Along Nakamise shopping street and Heiwa shopping street, close to Atami Station, are an array of eating and drinking establishments and souvenir shops. You can enjoy shopping while eating onsen manju (hot-spa sweet buns), a must-try specialty of a hot-spa town.

Maguroya, famous for its fresh seafood dishes, is popular and frequented by local people. Maguro-don (tuna rice bowl), a specialty of the restaurant, fully satisfies you in terms of volume for its inexpensive price of 500 JPY. Other popular dishes include sashimi-teishoku (sashimi set menu) and kama-age-shirasu-don (rice bowl with freshly boiled young sardine on it). These meals are served with ara-jiru (a savory fish-broth based soup), which is only possible because of the location of Atami close to the sea.

Open: 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (closed when all meals are sold out)
Closed: Wednesday (twice a month, but irregularly)

If you're looking to indulge in some of Japan's hot springs but don't want to venture far from Tokyo, Atami the right spot for you. Atami is home to dozens of hotels offering a spot to soak.

One such spot is Nikkotei Oyu is a time-honored inn, which is popular among one-day tourists to enjoy hot spring bathing. There is an open-air bath surrounded by bamboo trees, which is large enough to accommodate some 20 people. There is also a room for up to five people, which is recommended for a family.

Open: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday (or next day when Tuesday falls on holiday)
Bathing fee: 1,000 JPY (adult)
Private room: For up to five people, 2,000 JPY for two hours

Sun Beach with palm trees, which many people visit for swimming during summer, has an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you were in a tropical country. The sandy beach is lit up at night, making visitors enjoy a view like a tropical resort. The beach is opened for swimmers every year from the second Saturday of July to August 31.

Swimming is allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the above-mentioned swimming period.
The beach is lit up every night from the sunset to 10:00 p.m.

The place along the beach where Omiya-no Matsu (pine tree of Omiya) and a statue of Kanichi and Omiya are situated is the most photographed place in Atami. The bronze statue is based on the novel, Konjiki Yasha (The Golden Demon), written by Koyo Ozaki, which gained popularity in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The novel greatly helped make the name of Atami known throughout Japan.

Atami Castle is located on the top of Mt. Nishikigaura. The observatory in its tehnshu-kaku (donjon) commands a view of the whole of Atami. Atami is likened to a Monaco in the orient for its resort hotels and beautiful marine views. On a clear day, it is recommended to enjoy views while soaking your feet in the footbath on the first floor (free of charge).

Open: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The castle is open throughout the year.
Entrance charge: 900 JPY (adult)

Written by Takamasa Yamashita

The following hotels are in excellent locations for this Atami itinerary.