Hot Sea Adventure? A Trip to Atami

There's a place near Tokyo that you can reach in less than an hour by Shinkansen! That place is called Atami. From Tokyo Station, you can take the Shinkansen for about 45 minutes (reserved seat costs 6,100 yen) to arrive at Atami. The name 'Atami' (熱海) means 'hot sea,' and it originated from the phenomenon where hot springs bubble up from the sea, turning the seawater into hot water. 😲 This area is famous for its sea, natural scenery, and hot springs. The day I visited, it rained heavily, so I couldn't get a close look at the sea. However, Atami Sun Beach is quite famous, and I recommend checking it out if you visit! Interestingly, the shopping district closes at 5:30 PM. How do I know this? Well, let's just say I learned it the hard way... ⭐️ I started my trip a bit late, and my accommodation was located a bit far from the sea, so I couldn't make it to the shopping district before it closed. 🤣 I hope you don't experience the same mishap! 🙏 Even though the shops were closed, exploring the quiet shopping district was still quite enjoyable. The hotel I stayed at (Kamenoi Hotel) was situated on a hill, offering a great view of the entire Atami area. The open-air hot spring bath located on the basement floor also had a view of the sea, making it hard to leave the bath. I enjoyed the hot springs both in the morning and evening. 😎 The hotel itself is a bit old, so the rooms felt dated, but they were spacious and comfortable. On the day I left, I had another plan right after, so I could only see Atami Castle from afar. 🥲 Still, I managed to capture it in my memory, and that's good enough for me. 😉 How about considering Atami for a hot spring trip near Tokyo?