SHIZUOKA Atami & Ito Two fun seaside onsen resort towns and an islet packed with sporting possibilities very close to Tokyo

A coastal town long famed for its many hot springs, Atami started life as a prime spot for VIPs, dignitaries, and honeymooning couples. The town has recently reinvented itself as a destination for museum lovers, Japanese culture fans and ocean sports enthusiasts.

Train and bus are easiest, but renting a car makes sense if you plan to explore the rest of the Izu area.

Atami is less than an hour away on the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo, and there are slightly slower, less expensive trains available too. If you're interested in island hopping, Atami also serves as a jump-off point for a number of boats that run to Oshima—the closest of the Izu Islands .

Atami is one of Japan's leading onsen resorts. In addition to the baths, Atami is famous for plenty of great seafood for you to feast on landed fresh in Atami Bay of the nearby Sagami Bay.

Sitting to the south of Atami Station is Atami Castle , boasting one of the finest and loftiest views of the town and ocean. Here you can dress up in Edo-period costumes and visit an erotic ukiyo-e exhibition. The castle is a prime spot for viewing cherry blossoms in the spring and fireworks year-round.

Located around ten kilometers south of Ito is Izu Kogen. The area has a number of museums, restaurants, giving you plenty of options to explore. Take the chair-lift up Mt. Omuro for fantastic views of the area.

A short ferry ride away in Sagami Bay is the little resort island of Hatsushima. The island offers fishing, a scuba diving/snorkeling center, an athletic playground, an ocean hot spring, and a camping spot. You can walk around Hatsushima in an hour.