63.7% Answered "I Still Love Shonan After All!"
# ~The Reality of Shonan Life According to 429 Residents~
Garage Standard Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Toshizumi Hotta), which operates "roomap," a real estate service specializing in the Shonan and Kamakura areas, conducted a survey on "the reality of summer living and residential comfort" targeting 429 residents aged 20 and over living in the Shonan region.
The charm of the Shonan and Kamakura areas lies in everyday moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. This town, easily accessible from central Tokyo with nature and urban spaces blending comfortably together, serves as the stage for many people's "dream lifestyle" throughout the year.
On the other hand, summer in Shonan has a distinct face as a tourist destination, presenting "summer-specific challenges" in daily life such as crowding from beachgoers, traffic congestion, humidity and salt damage, and increased utility costs.
Nevertheless, there are many who say, "I love this town." This survey revealed the authentic reality of residents who, while accepting these challenges, incorporate "a Shonan-style summer" into their daily lives.
【Survey Overview】
- Survey Theme: Investigation into the reality of summer Shonan life
- Survey Period: Early July 2025
- Survey Target: Ages 20 and over, residing in the Shonan and Kamakura areas of Kanagawa Prefecture
- Valid Responses: 429 people
- Survey Method: Online survey
- Survey Organization: Garage Standard Co., Ltd. (roomap operator)
【Q1】Residential Areas of Shonan Among Survey Respondents
【Q2】Top Reason for Moving: "Influence from Family/Partner" at 25.2% — Shonan Life Selected Based on "Real Living" Rather Than "Dreams"
The most common trigger for moving to Shonan was "influence from family or partner" (25.2%), followed by "good balance of commute and location" (21.4%) and "I love the ocean and nature" (19.3%).
This surpassed "It was a town I had dreamed of" (13.5%), revealing that "ease of living" and "close personal connections" are more motivating factors for relocation than idealism. Particularly noteworthy is that a Shonan lifestyle that began through "influence from those around us" has actually taken root in reality.
The balance between nature and urban life, comfortable interpersonal distance, and the ability to balance commuting with child-rearing — Shonan is chosen by many as a town that "makes sense when you actually live there."
【Q3】About 1 in 4 People Actually Experience "Taking Summer Into Their Lives" — The Unique "Everyday × Extraordinary" Lifestyle of Shonan Becomes Clear
Top responses include "I can feel Shonan's summer every day" (23.5%), "I can easily enjoy fireworks festivals and events" (22.8%), and "I can walk to the beach" (21.9%), highlighting Shonan's unique way of living where "the extraordinary exists within the everyday."
This is not merely about leisure; it demonstrates that "incorporating the seasons into one's life" itself is central to the Shonan lifestyle. For example, taking a casual evening stroll to the beach on a weekday, or enjoying a neighborhood summer festival on weekends while avoiding crowds — these "small extraordinary moments" add richness to daily life.
Experiences that in urban areas remain "weekend-only leisure" exist in Shonan as "an extension of everyday living." This may be the ultimate reason why so many people are drawn to Shonan.
Furthermore, noteworthy is the sentiment that "fireworks festivals and summer events are enjoyable in a 'close and casual' way." Being able to access seasonal events without special preparation or long-distance travel is a major attraction for child-rearing households and busy business professionals alike.
Summer in Shonan is not merely a tourist destination — it has become a place where "living itself means enjoying summer." The value of this Shonan-style lifestyle has emerged clearly from this survey.
【Q4】Crowding 39.6%, Humidity 26.6% — Yet the Reason "Shonan's Summer" Remains Beloved
The most frequently cited challenge in summer Shonan living was "parking lot and road congestion" (39.6%), followed by "crowding from beachgoers" (27.0%) and "salt damage and humidity damaging homes" (26.6%) — issues of "coexisting with liveliness" unique to tourist destinations, as well as inconveniences stemming from the natural environment. In the Shonan area, summer brings an influx of vehicles with out-of-prefecture license plates and tourists, easily affecting everyday life. Furthermore, damage to buildings from sea breezes and humidity represents an unavoidable problem, particularly for older homes and beachfront properties.
Nevertheless, what deserves attention is that while residents accept these challenges as "inevitable," they maintain a strong desire to continue living in this town.
In fact, other survey questions revealed numerous positive opinions such as "I can feel Shonan's summer every day" and "my home has a sense of openness," offering a glimpse of a lifestyle unique to Shonan where inconvenience and richness coexist.
【Q5】"Fireworks and Summer Festivals" Lead at 36.4%!
The most commonly cited way to spend a "Shonan-style summer" was "attending local summer festivals and fireworks displays" (36.4%), followed by "spending time at the beach (swimming, surfing, walking, etc.)" (30.5%) and "avoiding tourists and spending time quietly" (19.1%).
What deserves attention is the balanced sensibility of residents who enjoy both "lively Shonan" and "quiet Shonan."
In Shonan, known as a tourist destination, community-rooted events like fireworks festivals and summer fairs naturally blend into daily life, and residents have established a style of enjoying them not as "extraordinary" but as "an extension of daily life." Meanwhile, many residents also practice actively avoiding tourist spots or spending peaceful time on their home balconies or in cool indoor spaces, demonstrating a deliberate distance from crowds and noise.
What emerges from these ways of spending time is "the freedom to choose your summer depending on your mood that day."
Living in Shonan may not be about an "obligation to enjoy summer," but rather about acquiring the "right to choose your preferred summer, in your preferred way."
【Q6】Approximately 1 in 3 People Answered "I Love This Town's 'Sense of Balance'"
— Shonan as a Lifestyle Selected by "Feeling" Rather Than Logic
When asked why they still love Shonan, 29.1% (approximately 1 in 3 people) selected "because the balance between nature and town is just right."
This was followed by "the atmosphere and air are unique" (12.8%) and "it's a town where I can be myself" (8.2%), revealing that many people place value on "a comfort that cannot be put into words."
A comfort that transcends mere convenience or property conditions—"I somehow like it," "I want to come home here"—these sensory attractions are partly what make Shonan a "town I want to keep living in."
Rather than logic, the interesting finding is that many people choose Shonan as their "town that their heart decided on."
【Q7】28.2% Say "Free and Relaxed" — A Town Where "Slightly Comfortable Daily Life" Exists, a Perfect Resort
To the question "How would you describe summer living in Shonan and Kamakura in one word?", the highest response at 28.2% was "free and relaxed."
This was followed by "surprisingly ordinary when you actually live here" (21.2%) and "has both stimulation and healing" (17.3%), highlighting a lifestyle where people can be natural and unpretentious as the charm of Shonan.
【Summary】
In the survey of 429 residents of the Shonan and Kamakura areas, while 76.0% answered "I face troubles with summer living in Shonan," 63.7% responded "I still love Shonan."
Despite "summer-specific living challenges" such as tourist-induced crowding and road congestion (39.6%) and impacts on residential environments from humidity and salt damage (26.6%), many residents experience the comfort of daily life that incorporates the season, such as "being able to feel Shonan's summer every day" (23.5%) and "a free and relaxed daily life" (28.2%).
Living alongside nature while accepting inconvenience and noise itself as "the character of this town" —
The Shonan and Kamakura areas continue to be chosen by many residents as a "town where value is placed on lifestyle" rather than something measured solely by specifications or convenience.