Review

This is a nice shrine to visit if you’re in the area. It’s very famous and if you combine it with the other sights in Atami then it’s a great day trip from Tokyo! The shrine entrance features a small bamboo tunnel, perfect for taking photos. Since it’s so famous you may struggle to get photos without anyone else in them. Make sure you also have a look in front of the shrine as there’s usually a heart-shaped leaf exhibit there.

ADDRESS:

Kinomiya Shrine,
43-1 Nishiyamacho,
Atami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0034

+8155 782 2241 (Japanese only)
http://kinomiya.or.jp/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

If you don’t have a car you can take the Shinkansen to Odawara and switch to the Tokaido Line and alight at Kinomiya Station. The shrine is a short walk from there.

Atami Plum Blossom Garden

PARK

Atami Plum Blossom Garden which opened in 1886 is famous for having some of the earliest plum blossoms (ume) in Japan. With 469 plum trees of 60 varieties and the first trees blossom from late November to early December, make sure to check out the different seasons for the blooming blossoms! The park is also famous for its Autumn foliage.

There is a paid car park available. Pets are also allowed within the park, as long as they are kept on a lead.

Review

If you happen to be in the area during the blossoming seasons then I definitely recommend dropping by. Parking can be a bit of a hassle as the park is very famous and many people travel from both inside and outside the area just to see the plum blossoms. During this period other areas offering parking (for a fee) so you may be able to find parking slightly further from the park if you’re prepared to walk a little.

I recommend starting off at the museum entrance and working your way round. The park offers multiple routes but I think ending on the museum is definitely the best route to go, although if you plan on seeing the other sights in the area (such as the Kinomiya Shrine) then I recommend taking the front entrance.

ADDRESS

Atami Plum Garden,
8-11 Baiencho,
Atami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0032

+81557866218 (Japanese only)
https://www.city.atami.lg.jp/shisetsu/bunka/1002057/1002058.html (Japanese only – google translated English available)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

If you don’t have a car you can take the Shinkansen to Odawara and switch to the Tokaido Line and alight at Kinomiya Station. The park is a short walk from there.

MOA Museum of Art

MUSEUM

The MOA Museum of Art is a famous museum filled with many national treasures. 33 years after it’s opening in 1982, the museum underwent a major renovation, making the museum appear very bright, open and modern.

The museum also features a Japanese style garden, tea houses and a noh (Japanese play) threatre. They regularly hold special exhibits/events so ensure to check before you arrive what you can see!

There are car parks near the main building at the 3rd floor entrance (not the escalator entrance). Parking is free of charge and can hold 200 vehicles.

Review

The MOA Museum of Art is very famous, situated on the Atami hilltop. It boasts great views of the area and holds many national treasures so it’s no wonder that it’s a popular spot for Japanese people to visit. The museum is very large, however if you can’t cope with large crowds maybe steer clear of the museum. It can get very crowded, especially during popular exhibitions/events.

There is a lot to see here so if you plan on coming to the museum I’d put aside at least half a day to see everything you want to, more if you plan on going to any of the events they regularly hold. They have many different sections, full of art for everyone’s taste. There was a Hokusai (the famous wood-block painter) exhibit when I went so it was very crowded full of people wanting to see the original prints.

As some museum etiquette information, Japanese people always queue, waiting their turn to see the next item. There will obviously be people who break this rule but the majority of Japanese people are willing to go at a snails pace or queue for hours for the sake of their culture. Be prepared for this when you arrive. It’s not against any rules to break formation and go at your own pace but you may struggle to get close to anything to see it properly when there’s a very slow moving wall of Japanese people making their way around the museum.

There is also a small café in the museum, however the seating space is limited and almost always full. If you manage to find a free seat then feel free to put your bag on the seat while you order. Japanese people regularly do this as Japan is a very safe country and it is extremely rare for someone to take your stuff. Just make sure you don’t take too much space. If you’re taking up a whole table for four to yourself then you will most likely get some disapproving stares.

ADDRESS

MOA Museum of Art,
26-2 Momoyamacho,
Atami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-8511

+81557842511 (Japanese only)
http://www.moaart.or.jp/ (English and Japanese)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

If travelling by public transport, take the bus bound for MOA Museum of Art in front of the train station. It alights from Rank 8 and takes approximately 7 minutes to get there. It takes ￥190 for a one-way ticket or you can use the Yuyu daily bus pass. It is the last stop on the bus route. The bus timetable can be found here.

Atami Castle

CASTLE

Atami Castle was built as a tourist attraction in 1959. Historically the city never had a castle, however it was built to bring tourists to the area and provides an exhibition about the different castles in Japan. The castle also exhibits a dress-up area, riddle room, arcade (all the games are free to play) and an erotic ukiyo-e exhibition hall.

Standing 100m above sea level, the top floor offers a panoramic view over Atami and Sagami Bay. The castle is popular during cherry blossom season – around last March/early April. You can also enjoy the fireworks in summer. There is a trick art museum next door (discount tickets can be bought if you plan on visiting both the castle and the trick art museum).

There is a car park which holds 250 cars at the base of the castle and you can park there for a flat fee of ￥500.

Review

Upon first visiting the castle, I had no idea that it was actually built so recently. Most traditional castles I’ve been to have a very different atmosphere so I wondered why everything inside seemed so different in comparison to the other castles dotted around Japan.

Buying your tickets is a fairly easy experience, the counters actually have pictures/prices of the different tickets they offer so you can easily just point if you don’t know any Japanese to ask. Each floor inside the castle is dedicated to at least one different attraction. My recommendation is leave the the top floor until last and then relax in the basement playing video games in the arcade when you’ve finished exploring the museum.

The castle exhibit is very interesting, especially if you don’t have time to see any other castles in Japan. They have pictures of all the castles, along with dates and their locations. There are also wooden sculptures for some of the main castles. The dress-up room has a few yukatas, ninja and samurai outfits (or at least they did when I visited), although these are mostly for children. There are some adult costumes for you to enjoy too. The erotic ukiyo-e exhibition hall is only for over 18s and it’s very graphic so if you don’t like looking at non-censored artwork then stay clear of this room. It’s not super realistic but they do tend to emphasize certain body parts while in some interesting positions. There are also free foot springs for you to use. Make sure to take one of the mats to sit on as the surrounding area can get a little wet. I recommend getting an ice cream, dipping your feet in the hot water and relax looking at the scenery.

By far the highlight of the trip is the top floor and arcade. If you arrive on a good day you can see far, with 360 views of the surrounding areas. I definitely recommend trying to take pictures if the weather is good. The basement holds the arcade, full of free-to-play games. It’s very noisy and there are a lot of children but fun anyway. It can be a little difficult to play the rhythm games due to the noise. There is also table tennis at the side for you to play with your friends.

ADDRESS

Atami Castle,
1993 Sogayama,
Atami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0033

+81559540606 (Japanese only)
http://atamijyo.com/ (Japanese only – google translated English available)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

If you don’t have a car you can take the train to Atami station and then get a taxi from the station. Alternatively you have two bus options. The castle is a direct stop on the Yuyu Sightseeing Loop Bus (around 15 minutes from the station at ￥250 per ride of ￥700 for a full-day pass). You can also take the Atami Ropeway (￥400 one way or ￥600 for a round trip ticket) and then walk for three minutes. The ropeway is accessible by taxi or a two minute walk from the Marine Spa Atami bus stop on the Yuyu Sightseeing Loop Bus route. Please ensure to get your day ticket before you board. Click here for a map of the bus routes (only in Japanese).