Last Updated: Jan 21, 2024
Seaside Atami
A Glimpse of Japan’s Legendary Bubble Period
Welcome back to yet another super in-depth travel guide where I detail all you need to know to get off the beaten path. It certainly has been a while since I’ve published one of these, eh? Ever since I broke my collar bone in 2018 when fate forced me to eat dirt, I’ve been taking it easy on the multi-day trips while I recovered. Thankfully though, I’m finally feeling fit enough to tackle the road again. With that said, today we will be taking a look at the seaside resort of Atami (lit. “Hot Ocean”). Located on the northeastern base of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, this hot spring getaway is the perfect add-on to your time in Tokyo. Be it for a mere day trip or an overnight stay, Atami has more than enough charms to deliver in spades.
Before getting into the weeds here, allow me to first start by explaining Atami’s allure. Strange as it may seem, in many senses, what makes this oceanside hamlet worth visiting is the fact that it is well past its heyday as a weekend getaway from Tokyo. You see, during the extravagantly opulent years of Japan’s bubble economy (1986–1991), Atami was highly popular amongst the locals as a destination for business retreats. To cater to this sudden surge in demand, huge developments sprung up in the area…
