After leaving Kiunkaku, I walked down straight toward the seashore called “Shinsui Park” where you can take a tour boat and visit Atami City Tourism Association. 　You can also take the boat to Hatsushima Island from Atami Port.
The wind against me was very refreshing. I strolled along the promenade in the direction of the station. The wavy handrails seemes designed in the image of waves. I saw some men fishing and a lady walking with a dog. How nice it would be if this world had become a part of my life, I imagined.

In five minutes or so, I was at “Moon Terrace” known as a sacred place for lovers. There, I found a tall monument ahead with a peaceful dove on it. Wonderful views ! You can see the outline of Atami City from there.

Turning left, you will see “Atami Sun Beach” where hundreds of thousands of people visit in summer. Further on your left, you will see lots of hotels that Atami City is proud of. At the same time, you will recognize the geographical environment that Atami is standing on. Hills along the coast. Maybe almost all distinguished resort spots in the world are supposed to be in condition like this.

Omiya & Kan-ichi

Now, let's walk for a while along the Sun Beach. You will soon find “Omiya's Pine Tree” known as the setting of an uncompleted story titled "Konjiki Yasha" and this is the story between them.
Omiya had been supposed to marry a young man “Kan-ichi” when she pledged her future to another wealthy man for some reason. Why ? God only knows. Anyway, this is the scene when Omiya begged him for forgiveness and Kan-ichi kicked her away. She still tried to reach him by any means like by writing, but we don’t know what’s happened between them afterwards. What do you imagine ? Could he accept her as a friend ? Or He moved far away from her ?

I took a bus to the station across the street because my legs had been crying out for help. The shopping street in front of the station was really nice for buying souvenirs. I bought some stuff for my friends and now am ready to tell how much I enjoyed in Atami.

Have a good day !＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

So, I’m stepping into the “Kiunkaku”.　　Maybe I should first explain what is Kiunkaku in detail.

Kiunkaku was originally established in 1918 by Uchida Nobuya, a founder of a ship-building company, later a major politician in Japan, as his second house. In 1925, a chief executive officer of a railroad company ― actually people called him “Railroad tycoon” ― took over this mansion to set up a western style cottage and a luxurious garden. After World War �U, in 1947, it was started up as a Japanese style Inn “Ryokan” to have various great literary figures such as Shiga Naoya and Dazai Osamu, and finally in 2000, Atami City opened it to the public.

The entrance hall was dressed very decently with many flowers. I took my shoes off and stepped in the foyer, to the right first to look around a Japanese room with general information. Even though you don’t read Japanese, please don’t get disappointed. I have a good news ! At the reception desk, you can have a copy of information in English, Chinese and Korean.
Next, I walked through the long corridor which I could feel the vestiges of good old ryokan. Along the corridor, I saw several Japanese rooms. No wonder early writers loved these rooms because all rooms were faced with luxurious garden !

I walked on to the next room. Then, out of the blue, the world changed. Just like one of the medieval western room, I surmised. It was very interesting to me to compare cultures between Japan and Europe from these actual architectures.
Next came a large bathroom of the Roman, followed by an exhibition room ― when I was there, Japanese Kimono dresses had been displayed ― and another bathroom.

Now, each mansion was set up to make a large rectangle shape, surrounding a large garden. That is, you can enjoy the garden from every cottage. I walked all the way around back to the entrance hall and went out to stroll in the garden. From there, you can see how these villas look like. Staying there made me feel as if I had time-slipped to the early Showa time. Maybe it would have been quainter to walk around with Japanese Kimono cotton clothes on.＾＾
You can enjoy Kiunkaku enough in at most one hour. It would be a good idea to have coffee, looking out the garden, in the coffee shop belonging to it.
Now, I’m on my way back to the station. But maybe I should stop by at the Atami Port to fulfill myself with exhilarating air.

Next time, I’ll introduce the seashore of Atami.

Have a good day !＾＾

Kiunkaku
Access from JR Atami Sta. ： 20 minutes on foot／10 minutes by #3 bus to “Kiunkaku-mae”
Admission ： ￥500 for adults／￥300 for children under 18
Open Hours ： 9:00 〜 17:00
Closed ： Every Wednesday

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

After having a supernatural power at “Kinomiya Shrine”, I walked for "Kiunkaku" following the map ( ←open it for sure ! ). On my way, I found a small shrine named “Yuzen Shrine”, worshipped through the ages as the god of hot-spring in Atami. It was very interesting to me that people purify their hands or mouth after the gate with hot spring !

Now, attention please on the name “Yuzen”. It literally means “In front of hot water”. So, which water ? Remember I introduced a geyser at “Ieyasu no Yu” in the first place ? 　Across the alley, there is another geyser “Ohyu Geyser” ( �G on the map ) that has been supposedly regarded as one of the original sources of Atami Onsen hot springs.

The phone booth beside it is the replicated first phone booth in Japan in commemoration as the first city of out-of-city call. Yes, that is definitely true ! The out-of-city call started first in Atami ! So why ? Because major politicians used to come to Atami onsen resort for rest, they needed the circumstance to be able to reach someone in Tokyo any time. So, one single line was exclusively operated for outside the city call only here in Atami ! Atami is such a resort !

Strolling further, I passed Itokawa River (or Ito River ) where is very popular this season for “Atami Cherry Blossoms”. According to the website of Atami City Tourism Association, about 80 % of the cherry blossoms have been in bloom now. ＾＾ It’s being illuminated in the night until Feb 13 !

