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Atami

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Overview

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.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,595 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the Hot Springs: Atami’s Nighttime Coastline Walks

While Atami’s onsen are the obvious draw, the city’s shoreline offers a quieter kind of attraction after sunset. The promenade stretching from Sunzu Port to the cliffs of Nishikigaura is lined with modest lanterns that reveal the rhythmic pulse of fishing boats returning to dock. This stretch allows you to watch the sea turn silver under the moon, and to hear the occasional call of the common gull that the city has adopted as its symbol. Stop at a small tsukimi‑styled tea stall for a cup of locally brewed green tea, and you’ll sense a rhythm that tourists rarely experience – the subtle blend of marine life, night air and the faint scent of seaweed.

Seasonal Flavour: Atami’s Citrus‑Infused Street Food

Autumn in Atami brings a subtle shift in the city’s culinary tone, as local vendors begin to incorporate the region’s early‑season yuzu into snacks that otherwise would be purely salty. Look for yuzu‑scented takoyaki balls or a drizzle of citrus ponzu over grilled sardines at the bustling Atami Ekimae Shopping Street. The citrus not only brightens the palate but also mirrors the city’s own transition from summer beach crowds to quieter, cooler evenings. Pair these bites with a glass of shirokuma‑style shaved ice for a refreshing contrast that captures Atami’s seasonal duality without the fanfare of larger festivals.

A Day‑Trip Alternative: Comparing Atami to Enoshima

Travelers often pair Atami with Enoshima, yet the two towns sit on opposite sides of the Miura Peninsula and offer distinct atmospheres. Enoshima leans heavily into its surf culture and island‑spanning shrines, while Atami’s layout is framed by steep cliffs that cascade into the bay, granting a more compact, vertically layered townscape. If you have a morning train to Tokyo, consider alighting at Atami first; the city’s compactness lets you sample a hot spring, a quick museum visit and a cliffside walk within a few hours. By contrast, Enoshima demands longer stretches at beachside cafés. Choosing Atami for a concise, multi‑sensory slice of coastal Japan can make your itinerary feel less fragmented.

Introduction

For the musician, see Zentaro Watanabe. For the asteroid, see 1139 Atami. City in Chūbu, JapanAtami 熱海市CityFrom top, left to right: View of Atami city from the cliffs of Nishikigaura, Izusan Shrine, Atami Castle, Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, and MOA Museum of Art FlagEmblemLocation of Atami in Shizuoka PrefectureAtami Coordinates: 35°05′45.5″N 139°4′17.6″E / 35.095972°N 139.071556°E / 35.095972; 139.071556Country JapanRegionChūbuPrefecture ShizuokaFirst official recorded699 ADCity SettledApril 10, 1937Government • MayorSakae SaitōArea • Total61.78 km2 (23.85 sq mi)Population (October 1, 2020) • Total34,233 • Density554.1/km2 (1,435/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)Postal code413-8550Phone number0557-86-6000Address1-1 Chūō-chō, Atami-shi, Shizuoka-kenClimateCfaWebsiteOfficial websiteSymbolsBirdCommon gullFlowerUmeTreeSakura Atami (熱海市, Atami-shi) is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 36,865 in 21,593 households and a population density of 600 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 61.78 square kilometres (23.85 sq mi).

Geography

[edit] Atami is located in the far eastern corner of Shizuoka Prefecture at the northern end of Izu Peninsula. The city is on the steep slopes of a partially submerged volcanic caldera on the edge of Sagami Bay. Atami literally means "hot ocean", due to the town's famous onsen hot springs. The city boundaries include the offshore island of Hatsushima. Most of Atami is located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current offshore, the area is known for its moderate maritime climate with hot, humid summers, and short winters. Surrounding municipalities[edit] Kanagawa Prefecture Yugawara Shizuoka Prefecture Itō Izunokuni Kannami Climate[edit] The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The average annual temperature in Atami is 16.3 °C (61.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,012.7 mm (79.24 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 7.0 °C (44.6 °F). Climate data for Ajiro, Atami (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1937−present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 25.1(77.2) 25.4(77.7) 26.1(79.0) 28.6(83.5) 32.1(89.8) 35.0(95.0) 36.0(96.8) 37.9(100.2) 36.7(98.1) 31.9(89.4) 26.5(79.7) 24.1(75.4) 37.9(100.2) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.7(51.3) 11.3(52.3) 14.2(57.6) 18.8(65.8) 22.7(72.9) 25.0(77.0) 28.9(84.0) 30.2(86.4) 26.7(80.1) 21.8(71.2) 17.2(63.0) 12.9(55.2) 20.0(68.1) Daily mean °C (°F) 7.0(44.6) 7.4(45.3) 10.1(50.2) 14.5(58.1) 18.5(65.3) 21.4(70.5) 25.2(77.4) 26.4(79.5) 23.3(73.9) 18.7(65.7) 14.0(57.2) 9.6(49.3) 16.3(61.4) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.9(39.0) 4.0(39.2) 6.6(43.9) 10.9(51.6) 15.3(59.5) 18.8(65.8) 22.6(72.7) 23.8(74.8) 20.9(69.6) 16.1(61.0) 11.3(52.3) 6.6(43.9) 13.4(56.1) Record low °C (°F) −3.1(26.4) −4.5(23.9) −2.4(27.7) 1.8(35.2) 6.0(42.8) 11.8(53.2) 13.5(56.3) 17.1(62.8) 13.4(56.1) 7.7(45.9) 2.4(36.3) −2.7(27.1) −4.5(23.9) Average precipitation mm (inches) 76.1(3.00) 82.0(3.23) 158.0(6.22) 168.1(6.62) 172.6(6.80) 251.5(9.90) 242.5(9.55) 186.0(7.32) 263.9(10.39) 237.3(9.34) 108.4(4.27) 66.3(2.61) 2,012.7(79.24) Average snowfall cm (inches) 0(0) 1(0.4) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 1(0.4) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.1 6.7 10.7 10.2 10.0 12.4 10.9 8.2 12.1 10.2 7.9 6.1 111.5 Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 Average relative humidity (%) 59 60 64 67 72 80 80 79 78 73 69 62 70 Mean monthly sunshine hours 147.4 142.8 158.2 176.4 184.1 127.7 161.8 194.1 136.9 126.0 128.5 142.8 1,826.7 Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

