Travel to Atami: A resort easily accessible from Tokyo
By Dynamic Japan Travel Editorial Team—Supervised by P-HAM Co., Ltd. (Licensed Travel Agency, Aichi No. 3-1590)
Contents
Atami (熱海) is a famous Japanese resort only 45 minutes from Tokyo. It is famous for its nature, beautiful coastline and hot springs. It is a great destination for a day trip or longer.
Here, we would like to explain how to get to Atami from Tokyo. The best way is taking a Shinkansen (a bullet train).
Things to do in Atami
Atami is one of the best hot spring resorts in Japan with its beautiful landscape. For example, the seasonal flowers at the Atami Plum Garden delight visitors, and in early spring the plum blossoms are in full bloom. Firework festivals are held throughout the year. Furthermore, there is a beautiful Japanese shrine, the “Kinomiya Shrine”. You can also enjoy local seafood and hot springs.
For more information, please see the article below:
How to get to Atami from Tokyo
The train is the best way to get from Tokyo to Atami. Here we explain the journey time and fare for each type of train. There are three types of trains.
Train Type | Journey Time | JR Pass Coverage | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
Shinkansen (Bullet train) | 45 minutes | Yes | ¥3,740 ($25) |
Local train (Tokaido Line) | 1 hour 50 minutes | Yes | ¥1,980 ($13) |
Odoriko Limited Express | 1 hour 20 minutes | Yes | ¥3,560~ ($24) |
Saphir Odoriko | 1 hour 20 minutes | Yes (*) | ¥6,640~ ($45) |
(*) Green car only. Some seats such as Premium Green car and Green Car private compartments require additional fees.
The JR Pass is an unlimited rail pass for tourists from overseas. For more information, please see the following blog article.
Shinkansen(A bullet train): the fastest way
The Shinkansen is the fastest way to travel from Tokyo to Atami. The journey time is 45 minutes and the fare is 3,740 yen (equal to $25, non-reserved seat). There is no need to change trains and you can take the Shinkansen for free with the JR Pass.
Tokaido Shinkansen (A bullet train)
The name of the Shinkansen line from Tokyo to Atami is the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. There are three types of Tokaido Shinkansen.
Kodama Shinkansen
Hikari Shinkansen
Nozomi Shinkansen
Nozomi has the fewest stops and does not stop at Atami Station, so you need to take either the Hikari(ひかり) or Kodama(こだま) Shinkansen. Between Tokyo and Atami, both Hikari and Kodama stop at the same stations, so it does not matter which one you choose. Either is fine.
Reserved seats on the Shinkansen cost a little more, but on weekdays, non-reserved seats usually have enough space on Hikari and Kodama, so you can still find a seat without much trouble.
The differences between Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama on Tokaido Shinkansen are explained in detail in the article below.
Conventional Train
For the cheapest fare, you should take a conventional train. The price is 1,980 yen (equal to $13) and it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to get to Atami Station. When there is a public holiday, the Shinkansen may be full. In this case, we recommend travelling by this conventional train.
You take the JR Tokaido Line, coloured in orange. This is also covered by the JR Pass.
The Limited Express "Odoriko" and "Saphir Odoriko"
These trains are a great way to enjoy the journey. They connect Tokyo and the Izu Peninsula, with comfortable seats and beautiful views of Japan’s coastline and mountains. The journey from Tokyo to Atami takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The “Saphir Odoriko” provides a higher level of service to the “Odoriko”. Both trains need to be reserved in advance.
You can find more information about the facilities, train stops and timetable below:
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/traininformation/odoriko/
Feature | Odoriko | Saphir Odoriko |
Seat Reservation | Yes | Yes |
Travel Time to Atami | 1 hour 20 min | 1 hour 20 min |
Seat Class | Economy and Premium Economy | First Class |
Fare | ¥3,560~ ($24) | ¥6,640 ($45) ~ |
Wi-Fi access | Not available | Available |
JR Pass | Free for 2nd class seats; additional fee for Premium Green Car | Additional fee required |
How to purchase train tickets
At the station: tickets can be purchased at the 'Midori-no-madoguchi' (counter) of JR stations. If you are worried about language barriers, it is possible to show a written note of where you want to go.
Ticket vending machines: you can purchase tickets at the vending machines. English displays are also available.
Please see the articles below:
We hope this article will be helpful and that your experience in Atami will be a wonderful memory of your trip to Japan.
Coin Lockers in Atami Station
In order to enjoy the city fully, travelling light is essential. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about coin lockers at Atami Station
