21 Things to do in Atami: A Timeless Seaside Dream

Last Updated on October 29, 2025 by Audrey

Thinking about visiting Atami while you’re in Japan, but not sure what there is to do there? 

Atami is a fun, relaxing destination that’s only a 40 minute train ride from Tokyo, so it’s both an ideal day trip destination or a short getaway from the city. When I was researching whether to visit, I read things like “trapped in the 80’s bubble”, “outdated”, and generally just meh reviews. 

Now that I’ve visited Atami for myself, all I can say is WTF?? This place is awesome though?!

I came here just a few months ago to watch their annual Atami Sea Fireworks Festival, and was surprised by how romantic and exciting the town is! Some people may think that the city feels old and lifeless, and maybe that used to be the case, but certainly not anymore. The vibe I got was nostalgic, charming, and very lively if you go during the Fireworks Festival. 

I loved exploring Atami, and despite being a smaller town, there’s a lot more to do than you think. 

What is Atami Known For?

The word Atami 熱海 (ata-mi) means “hot sea”, which perfectly describes this onsen town blessed with beautiful blue sea views.

It was especially popular during the 1980’s bubble economy and was a popular business retreat destination. After the bubble burst, the city has been slowly picking itself back up again and establishing itself once again as a getaway destination. 

Atami is located in the eastern Shizuoka prefecture, and if you’re coming down from Tokyo this town marks the beginning of the Izu Peninsula. I rented a car with my boyfriend and spent a few days driving down the coastline, starting with Atami. Highly recommend doing, by the way! 

Anyway, Atami is a charming small beach town with relaxing onsen, amazing seafood, and quite a number of museums and attractions. It’s probably most popular for Atami Castle, which was featured in Godzilla, but actually is a newer castle and not one of the original 12. Regardless, the castle is fun to visit and has a beautiful view of the sea. 

I personally loved Atami for its incredible fireworks show, which occurs once a week or so starting from March until early December. While the town usually seems pretty quiet, it gets popping on days of the festival, and the energy is a vibe.

Top Atami Things to do

Now without further ado, let’s look at the best Atami things to do and why Atami is worth visiting during your Japan trip.

Scenic Views

Being right next to the Sagami Bay, you’re blessed with scenic views all over town.

1. Atami Sun Beach

Atami’s golden sand beaches are beautiful, and perfect for relaxing in the sun or strolling along the sand.

Palm trees, calm waves, and a cityscape backdrop surround you, and the area is pleasantly illuminated all the way until 10:00 PM. This is also where I went to watch the Atami Marine Fireworks Festival!

There’s a pedestrian walkway that overlooks both the coast and the marina, and the Moon Terrace statue that is in the middle of Atami Sun Beach and Shinui Park is a famous secret spot for couples. 

2. Atami Sea Fireworks Festival

The Atami Sea Fireworks Festival is, in my humble opinion, one of the best parts of visiting Atami. 

Occurring on select days from March to December, everyone in town walks down to the beach or to a scenic viewpoint to take in this beautiful display. 

It’s so much better than anything I’ve seen in California, and I love how everyone is so polite and quiet. Nobody felt the need to speak, instead we all just stared in awe together as everyone watched the show.

My personal favorite touch was the little robot announcer that told us when each stage of the show was commencing, it was so cute! I encourage you to plan your trip so that you won’t miss this amazing firework display. 

💡 Pro tip: It’s recommended to go higher up to see the fireworks reflect on the ocean.

3. Smell the flowers in Atami Plum Garden

Atami has some of the earliest plum tree blossoms around Tokyo, so you may be able to see beautiful blooms starting as early as January at the Atami Plum Garden. This park is home to 60 different varieties of plum trees. 

From January to March, the Atami Plum Festival is held here. The blossoms bloomed mostly in mid-February last year, but the festival also includes traditional music performances, plum tea service, and shamisen performances. And if you’re visiting in autumn or winter, the garden is illuminated from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM from November to December.

It’s a scenic walk around the park, with a couple of monuments of important Japanese figures, plus the Sawada Seiko Memorial Museum, Nakayama Shinpei Memorial Hall, and a Korean garden. At the top of the path, you’ll find a small free foot onsen to dip your feet in.

The admission is only ¥300, and I recommend giving yourself an hour or two to fully walk around and enjoy this well maintained park. There is a direct bus that will take you from Atami Station to the gardens in 15 minutes, running 4 times an hour.

