Atami & Izu

A seaside hot spring town about 40 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, where fireworks over the bay, the Jogasaki Coast suspension bridge and Kawazu cherry blossoms link up the east coast of Izu.

Atami sits at the eastern tip of Shizuoka Prefecture at the gateway to the Izu Peninsula, just about 40 minutes from Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen, and is one of the best-known hot spring resort towns in the Kanto area. With Atami as your base, you can head south down Izu's east coast to Ito, the Jogasaki Coast, Kawazu and Shimoda, or west to Mishima, Izunokuni and Shuzenji. The entire Izu Peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark, full of volcanic landforms, sea cliffs and hot springs.

Seasons: the climate is warm, with little snow even in winter. January–March brings plum blossoms at Atami Baien and the early-blooming “Atami cherry,” and Kawazu cherries bloom from early February to early March; April–May brings azaleas on Mount Komuro; July–August is beach season; autumn leaves come from late November to early December; and the Atami Marine Fireworks Festival is held more than ten times a year, most often in summer.

Areas: ① Central Atami—Atami Sun Beach, Kinomiya Shrine, the MOA Museum of Art, Kiunkaku and Izusan Shrine; ② Ito and Izu Kogen—Mount Omuro, the Jogasaki Coast, Lake Ippeki and Izu Shaboten Zoo; ③ Southern Izu—the Seven Falls of Kawazu, Kawazu cherry blossoms, Shimoda and Shirahama Beach; ④ Central Izu and Mishima—Shuzenji Onsen, Joren Falls, Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace and Mishima Skywalk.

Getting around: the JR Ito Line and Izu Kyuko Line run down the east coast to Shimoda (the limited express “Odoriko” runs direct from Tokyo), the Izuhakone Railway connects Mishima and Shuzenji, and Tokai Bus serves central and western Izu. Allow 2–4 days; driving is the most flexible, though roads get congested on weekends and during blossom season. Atami is hilly, so make use of the “Yu-Yu Bus” loop bus in town.

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