A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Kamakura vs. Atami for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Kamakura or Atami?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kamakura or Atami? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kamakura

Kamakura is a quaint, charming, and laid back coastal city. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Atami

Atami is a overlooked, nostalgic, and authentic town. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Kamakura and Atami: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamakura or Atami?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kamakura. Although Kamakura and Atami are popular destinations, Kamakura has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kamakura is more touristy than Atami and is popular for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. It is also well known for the Great Buddha. Atami is famous for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Kamakura different from Atami?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Atami and Kamakura. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kamakura or Atami?

Kamakura is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Kamakura. This ancient city is filled with historic landmarks such as the Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Hachimangu Shrine, among many others.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Atami. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

Is the Food Better in Kamakura or Atami? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kamakura is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Kamakura has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Dining is part of the fun in this beautiful town. There are many great restaurants where you can sample luxury dishes, but there are also street food stalls with egg pancakes or noodle dishes.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Kamakura has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a diverse mix of bars and music venues. The nightlife scene is particularly active during the summer months when visitors head to the beach, but throughout the year you'll find tachinomiya standing bars, international style pubs, and jazz clubs where locals like to hang out.

Atami has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Kamakura and Atami are nice choices.

Kamakura is a good option for a beach vacation. Many locals from Tokyo or Yokohama head here during July and August to cool off at the beach, relax in the sun, and go surfing. The beaches can get crowded, but they're long and sandy and can make for a nice escape.

Many people head to Atami to enjoy the beach. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for its Old Town?

Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for its old town. However, Atami does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Kamakura. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.

Atami does not have a historic old town.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Hiking?

Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Kamakura. Just outside of town there are many hiking trails that crisscross through the wooded hills and connect the many temples. Many of the trails are relatively short and take just an hour or two to complete.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kamakura or Atami?

Both Kamakura and Atami are nice shopping destinations.

Kamakura is a great destination for shopping. While the city itself is ancient, you can head to Kamakura Komachi-dori Street to find trendy boutiques and modern shopping. This is a popular place to pick up a souvenir or check out the current fashions.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Atami. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kamakura or Atami.

Kamakura is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a town that's filled with history and character, which isn't every kids cup of tea. If you're traveling with young kids you might want to head to beach for a bit. There are also ice cream and donut shops that you can use as well to break up the sightseeing.

Atami is a family-friendly coastal city. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Couples?

Kamakura is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Kamakura makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many couples enjoy visiting this quaint town as a day trip from Tokyo. There are impressive temples as well as restaurants and gardens.

Atami is a good coastal city for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Kamakura and Atami are nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Kamakura. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo, but there are also some affordable hostels that make it an easy place to spend the night.

Atami is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Is Kamakura or Atami Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Kamakura and Atami offer nice public transit options.

Kamakura has a few public transit options. There's a city bus system, but for the more remote places you'll want to take a taxi.

Atami has some public transit options. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Is Kamakura or Atami a more walkable city?

Kamakura and Atami both are nice when exploring on foot.

Kamakura is somewhat walkable. It's a small city, and most of the sights can be reached on foot.

Atami is a somewhat walkable place. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Kamakura Worth Visiting? and Is Atami Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Atami or Kamakura?

How long in Kamakura or Atami?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kamakura or Atami to fill your time. In our opinion, Kamakura has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kamakura than Atami. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Kamakura than Atami. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kamakura, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Kamakura than Atami. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Kamakura that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kamakura than Atami if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Kamakura.

One day in Kamakura or Atami?

In Kamakura, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this quaint destination offers. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The town of Atami offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kamakura or Atami?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kamakura. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Atami is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Atami, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kamakura or Atami?

Kamakura is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Kamakura. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Atami is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Kamakura or Atami?

You'll find food and shopping around the laid back destination of Kamakura. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Atami is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Atami, we can see that Kamakura is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atami and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Kamakura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kamakura than you might in Atami.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kamakura Expensive? and Is Atami Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kamakura or Atami?

Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Kamakura and Atami, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Kamakura or Atami?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Kamakura or Atami in the Summer?

Both Atami and Kamakura during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kamakura in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Atami for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Atami. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kamakura in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Atami averages at about 26°C (78°F).

In the summer, Kamakura often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Atami. Kamakura gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun.

Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kamakura. Kamakura usually gets less rain in July than Atami. Kamakura gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamakura or Atami in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamakura and Atami. Most visitors come to Kamakura for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Atami because of the shopping scene.

In October, Kamakura is generally around the same temperature as Atami. Daily temperatures in Kamakura average around 18°C (64°F), and Atami fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Kamakura usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Atami during autumn. Kamakura gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Atami receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kamakura gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Atami. Kamakura gets 177 mm (7 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kamakura or Atami in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kamakura as well as Atami. The winter months attract visitors to Kamakura because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

Kamakura is a little warmer than Atami in the winter. The daily temperature in Kamakura averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Atami fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In the winter, Kamakura often gets more sunshine than Atami. Kamakura gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun.

Kamakura usually gets less rain in January than Atami. Kamakura gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamakura or Atami in the Spring?

Both Atami and Kamakura are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Kamakura this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Atami for the beaches.

In the spring, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Atami. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kamakura in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Atami averages at about 14°C (57°F).

Kamakura usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Atami during spring. Kamakura gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Kamakura. In April, Kamakura usually receives less rain than Atami. Kamakura gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Atami and Kamakura