Atami

Atami (熱海) is a coastal hot spring resort city in Shizuoka prefecture, on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula southwest of Tokyo, Japan.

Understand
Atami means "hot ocean". The town has been a popular hot spring resort since the 8th century and is ranked as one of Japan's Three Great Hot Springs (三大温泉 Sandaionsen). These days the coastline is heavily developed and covered in "identikit" concrete hotels, but in summer the sandy beach is popular.

Mokichi Okada (&#23713;&#30000;&#33538;&#21513; Okada Mokichi, 1882-1955) was a multimillionaire and the founder of the Church of World Messianity. According to his official biography, Okada made his fortune in the jewelry business. Okada claimed to have received a special revelation from God in 1926, leading him to found a new religion in 1935 to spread the teachings, aiming for nothing less than a new civilization based the transmission of the diving spirit, natural farming and appreciation for beauty and art. In 1945 he also started the construction of a second sacred grounds, “Zuiunkyô,” in Atami. Much of Okada's extensive art collection is now housed in the MOA Museum of Art in Atami.

Since COVID Atami seems to be just a pale shadow of its former self with barely any public onsen left, but mainly spa hotels catering for guests.





Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate

By plane
You can reach Atami from one of Tokyo's two airports.

From Narita Airport, take the Narita Express train to Shinagawa, then transfer to either a Shinkansen Kodama or Hikari train or a Tokaido Line local train. It is 2 hours via Shinkansen connection (¥7,430) and 3 hours via local connection (¥5,140).

From Haneda Airport, take a Keikyu train to Shinagawa (¥300) for connection to the Shinkansen (1 hr 15 min, ¥4,040 total). Alternatively you can take the Keikyu Line from Haneda to Yokohama via Keikyu-Kamata station (¥370) and change at Yokohama for the local JR Tokaido line (2 hours, ¥1,710 total).

By train
Atami is on the Tokaido Shinkansen main line, just 50 minutes from Tokyo (¥3,740 for an unreserved seat). All Kodama trains stop at Atami, and a select number of Hikari stop there as well.

Kodama trains make the run to Atami from Shizuoka in 40 minutes (¥3,100 unreserved seat) and Hamamatsu in 70 minutes (¥5,170 unreserved seat).

Atami is also a stop on the regular Tokaido Line which runs from Tokyo (2 hours to Atami, ¥1,980), Shizuoka (80 minutes, ¥1,340) and Hamamatsu (2 hr 45 min, ¥2,640). Alternatively, take the cheaper Odakyu Line from Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Odawara (¥910) and continue with the Tokaido Line from there (¥420).

With the exception of the Keikyu line, all train rides listed above are free with the Japan Rail Pass.

By car
From the north-east, Atami can be reached by National Highway 135 (about 23 km from Odawara station). From the west, use National Highway 136 and Prefectural Road 11 from Mishima (about 24 km).

On foot
Atami's city center is fairly compact, but buses connect the train station to the MOA Museum of Art via a veritable hillside of ume trees (bus no.4, blossoms in March) and several other points of interest.

By bus
The YuYu Bus, a tourist bus, links the main attractions including the Atami Castle. ¥800.

By rental car
There are two car hire companies directly across from the Train station (both Japanese only):
 * Toyota Rent-a-car 0557-81-0100
 * Nippon Rent-a-car 0557-82-4588

Do

 * Scuba diving – Atami is a popular day or weekend trip from Tokyo for diving, largely due to its proximity to the city (40 minutes by Shinkansen). Sites feature some spectacular soft corals and sea life including nudibranchs, moray eels, and octopus. Atami also has one of the only divable wrecks in mainland Japan. Visibility can be poor during certain times of year, but it peaks toward the end of the summer/early fall.

Hot springs and onsen
Don't be fooled into thinking that the "hot springs" on the town map are onsen baths — they are literally locations where the hot volcanic water pumps up from the ground. Some even have geysers! There is, however, a free foot-bath directly outside the train station that runs up until the evening. A conveniently placed vending machine sells towels lest you forgot yours.



Eat
Supposedly, the Atami fish stores are very good, and you will also find the best and freshest sushi nearby. They start as early as 07:00.



Budget
3-4 hostels are available in Atami, check Booking.com.

Go next

 * Ito
 * Kawazu
 * Shimoda
 * Izunokuni
 * Mishima
 * Odawara