💡 Pro tip: I recommend visiting during daylight hours, as the park is not well lit at night.

4. See the cherry blossoms at the Itokawa Promenade

The Itokawa Promenade is famous for its early blooming atamizakura, dark pink cherry blossoms that bloom from January to February annually.

If you’re lucky enough to visit the city during this time, the annual festival holds evening illuminations, cherry blossom tea services, and various street performances on specific dates. It’s free to visit, and the flowers look utterly stunning.

When I visited in mid March, all the atamizakura were already long gone, but there were some cherry blossom trees that were still in full bloom along Atami Sun Beach. So depending on when you visit, you may still be blessed with beautiful flowers around Atami. 

💡 Pro tip: I recommend going down the stairs next to the river to get a different angle of the flowers!

5. Watch the sunset at Nishikigaura

Nishikigaura is a scenic viewpoint not too far from Atami Castle where you can get a beautiful view of the castle, Hatsushima Island, New Akao Hotel, and the jewel-like blue sea along a series of steep cliffs. 

If you’re lucky and the weather is clear, you may see all the way to Izu Oshima island. 

💡 Pro tip: Actually, Nishikigaura used to be a famous suicide spot, if you’re into that spooky stuff… Errr I’m a scaredy-cat, so I’m going to leave it at that. 

6. Take a boat cruise at Atami Port 

You can take the SANREMO sightseeing cruise from the Spa Marina Atami yacht harbor and sail around the scenic coastline for around half an hour!

This cruise can accommodate up to 50 people, so it’s an intimate experience.

You’ll see Nishigaura, Sogagaura, and Akanesaki, providing a pleasant view of Atami and the Manazuru Peninsula. You might even be able to spot Izu Oshima Island if it’s a clear sunny day.

There’s an underwater viewing room to see the fish swim alongside you, and it’s also a pet-friendly cruise!

7. Spot Mount Fuji at Jukkoku Pass Observation Deck

You definitely need a car for this one, but you can get a beautiful view of Mount Fuji less than 20 minutes from Atami City!

Jukkoku Pass is located 770 meters above sea level, on the border between Atami and Kannami-cho in the Shizuoka prefecture. You can take a cable car to the top to the summit, where there is an observation deck and cafe called Panorama Terrace 1059. 

On sunny days, you’ll see panoramic views of Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, Izu Peninsula, and Sagami Bay. Small pets are also allowed with you up the cable car if you want to bring a furry friend. In fact, there are even glamping cottages here if you want to wake up to a stunning sunrise with Fuji-san.

💡 Pro tip: I recommend checking the live cam and weather before coming, in case of cloudy weather.

Cultural Experiences

Atami has many local landmarks and attractions to visit. Not to mention their famous onsen water!

8. Soak in an onsen

While Tokyo has some great substitutes for onsen, there is no true hot spring water in the city. if you want a true, authentic hot spring experience, Atami is the place to be.

Atami is famous for its onsen, in fact, it was so highly desired that Shogun Tokugawa brought Atami’s hot spring water back to Edo (now Tokyo) to soak in!

The water has a high salt content, which helps with neuralgia, as well as tightening and toning the skin. 

Given the fact that Atami also has beautiful coastal views, it’s a popular couple destination. I have to admit I was also drawn here for this reason. I’ll always fall for a soothing onsen with a stunning view of the ocean, which is why I cherish Hakodate and Atami. If you want to learn more about the best ryokan and onsen hotels in Atami, click here.

However, if you’re visiting the city for the day, I’m pleased to tell you that Atami has some great options for day use onsen! You’ll find many onsen available for day use, like Hotel New Akao, or Atami Bay Resort, and there are even some private baths out there available to rent. 

Heck, if you’re really pressed for time, there’s always the Ieyasu no Yu foot bath right in front of Atami Station, named after the famous shogun. 

9. MOA Museum of Art 

I didn’t get a chance to visit the MOA Museum in Atami, but after seeing all the beautiful flyers all over town that is my one regret. I didn’t know about it from my prior research and our itinerary was all filled up. The museum looks quite huge, with stunning exhibits. I had so much FOMO. 

The MOA Museum is the third art gallery opened by Okada Mokichi and houses a private collection of Japanese and East Asian art. There are three national treasures displayed here, which are the Red and White Plum Blossoms screen by Ogata Korin, a Tea-leaf Jar with wisterias by Nonomura Ninsei, and the “Tekagami Kanboku-jo” that has ancient calligraphy dating back from the Nara to Muromachi periods. 

