When visiting Tokyo, there’s more to explore than just food and shopping. Why not take a short trip to the suburbs for a relaxing break from the city’s fast pace?
This time, we’re recommending Atami, a charming coastal spot in Shizuoka Prefecture. It’s less than an hour away from Tokyo by Shinkansen, or just over two hours by regular train — super convenient! Once you arrive, you can easily explore on foot, enjoying delicious local food, soothing foot baths, and beautiful ocean views.
Wondering how to plan your day? Let’s dive in!
Atami Half-Day Stroll Itinerary Overview
Atami is a well-known hot spring resort in the Kanto region, loved not only for its relaxing onsen but also for its sunny beaches and summer vibes — making it especially popular with young people in Japan.
If you’re traveling in Tokyo but don’t have much time for a longer trip, a half-day visit to Atami is the perfect choice for a quick getaway.
Suggested Half-Day Itinerary:
- Depart from your accommodation
- Arrive at Atami Station
- Ieyasu’s Foot Bath (家康の足湯)
- Stroll through Heiwa-dori Shopping Street and Nakamise Shopping Street
- Explore Atami Ginza Shopping Street
- Relax at Atami Sun Beach Moon Terrace (ムーンテラス)
- Pick up some souvenirs
- Head back to Tokyo
If you plan to arrive at Atami Station around 10 AM, you should have no trouble finishing the itinerary and getting back to Tokyo by early evening.
Transportation Tips:
- Start from Manman Apartments
- Walk 10 minutes to Shin-Okubo Station
- Take the Yamanote Line to Shinagawa Station
- Transfer (2-minute walk) to the Ueno-Tokyo Line (heading to Atami)
- Arrive at Atami Station
First Stop on Your Atami Half-Day Stroll: Ieyasu’s Foot Bath — A Free, Relaxing Soak
After the journey to Atami Station, you’ll probably want to unwind and recharge before exploring — right?
Just outside the station, you’ll find a natural hot spring foot bath. It was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s visit to Atami — and the best part? It’s completely free!
How could you resist giving it a try?
The foot bath’s water temperature is around 41°C and is said to help relieve nerve pain and muscle soreness. After soaking my feet that day, I felt like I was walking on clouds — completely relaxed and refreshed!
Every day after 4 PM, the entire foot bath is drained and cleaned, so you don’t need to worry about hygiene. Plus, if you didn’t bring a towel, there’s a vending machine nearby that sells them — making it easy for everyone to relax and enjoy the charm of Ieyasu’s Foot Bath!
- Ieyasu's Bath (家康的湯)
- 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (may close earlier depending on the day's circumstances).
- A 1-minute walk from Atami Station.
- Official website.
Second Stop on Your Atami Half-Day Stroll: Food, Drinks, and Souvenirs at "Heiwa-dori Shopping Street" and "Nakamise Shopping Street"
The liveliest spots in Atami are Heiwa-dori Shopping Street and Nakamise Shopping Street. These bustling streets are packed with delicious street food, seafood rice bowl restaurants, and plenty of souvenir shops — making it the perfect place to grab a bite and pick up some gifts all in one go!
If you arrive around noon, I recommend starting with Heiwa-dori Shopping Street. Don’t rush to buy souvenirs just yet—take your time to eat, drink, and shop along the way. When you’re heading back, you can take your time to shop for souvenirs at Nakamise Shopping Street!
One must-try treat is the “Kameyoshi” Onsen Manju, located not far from the entrance. It typically comes in two flavors — both are delicious and worth a taste!
I tried the red bean paste (つぶあん) version of the manju. It’s small but incredibly tempting, freshly baked and piping hot! The soft, chewy dough perfectly complements the sweet filling, which is just the right level of sweetness. You definitely have to grab one to try — and if you like it, there are gift boxes available to take home!
Another must-try is the tempura and seafood sticks from Maruten. Just look at the long line of people, and you’ll know how popular it is! The wait is pretty reasonable, and after all, taking a little time to enjoy delicious food only makes it taste better, right?
Maruten offers a variety of fish cakes and oden skewers, all lined up in a tempting array. I was a bit overwhelmed by the choices, but luckily, I decided to try the octopus stick and the shrimp and clam tempura — both were absolutely delicious!
Oh my goodness! I was blown away by how amazing it tasted — so full of flavor, and the seafood was really generous! It was incredibly delicious!
However, eating too much might get a bit salty, so it’s a good idea to have a drink on hand to balance it out and make the experience even more satisfying!
The last place I recommend is “Mochi-yaki Senbei”. At first glance, the sign made me think it was something like grilled beef, but to my surprise, it was grilled senbei (rice crackers)! That immediately piqued my curiosity!
Mochi-yaki Senbei offers six different flavors to choose from. Since it was my first time trying it, I went with the safest choice — sweet soy sauce flavor (haha). It was perfectly sweet and salty, and definitely not like any senbei I’ve had before. The texture was exactly as described on the sign — soft and chewy, almost like mochi! It was a unique and special flavor I’d never tried before, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you have the chance!
Third Stop on Your Atami Half-Day Stroll: A Must-Visit for a Strong Showa Era Vibe at Atami Ginza Shopping Street
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Heiwa-dori Shopping Street to Atami Ginza Shopping Street, but along the way, there’s plenty to eat and shop, so you won’t get bored. I discovered something interesting about Atami — there are small hot springs along the road! No wonder it’s such a famous hot spring destination. Be sure to look out for them when you visit!
Arriving at Atami Ginza Shopping Street, which is full of Showa-era charm, you’ll find that this area was once one of the liveliest parts of Atami. It was a key part of the local community. Here, there are still many Showa-style cafes in operation. If you’re a fan of the old-school vibe, try not to eat too much earlier on — save some room to sit and enjoy a coffee or tea at one of these charming cafes!
My stomach was already full from the previous stop at Heiwa-dori Shopping Street, but luckily, I still had room for dessert! So, I saved the opportunity to visit one of the famous spots here — Atami Pudding (Atami Purin)!
Atami Pudding offers a variety of puddings in different flavors, as well as nostalgic drinks and cute merchandise. I wanted to buy everything (had to hold back, haha)! The shop is designed with a bathhouse concept, which is really adorable. Although the seating is limited, I highly recommend dining in and taking some cute photos!
This time, I tried the original and strawberry puddings. The original flavor is definitely worth a try — the rich, caramelized brown sugar syrup combined with the creamy pudding is truly a match made in heaven. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Final Stop on Your Atami Half-Day Stroll: Atami Shinsui Park Moon Terrace (ムーンテラス)
From Atami Ginza Shopping Street, simply head towards the Sunshine Beach area, and you’ll reach Atami Shinsui Park Moon Terrace (ムーンテラス). It is said to be designed to resemble a Mediterranean resort from the northern part of the region.
With a gentle breeze, stepping on the cool seawater, and enjoying the stunning ocean view bathed in sunlight, it’s an incredibly relaxing experience. It’s said that the view at night is also breathtakingly beautiful!
Also, the legendary Atami fireworks are held here, so if you want to experience the summer vibe of Atami, make sure not to miss it!
- Atami Shinsui Park Moon Terrace (ムーンテラス)
- Open 24 hours.
- It’s a 5-minute walk from Atami Ginza Shopping Street.
- Official website.
Conclusion
To get back to the station from Atami Shinsui Park, you can either take a leisurely walk back or hop on a bus. Both options take about 10 minutes, making it very convenient!
Finally, when you arrive at the station, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs at the shopping street or enjoy one last soak in the foot bath — it’s a great way to wrap up your trip! Wishing you a wonderful half-day experience in Atami!
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