I walked on along the street, passing by “Atami Geigi Kenban” ( �E on the map ) where you can see dance performances by Geisha. You can enjoy it “Hana no Mai” at 11:00 on Saturdays and Sundays for ￥1300. And please be informed that “Atami Wodori” the annual Geisha’s largest event will be held on Apr 28 & 29 as in the past. For further information, please see my previous record or this official page.＾＾

I guess I had walked for more than 20 minutes when I came across a seemingly boundless wall. This is it, “Kiunkaku” ( �D on the map ).
This was originally a second mansion of an influential politician, once temporarily used as a gorgeous Japanese Inn, and is now a tangible cultural property of Atami City. You can tour around it for ￥500. I stepped in it and astonished by the extravagantly luxurious architecture and its wonderful garden.

You will see next time.＾＾

By for now !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

So, I left Atami Baien a few minutes past 12:00 and walked downhill for a while. On my way, I could see the Hatsushima Island very clearly. I passed by JR Kinomiya Station and kept strolling along the overhead railway, turned left at the second traffic signal, passed through the tunnel, and it was there, “Kinomiya Shrine”, in about 15 minutes from Atami Baien.

Kinomiya Shrine is the very guardian deity of Atami City and also known as one of the best “Power Spots” in Japan. The Power Spot indicates the special site where you can have supernatural energy, like, to halt the disease, or to change fortune for the better. Mt. Fuji is also regarded as one of them.

Now, the large Shinto shrine Gate with two huge flags definitely promised me something. I stepped into it. A humongous stone and a dignified tree showed up before me first. This shrine has supposedly about 1300 year history. I bowed to the stone, pressed my hands together ( this is how we pray to the gods ) against the tree and walked on the approach, expecting super duper energy.＾＾


I reached Honden main hall up the stairs in a few minutes. There, I saw dozens of people making wishes in front of Honden. I did as well, about which you’ll never know.＾＾

Kinomiya Shrine Honden main hall

By the way, in this shrine, there are two more shrines worshipped by the people.

One is called “Kinomiya Inari Shrine”, the god of agriculture and business, which can be traced back to The Fuhimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. You can find it just after the entrance gate.

The other is “Kinomiya Benzaiten Shrine”, the god of advancement and career success. It is on the right side of Honden main hall. They say that, in Edo Era, Okubo somebody came down this Benzaiten Shrine all the way from Edo ( Tokyo ), of course on foot, to worship this god and made it to one of the highest position in Tokugawa system.

Now, I’m on my way to the “Power Spot” ! Walking through the left of Honden, you may have an eccentric feeling and the next moment, you will get overwhelmed or stunned by the sight of humongous sacred tree ! More than 2000 years old ! ! The very spirit of all the nature in Japan, I thought. I walked around it, gazing on it as if I had found something supernatural in it.

By the way, there is a narrow trail around the tree. You know why ? Because they believe as follows ：
★If you go around the tree, you will live one year longer.
★If you go around wishing something in your mind, it will come true.
I learned the fact just after I’d came back, though I had lots of wishes.＾＾； Anyway, I would live 1 year longer. Good enough !＾＾

Next time, I’ll introduce “Kiunkaku”.

Bye for now !＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Atami used to be a fashionable honeymoon resort some decades ago. It is in the closest part of Shizuoka from Tokyo, only 50 minutes by Shinkansen super-express, and well blessed with the landscape and hot springs.
This time, I’ll introduce my day trip in Atami City !

I arrived at Atami Station at 10:00. It was a beautiful day. In front of the station, I saw many people on a sightseeing trip, not on business, even on a weekday. Some people were enjoying “Ashiyu” foot spa called “Ieyasu no Yu” in front of the station. Geysers erupt every 4 minutes. Free of charge, of course ! Go ahead try it !＾＾

Now, I’m on my way to “Atami Baien”, one of the most famous and popular plum garden in Shizuoka, especially this season for “Atami Baien Festival”. I took a shuttle bus from Atami Station, for 15 minutes and for ￥220. At the entrance gate, so many tourists had already been in line. You can see as many as about 450 plum trees, of 60 varieties. I felt sweet plum scent carried by the upwind.

Soon after I passed through the ticket gate, I found a good place for pictures. On that day, though blooming information had been officially announced as 30%, somehow these trees seemed much more than that, actually I would say around 70% ! Maybe for us, tourist ?＾＾
Now, let’s walk on ! This map will tell you how large this garden is.
Strolling along the pathway, I found various plum blossoms. Some were faintly pink and others were white as snow. I loved the yellow one ! That gave off particularly sweet scent, which I learned later to be Robai plum blossom.

It is not only plum trees that delight you. Walking for a few minutes, you will find “Umemi no Taki” falls, and a large bridge leading to “Sawada Seiko Memorial Museum”. He is a local artist in Atami City. During Atami Baien Festival, you can visit the museum free of charge !

Nakayama Shinpei Memorial Hall

Sawada Seiko Memorial Museum

Now, I reached Ashiyu foot spa. Maybe I’d better take some rest. It was also pleasant to me to keep my foot in it surrounded by plum scent.＾＾

Afterwards, I started strolling again, looking in “Nakayama Shinpei Memorial Hall” and “Korean Garden”. When I got to the gate, it was almost 12:00. I would have taken more time if I was there just for pleasure but that time, you know.＾＾；
Anyway, Atami Baien is having its best from now ! I hope you enjoy it !＾＾

Now, I’m on my way to a large shrine nearby from Atami Baien.

Bye for now !＾＾

Atami Baien
Access ： from JR Atami Sta. ⇒ 15 minutes by bus
from JR Kinomiya Sta of Ito Line ⇒ 10 minute on foot
Admission　： ￥300 for adults
Atami Baien Festival ： from Jan 8 – Mar 6
Further tourist information about Atami



“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