I also visited the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum in Fujikawaguchiko, which is another privately owned museum, and think it’s such an intimate experience getting to explore someone else’s private collection. It feels as if you get to dive into their life and learn about their soul in a way.

So if you’re a museum lover like myself, then I would highly recommend looking into the MOA for a different experience.

10. Visit Atami Castle

Atami Castle is a majestic appearing and deceptively historic building that was actually designed just for funsies.

That’s right, this castle is only based on castles from the Momoyama period in the 1500s. It was actually built in 1959! But hey, don’t pass it off just yet. There’s quite a lot to learn about here. I explored Atami Castle for around 2 hours and had a lot of fun.

The museum hosts a samurai exhibit, a castle exhibition, and a free arcade in the basement of the building. The arcade was my boyfriend’s favorite part, as a fully grown almost 30-year old man. There’s also an interactive exhibit where you can use props from the Edo period, like an Japanese hakomakura box pillows and imperial carts, though you’re not technically being transported on any shoulders.

Furthermore, the castle stands 100 meters above sea level, so it’s a beautiful view over Atami and Sagami Bay. You can take the Atami Ropeway up to the Castle for a scenic experience.

Outside, there were quite a lot of cherry blossom trees in full bloom, and despite feeling a little deceived that I had just visited an inauthentic castle, I still thought it looked beautiful.

11. Walk the halls of former ryokan Kiunkaku

After visiting Atami Castle, we stopped by Kiunkaku on the way back to Ginza Shopping Street. 

This historic villa is a former ryokan built in 1919 that features a lush, vast garden and interior Western accents around the large Japanese-style building.

You’ll find interesting quirks like the Roman-style bathroom, and spot small Western details such as stained glass windows and Art Deco tiles in the Sun Room. It’s a pleasant spot to stroll around and learn about how older ryokans used to look. The garden is so vast that you’ll forget you’re still in the center of the city for a moment, and it’s a nice photo spot.

You won’t need more than an hour to walk through. We came an hour before closing and felt like we explored the majority of it at a comfortable pace. There’s free parking available if you drive.

12. Sex Sells in Hihokan Adult Museum

Wait, adult museum? That’s right friend, Atami has its very own sex museum! Intriguingly, it’s located just down the path from Atami Castle and Atami Trick Art Museum, where kids run rampant galore, and you can access all of these attractions by taking the Atami ropeway up. 

The Atami Hihokan is a light hearted amusement park just for adults and displays eroticism from all over the world, both serious and just for fun. It’s a small attraction, and pretty retro. I wouldn’t say it’s a must see, as I don’t think any sex museum in the world is going to be a must see, but it's said to be the last museum of sex in Japan. 

It might be worth checking out if you have nothing else to do, given that you are also not a child. 18 years old and up, only!

💡 Pro tip: No photography or videos inside the museum. You can figure out why, right?

13. Make Optical Illusions at Atami Trick Art Museum

Now this is a prime spot if you have a kid in tow. The Atami Trick Art Museum is filled with very cool photo spots and optical illusion art and is a popular tourist spot for families and friends. 

The Trick Art Museum is located right next to Atami Castle and offers combined tickets at reduced prices.

I didn’t get a chance to visit this one either because we tend to explore our attractions really deeply. We ended up spending a couple hours at Atami Castle exploring the samurai and castle exhibits and had to hustle back to Ginza Shopping Street. However, if you browse things pretty quickly, you should be able to visit Atami Castle and the Trick Art Museum easily.

14. Watch a traditional geisha dance

If you’re interested in seeing a real live geisha, you can in Atami! 

Atami Geigi Kenban hosts regular geisha shows every Saturday and Sunday at 11 am, where you can watch the Geiko Ren dance performed with a local shamisen song. The flower dance is around 40 minutes long, and you have the opportunity to meet the dancers after the show and take a photo with them! 

I wanted to see their performance so bad, but we missed our train from Tokyo and wouldn’t get to the building in time. Atami Station is only a 15 minute train ride away, but you have to come 15-30 minutes early so that you don’t interrupt the performance, so keep that in mind. 

Luckily, you don’t need a reservation to come so you can wait until the day to see if you can attend. 

15. Learn about the Kanichi and Omiya love story

As you explore Atami, you might run into Kanichi and Omiya, two characters from literary master Ozaki Koyo’s novel Konjiki Yasha.

