Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Atami?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Atami?

Most people spend one to two days in Atami during their visit. The overlooked town offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the nightlife scene.

Atami was once a popular honeymoon resort destination with beaches and hot springs. The town has fallen off the radar for many travelers, and most visitors choose to spend a day or two here before moving on to other destinations.

Do you have one or two days to visit Atami? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Atami?

Atami isn't a particularly popular town for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. Given only one day, you will likely be rushed to swim at the beach, explore the museums and famous sights, dine out at amazing restaurants, and dance the night away. To truly savor all that the town offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for one to two days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Atami

The beautiful beaches await you in Atami, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. 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.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. 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.

Public transit in Atami is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Atami?

Many visitors spend a weekend in Atami, as this is a good amount of time to see the overlooked town's major attractions such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the cuisine. If you have a weekend here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.

Atami, Japan

How to spend 2 days in Atami

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Atami will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.

This town offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour ($144)
Odawara Castle Discovery of the Sengoku Samurai History ($111)

This town is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Atami, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.