 - 44

    5 hearts
    May 2018

    dépaysement totale, un accueil comme si ils recevaient des amis! une rencontre riche en émotions

How do I book?

Contact the host to check their availability and ask them any questions you have about staying with them. Once the host confirms they’re available for your dates, you can complete your booking.

When do I pay?

Once a host confirms they're available, you can go ahead and pay the 15% booking fee (maximum of 250 $£€ for longer term bookings) using a choice of payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Laser, JCB & PayPal (not available in certain countries). You then pay your host on arrival or as stated by your host on their profile and agreed by you on booking. Please be cautious if a host requests advance payment if its not included on their profile. Our hosts have been advised that if they wish to request advance payment they must make this explicit in their profile. We do not recommend the use of Money gram or Western Union.

When can I share my contact details?

Host and Guest email address, phone number and home address will be exchanged in a confirmation email sent to both immediately after a booking is completed. It's against our policy for Guests and Hosts to exchange direct contact details via our messaging system.

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