In the story, just before Omiya is supposed to marry Kanichi, she falls in love and marries someone else. Kanichi presses Omiya for answers and kicks her in anger, a famous scene that takes place right in this city! While I haven’t read it myself, we got a pretty funny photo.

I discovered the scene in Atami Castle, which has a life sized cut out where me and my boyfriend re-enacted it. Thanks to the sweet Japanese grandma who told us who the characters were via Google Translate! 

There’s also a bronze statue of the scene close to Atami Sun Beach which has become a top sightseeing spot in the city.

16. Check out the hot spring cave Hashiriyu

You’ll have the chance to visit one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan when you visit Hashiriyu, a horizontal hot spring source at the foot of Izusan discovered over 1,300 years ago.

Hashiriyu (走り湯) is inside a cave about 6 meters deep, where you can visibly see hot spring water gushing out at the back of the cave at around 140 liters per minute (around 37 gallons). Just be careful while you’re navigating the cave, as it’s not monitored. The temperature of the water is 70 Celsius (or 158 Farenheit), so the cave is quite steamy just like a sauna and it’s hard to see inside.

Nearby Hashiriyu you’ll find a very long staircase leading to Izusan Shrine’s main hall, as well as Soto Shrine. If you can manage to walk up the 800 steps, make sure to stop by both while you’re in the area!

17. Paint a mug at Atami Yamaguchi Museum

This relatively new museum opened in 2020 and blends local and international art, with pieces from renowned artists like Renoir, Picasso, and Taro Okamoto. 

The highlight is the small ceramic cup you get to paint yourself! It's included with your ticket and comes with free matcha tea. It’s a pretty interactive museum, where you can take photos and even touch some of the artwork for a more hands-on experience. 

💡 Pro tip: Don’t miss the two Buddhist statues, which are designated national important cultural properties.

18. Pray at the 2,000 year old camphor tree at Kinomiya Shrine

I’ve been to many temples and shrines in Japan, and I have to say Kinomiya Shrine is quite a unique visit due to one rooty reason. This Shinto shrine, which means ‘Tree Palace’, was built back during the Edo Period to honor a 2,000 year old camphor tree named Okusu. 

People come here to pray to this majestic sacred tree in hopes of receiving luck, healing, and longevity. Once you see it for yourself, you’ll understand the magic and reason why Okusu is so sacred as it towers above you. 

In fact, this gentle giant is a designated National Treasure and a symbol of eternal youth. It’s said that if you conscientiously walk around the trunk and stroke the roots, you’ll gain an additional year of life. So why not give it a try?

Additionally, you can explore the shrine and purchase amulets and good luck charms. There is also a tea ceremony house where you can enjoy some snacks.

Local Food and Shops

Atami is a wonderful place to peruse, walk around, and eat! The city has incredible seafood.

19. Shop at Ginza Shopping Street

One of the reasons I fell in love with Atami was its central Ginza Shopping Street. Our accommodation was right on this very street, so we started our day here and wandered around here at night, enjoying the lively buzz during festival season. 

There are a ton of eateries and boutique shops in this area, so you can easily spend a couple hours wandering around and exploring here. It’s also right next to Atami Sun Beach, so you can head over to relax and enjoy the waves whenever you want.

I really enjoyed walking around the shops here, then seeing everyone in town wander from the street to Atami Sun Beach to all enjoy the fireworks together. It felt so intimate and charming. We discovered a delicious sweet crab snack here, and also bought handmade ceramic cups and some high end aged Suntory Whiskey here at a local liquor shop. So you never know what you’ll find! 

💡 Pro tip: If you can help it, I recommend not eating on the main street. It gets extremely busy during festival days and reservations are recommended. I go over this in my Atami itinerary.

20. Eat the local specialty fried horse mackerel

Since Atami is right next to the ocean, their local seafood is super fresh and delicious. I got to try their local specialty, fried horse mackerel, in a wonderful local restaurant near Atami Castle during my stay. 

A seemingly unsuspecting eatery due to it’s small front and location next to several other restaurants on a quiet strip near the port, 海鮮料理 貴美の浜焼き 熱海 was actually a super popular restaurant packed with local customers looking for a delicious meal away from the expensive main shopping streets.

We tried the horse mackerel both fried and grilled, and loved it both ways. It’s light and a little fatty, and has a delicious crust with the fried version. 

21. Buy souvenirs at Atami Ekimae shopping street

Right after you get off the train at Atami Station, you’ll find yourself in the midst of two shopping streets full of a variety of stores. 

