The Best Places to Visit in Atami

Atami is a hot spring resort, only 1-hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo by the Shinkansen train. You can see beautiful views of coastline as it faces the sea and benefits from a hilly location. In addition to its hot springs, you can enjoy a diverse range of tourist attractions such as museums, parks, beaches, shrines and botanical gardens.

This article introduces some of the best places to visit in Atami for tourists from overseas.

These are the must-see places to visit in Atami. Note that Atami has many hills, so we recommend taking the city bus rather than walking. All the sights explained here are close to bus stops.

Right outside Atami Station, you will find a free public foot bath (足湯). It is perfect for a quick relaxation break. This convenient foot bath uses natural hot spring water. It's an ideal spot to rest your feet after exploring the city or while waiting for your train. The foot bath is easily accessible and offers a authentic hot spring experience without needing to visit a full onsen facility.

• Open: every day

• Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

• Admission fee: free

You can also purchase small towels here. There is a towel vending machine.

Atami Plum Garden is famous for its 500 plum trees, with many varieties blooming at different times from early to late season. A popular event here is the "Plum Festival," held from January to March, featuring many stalls and activities. However, it's also beautiful all year round, with seasonal flowers and autumn leaves. There are walking paths and streams nearby, making it a great place for nature walks.

• Open: every day

• Opening hours: 24 hours

• Admission fee: free except from 6 January 2024 to 29 February 2024 (Price ¥300/adult)

Atami Plum Garden is not only lovely in the plum blossom season. Autumn is especially beautiful with colourful leaves. The photo below was taken on 2 December when I visited. The garden is quite spacious, and it takes about an hour to see everything. There are many lovely spots including rivers and bridges. It is a great place for enjoying a peaceful nature walk!

There are 3 ways to get to Atami Plum Garden: by bus, by train or by taxi.

By Bus

Take bus number 1 from the Atami Station bus stop, heading to "Baien, Ainohara-danchi, Shimizu-cho Loop". Get off at the stop named "Baien (梅園)".

By Train

The nearest train station is Kinomiya Station (来宮駅), the next stop after Atami Station on the JR Ito Line. You can use your JR Pass or an IC card like Suica.

Kinomiya Station has luggage storage and coin lockers, but the number of lockers is limited. There are also coin lockers at Atami Plum Garden, but they only accept cash. If you plan to visit multiple places, using the lockers at Atami Station is recommended.

By Taxi

If you prefer an easy option, taking a taxi is also a good choice. It takes about 5 minutes from Atami Station and costs around ¥1,000.

Kinomiya Shrine is one of Atami's top attractions, famous as a powerful spiritual spot. The main highlight here is a huge camphor tree over 2,000 years old, recognised as a national natural monument. It is said that your wishes will come true if you walk around the tree. You can also relax at a café inside the shrine grounds, enjoying tea and sweets while viewing the sacred tree. Throughout the year, many festivals and events take place, especially the summer festival, which is particularly vibrant and exciting.

• Open: every day

• Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

• Entry: free for entry

Before praying at Kinomiya Shrine, it’s good to clean your hands and mouth at the water station. This is called "temizu (手水)" in Japan.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Bow lightly.

2. Rinse your left hand.

3. Then Rinse your right hand.

4. Pour some water into your left hand and use it to rinse your mouth. (Don’t drink it—just swish and spit it out quietly.)

5. Rinse your left hand one more time.

6. Finally, bow again.

The main attraction at Kinomiya Shrine is the giant camphor tree, over 2,000 years old. There is a legend that says if you circle the tree once, you will gain one more year of life, and another legend says your wishes will come true if you circle it while thinking about your wish.

Originally, the tree split into two trunks at the base, but one trunk was destroyed by a typhoon about 50 years ago. Despite its scars, the tree continues to stand strong, impressing visitors with its resilience.

Kiunkaku is a beautifully preserved former villa in Atami, now open to the public. The building blends Japanese and Western design, with highlights like a Roman-style bath. Its peaceful garden is perfect for a relaxing walk and great for taking photos.
Inside, you can explore displays showing life and culture from the early 20th century. Many famous Japanese writers stayed here, making it popular among literature lovers. Just a short walk from Atami Station, it's a great stop during your trip.

• Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM

• Close: every Wednesday, Christmas season ( 26th Dec to 30th Dec.)

• Entry: ¥610/adult

For more details, please see the article below.

One of Atami's best-kept secrets is Hashiriyu (走り湯, literally "running hot water"), a unique natural hot spring that flows horizontally from a cave. This remarkable sight takes only about 10 minutes to visit, making it perfect for a quick stop during your stay in Atami. Experience this rare natural phenomenon that represents the very essence of Japan's hot spring culture.

• Open: everyday

• Opening hours: 24hours

• Entry: free

For more details, please see the article below.

Next, we recommend the Atami Ropeway. Although it is only 10 minutes by bus from Atami Station, you can see the entire coastline of Atami from the observation deck where you can also enjoy the cafe. The ropeway is very reasonably priced at only ¥500/adult for a one-way ticket and ¥900/adult for a return as of July 2025.

• Open: everyday

• Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

• Entry: ¥500/adult for a one-way ticket and ¥900/adult for a return

Please see the Google Map below for the Atami ropeway boarding point. During business hours, it runs every 10 to 15 minutes. You can pay the fare by cash or Credit card.

After paying the fare, proceed to the boarding area. Then, follow the instructions to board the gondola. The ride takes about 3 minutes.

There was a cafe on the observation deck that sold sweets such as soft serve ice cream and soft drinks.

Please see the Google Maps below for the location of the gondola arrival station.

ACAO Forest is a large garden where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers. A wide variety of plants are in bloom here, including roses, bulb plants and herbs. You can feel the seasonal changes as you walk through the garden. On sunny days, you can take photos here against the beautiful background of the blue sea and sky. The park is one of the best places to visit in Atami.

• Open: every day

• Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 17:00 PM

• Entry: ¥4,000/adult and ¥1,000/child

Atami Sun Beach is a 400m long sandy beach with palm trees. It is the most popular beach in Atami, attracting many families and young people in summer. The beach is lit up at night and you can enjoy its beautiful scenery throughout the year. It is also good for walking. You can relax and enjoy the nature and history of Atami. The opening period for the beaches this year has not yet been decided, but in 2025 they were open from 12 July to 31 August. If you enjoy swimming, please note that exposure of tattoos is prohibited.

• Open: every day

• Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 16:00 PM

• Entry: free

This area is also used as a venue for firework displays. In Atami, firework festivals are held throughout the year. Please see the article below for the 2025 schedule.