Savvy Guide To Best Izu Peninsula Hot Spring Towns

Above, filling up the soaking tub at Atami Shinkadoya hot spring ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Immortalized in several movies, including King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and Lost In Translation (2003) (in a brief shinkansen scene), Atami is just one of several hot spring towns on the Izu Peninsula that is within easy reach of Tokyo by train.

Above, the hilltop Atami Castle from the town's harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2015 trip to Japan, I spent an overnight stop in Atami at the Atami Shinkadoya hot spring ryokan and enjoyed the hot tub on a private terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Savvy Tokyo has an article guide on the "best" hot spring resort towns on the Izu Peninsula. Atami is the first one discussed.

They begin with:

Are you suffering from freezing fingers and aching bones this winter? Feeling a bit under the weather? Luckily, you’re living in a country that has the perfect antidote to cold bodies and the winter blues: dipping your entire body in a mineral-rich onsen (hot spring). 

Onsen towns are scattered across the length and breadth of the Japanese archipelago but if you’re looking for a quick day trip away from the noise and steamy crowds of Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula is probably your best bet. 

Located just about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital city, the Izu Peninsula has always been a favorite getaway for Tokyoites, particular writers, artists, surfers and scuba divers. One of the best things about the peninsula is that it’s almost completely surrounded by water so in most cases, you can get a double whammy — an onsen soak with an ocean view — and of course, Mt. Fuji at nearly a hand-reach distance. Without further ado, here’s our official onsen guide to the bubbling hot spots of the Izu Peninsula.

 To read more, go here.