An Onsen Convert’s Atami Experience
I must confess, my first time in an onsen (hot spring) felt weird and foreign. I didn’t get the appeal at all. Since then, I’ve been converted. When it’s cold outside, nothing beats a relaxing and comforting soak in a hot spring. You’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep as well!
Atami is a tourist town in Shizuoka Prefecture, famous for the quality of its onsen. It can be easily accessed without having to get on a bullet train, so it is perfect for a day or two out of Tokyo.
I recommend staying at Atami Korakuen Hotel. It gives you one of the best views of the bay and the rooms are spacious enough to lounge and relax. There is also a private onsen that you can book to soak in at your leisure.
Be sure to visit the Atami Plum Garden, where the sakura (cherry blossoms) and plum blossoms start blooming as early as February. There’s also a cable car leading up to a hill just five minutes’ walk from the hotel. From the observation deck, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the area.
If you like fish, Atami is famous for kinmedai (splendid alfonsino) and many restaurants will have it on the menu. When you are hungry for a snack, try the delicious local fried hanpen (Japanese fish cake).
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