History

[edit] View of Atami in 1900 Atami has been known as a resort town centered on its hot springs since the 8th century AD. In the Kamakura period, Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hōjō Masako were notable visitors. During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, Atami village was organized within Kamo District, Shizuoka. It was elevated to town status on June 11, 1894, and was transferred to the administrative control of Tagata District in 1896. The epicenter of the Great Kantō earthquake in 1923 was deep beneath Izu Ōshima Island in Sagami Bay, close to Atami, which suffered considerable damage, as did other municipalities throughout the surrounding Kantō region. The tsunami wave height reached 11 meters (35 feet) at Atami, swamping the town and drowning three hundred people. In 1932, Japanese authorities raided a meeting of members of the Japanese Communist Party in Atami. The Inagawa-kai, third largest of Japan's yakuza groups, was founded in Atami in 1949 as the Inagawa-gumi (稲川組) by Kakuji Inagawa. In 1963 the Japanese Communist Party established a study facility in the mountains near Atami. The JCP holds a triennial congress there. The modern city of Atami was founded on April 10, 1937, through the merger of Atami Town with neighboring Taga Village. After the proclamation of Atami as an "International Tourism and Culture City" by the Japanese government in 1950, the area experienced rapid growth in large resort hotel development. This growth increased after Atami station became a stop on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed train line in 1964. In concert with its famous onsen, Atami was known for its onsen geisha. Atami experienced a considerable decline in popularity as a vacation destination due to the Japanese economic crisis in the 1990s and the associated fall in large group company-sponsored vacations, but is currently experiencing a revival as a commuter town due to its proximity to Tokyo and Yokohama. 2021 landslide[edit] Prime Minister Suga overlooks an area of Atami damaged by the 2021 landslide Main article: 2021 Atami landslide Following torrential rainfall a landslide was triggered which swept through part of the city on 3 July 2021. 27 people were killed and 3 were injured.

In popular culture

[edit] In the 1951 film Tokyo File 212, a key scene takes place at a resort in Atami. In the 1953 film Tokyo Story, the parents visit the hot springs in Atami. Much of the 1953 film, A Japanese Tragedy, is set in Atami. Atami appears in the 1954 film, Golden Demon (Konjiki Yasha), based on the novel of the same name by Kōyō Ozaki, as the place where two main characters become engaged to be married. In the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla, the final throes of the film's climactic battle between Godzilla and King Kong sees them descending Mount Fuji and into Atami. After destroying Atami Castle during a trade of blows, the two monsters fall over a cliff into Sagami Bay, with Kong emerging as the victor of the fight. In the 1967 film Gappa, the Triphibian Monster, the two adult Gappa creatures make landfall in Atami, destroying much of it in the process. In episode 89 of the anime series Urusei Yatsura, Mrs. Moroboshi wins a 2-day trip to Atami with her husband, leaving her son Ataru, the main character, at home alone with Lum. In the Studio Ghibli anime drama, Only Yesterday, the main character Taeko goes to Atami at age 10, visiting some of the onsen, but she passes out in the Roman bath from dizziness. In the first episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji Ikari is picked up by Misato Katsuragi in Atami. Atami is the setting of the 2010 TV drama Atami no Sousakan. In the 2016 anime series Prince of Stride, Atami is the first stop in the End of Summer Trial Tour. The 2017 manga Wash It All Away is set in Atami, as is its 2026 anime adaptation. In the 2019 video game AI: The Somnium Files, protagonist Kaname Date is a detective solving a murder mystery. In one of the game's endings, he quits the case and goes with a woman to Atami. In the 2022 sequel AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative, protagonist Kuruto Ryuki can have a similar ending with the same woman.