These two streets, named Nakamise and Heiwa-dori, are full of restaurants, cafes, dried seafood shops, and souvenir shops with items exclusive to the Izu Peninsula.

I highly recommend spending a little bit of time browsing here to see if there’s anything you’ll like. I’ve learned my lesson time and time again that if you see something you’re interested in, you should probably just grab it because it may only be sold in that region and will be hard to find elsewhere. 

We bought some tea leaves from Shizuoka, regional snacks like the dried sweet crabs, and handmade ceramics from around the area.

Where to Stay in Atami

With beautiful sea views and an abundance of ryokan and hotels with relaxing onsen, staying at least one night in Atami is a great choice. 

Though I usually leap for the chance to stay in a hotel with a private onsen and a glorious panoramic view (a.k.a, here), we ultimately skipped Atami because we already were planning to stay at a 100 year old ryokan in Ito the next day.

But based on my own experience of staying in a hotel with a private open air onsen with an ocean view before, it’s utterly amazing and is one of my best memories of Japan. You shouldn’t skip out on it if you haven’t encountered this yet, especially since many accommodations in Atami have stunning views. 

Here are my recommendations for every price point, including where I personally stayed!

Luxury: Pearl Star Hotel Atami (4.5⭐S) ($$$$)

• ⭐ Rating: 9.4/10 (600 reviews)
• 💎 Highlights: Free Breakfast, Infinity Pool, Perfect Location, Private onsen, Accessible Rooms
• ❤️ Best for: All Travelers
• Check rates and availability on Booking or Agoda

Alright, we saved the best for last. If you’re dreaming of the perfect seaside escape, Pearl Star Hotel is the place for you.

This incredibly decadent resort hotel delivers the best of the best. You’ll take a soak in your private open-air onsen while watching fireworks launch right in front of your eyes, as this hotel is right next to Atami Sun Beach with a completely unobstructed view of the harbor and fireworks.

Rooms here are incredibly spacious and come with a huge terrace, lounge chairs, and your personal onsen. There are a variety of room options, including universal rooms with accessible room features. The hotel also includes an infinity onsen, two saunas, a fitness center, a spa, and even a pearl gallery. 

As much as it seems like it can’t get any better, it does. Guest reviews constantly praise the delicious food, and you have five restaurants, a bar, and a lounge all onsite. The customer service is outstanding, and free taxi service is included for arrivals and departures. 

In summation, this hotel is a perfect choice if you want to celebrate.

“The rooms are fantastic. Large and spacious with a great view of the ocean. The private outdoor bath was perfect for watching an ocean sunrise. Beautiful property with great hot springs. The views are stunning from 10th-floor infinity pool.”

Aaron (Read more reviews)

Mid-Range: Soki Atami (4⭐S) ($$$)

• ⭐ Rating: 9.3/10 (1,200 reviews)
• 💎 Highlights: Private Onsen, Modern Luxury, Incredible Views, Genshiyaki Dining, Serene Atmosphere
• ❤️ Best for: Relaxation Seekers, Couples, Solo Travelers, Nature lovers
• Check rates and availability on Booking or Agoda

Soki Atami is located a bit farther from the shopping streets, but it’s a great pick if you’re renting a car or want a quiet setting surrounded by natural beauty.

Lush greenery surrounds the space, and the spacious, modern rooms all have a panoramic view of the ocean. Every room comes with a private onsen, with choices between a ceramic onsen on the outdoor terrace or an in-room cypress bath. 

There’s also a public onsen with seasonal baths using citrus and herbs from their garden, as well as a steam sauna for women.

The rooms are quietly luxurious, with warm lighting and natural materials. With plush Western-style beds and modern touches, it’s a great balance between traditional and contemporary comforts.

Guests can try Genshiyaki, the traditional Japanese method of slowly grilling seafood and vegetables on an open charcoal fire. I’ve never seen another hotel provide this amenity, and personally loved trying fish prepared in this way as the smokiness really enhances the flavors. There’s also a tea salon, bar, and terrace where you have a perfect view of the Atami Fireworks Festival over the sea. 

Overall, Soki Atami is the perfect wonderful way to truly relax and reset. Once you bathe in their soothing onsen and take a sip of freshly brewed tea made from the local region, you won’t be able to stop yourself from falling in love with the simplistic beauty of Atami. 

