Shizuoka · area guide
Houses in Izu and Atami
Sea houses on the Izu coast, within reach of Tokyo by shinkansen.
The short answer
Atami: houses joining soon. A town on the sea below steep green hills, 40–50 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen.
Houses here
Circles show the approximate area. The exact address comes after booking.
Atami is a seaside town in Shizuoka at the top of the Izu peninsula, where steep green hills drop straight into Sagami Bay. The shinkansen from Tokyo takes 40 to 50 minutes, so it works for one night as well as a week. The town grew up around its hot springs; today old inns sit beside new cafés, and Sun Beach runs along the front.
Fireworks go up over the bay on many evenings through the year. South of the centre, the fishing port of Ajiro is known for its dried fish and a quieter harbour. Most homes stand on the hillsides, so a sea view comes easily, and the walk back from the station is a climb: check whether your host picks up from the station, which on Minpaku X is always free.
Atami charges an accommodation tax of ¥200 a person a night; children of primary-school age and younger are exempt. On Minpaku X it is a line of its own in every total, so nothing is paid at the door. One more thing: a home's tub here is usually heated tap water. We call a bath an onsen only when its hot-spring analysis is on file, and each place says which it is.
From Tokyo
| Tokyo Station → Atami Station | 40–50 min | Tokaido Shinkansen: about 50 minutes on a Kodama, about 40 on the few Hikari that stop at Atami. to verify Atami Umihoshi: getting here |
|---|---|---|
| In all | From 40 min |
Seasons
| January to March | Plum blossom at the Atami Baien garden, and early cherry blossom along the Itokawa river. |
|---|---|
| April to June | Mild days and quiet weekdays. Golden Week fills the town. |
| July to September | Sun Beach opens for swimming, and the summer fireworks light up the bay. |
| October to December | Autumn leaves at Atami Baien from late November; clear days over the sea. |
Questions
How long does it take from Tokyo?
40 to 50 minutes on the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Atami Station (to verify against JR Central's timetable).
Do I need a car?
Usually not. Buses and taxis run from the station, and some hosts pick you up for free. Use the 'No car needed' filter.
Is there an accommodation tax?
Yes: ¥200 a person a night, with children of primary-school age and younger exempt. It is included in every total on Minpaku X.
Are the baths onsen?
Atami is a hot-spring town. A home's bath, though, is usually filled from the tap, and that is not an onsen. We say onsen only when a hot-spring analysis is on file, and each house says which it is.
When are the fireworks?
On many evenings through the year, most of them in summer. The dates are announced each year by Atami's tourism association.