“This was literally the best hotel we’ve ever stayed at. It was so tranquil and beyond relaxing. Every detail on the property was meticulously thought through, the service was impeccable, and the food was AMAZING! I only wish we could have stayed longer.”

Dawn (Read more reviews)

Mid-Range: Hotel Kanichi (3⭐S) ($$)

• ⭐ Rating: 8.6/10 (400 reviews)
• 💎 Highlights: Ocean views, private open-air onsen
• ❤️ Best for: All travelers, groups, families
• Check rates and availability on Booking or Agoda

Hotel Kanichi is just a 2-minute walk from Atami Ginza Shopping Street and offers incredible ocean views right from your room. 

The best thing about this hotel is the unlimited access to two private open-air baths that overlook the sea. As I said, I’m obsessed with soaking in private onsens with incredible nature views, and Atami is very similar to the onsen hotels in Hakodate: perfect ocean views and a romantic charming small town atmosphere. 

The hotel also has two large public indoor baths, so you can still enjoy a traditional onsen experience. Their hot spring water comes from a rare gypsum source with a lower salt content, which is said to originally come from the former Imperial Kuninomiya family’s villa!

Rooms are mostly Japanese style with tatami flooring and futon bedding, perfect for accommodating larger groups. Some rooms come with Western-style beds, which is great if you’re traveling with seniors or anyone who prefers to sleep in a bed.

Every room faces the ocean, but the higher floors offer the best views, with big windows and cozy chairs to sink in and enjoy the scenery. Lastly, breakfast and dinner are served in your room, featuring kaiseki meals made with local delicious ingredients.

“The traditional Japanese room with a sea view was enormous by Japanese standards. The room was absolutely stunning. Very clean and comfortable. I brought my two young children, so the rooftop private onsen baths were the highlight of the hotel stay.” 

Ken (Read more reviews)

Budget: Maruya Guest House (1⭐S) ($)

• ⭐ Rating: 8.5/10 (700 reviews)
• 💎 Highlights: Capsule Hotel, Affordable, Convenient location, Double rooms
• ❤️ Best for: Solo travelers, couples, budget travelers
• Check rates and availability on Booking or Agoda

I personally stayed at Maruya Guest House and had a great time! It’s a capsule hotel right on the popular Ginza Shopping Street. We had never stayed at a hostel or capsule hotel before and this was our first time. It’s a fantastic way to explore Japan on a budget!

The hostel and its bathing facilities were very clean, and there was a spacious lounge area where we hung out after the firework festival. The rooms are very spacious with double room options so you can stay with a partner, and the doors have locks for extra safety.

I think Maruya is a perfect option for a low cost short stay. I hit my head a couple of times getting in and out of the bottom room, so that’s why I say a short stay is best… However, head injuries aside, staying in the bottom bunk is better so you don’t have to climb up and down a ladder constantly. 

Our double room was $40 for one night, so $20 split between my boyfriend and me. It’s a great value, especially for its convenient location next to the shopping street and Atami Sun Beach.

“Great facilities, extremely friendly helpful staff. There were train cancellations due to a typhoon, and their communication with us was excellent to make sure we could make it. Extremely quiet sleeping capsule with a lot of space for two of us, lots of kitchen equipment, and free tea and coffee. We would gladly stay again!”

Melanie (Read more reviews)

How to get around Atami

We personally rented a car in Atami via Orix on Booking.com and found that it was much easier to get around. Atami Station is about 15 minutes from the city center, so while it’s not too far, most of the attractions are reached by the city bus system.

If you’re staying in the main area around Ginza Shopping Center, it’ll be easy to get to Atami Sun Beach. It’s also a 15 minute walk to Atami Ropeway which provides transportation to Atami Castle. So the city is fairly walkable. 

Conclusion: Things to Do in Atami

What do you think? Was there more to do in Atami than you presumed? Some people think Atami is trapped in a bubble and a dead town, but I have to disagree. Maybe it used to be that way, but def not in 2025.

I really loved Atami, and I’m a little attached now. The city is so charming, and super fun and lively during the Atami Sea Fireworks Festival season. I highly recommend visiting during a firework day!

If you want to know how to structure your trip or what are the must-sees, here’s my personal Atami itinerary from my trip.

Also, you should highly consider renting a car and spend a few days driving down the Izu Peninsula. That’s exactly what we did and it was incredible. I can’t wait to write about it for you in the future, but if you have any questions feel free to email me at audrey@getlostinjapan.com or leave a comment!