Atami Onsen & Ito Travel Guide (Mt. Omuro, Jogasaki, and Transit Pass Tips)

Top Atami Onsen Attractions & Transit PassesA guide to exploring historic hot springs and a beautiful ocean view together.

Taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station takes only about 45 minutes, which is why Atami Onsen is widely known as a hot spring destination favored more by Tokyo travelers than those visiting central Shizuoka.

However, if you are planning a Shizuoka trip, you can travel to Atami Station without any extra fees by using the Mt. Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini, making it a great addition to your itinerary.

Unlike typical hot spring towns tucked away in the mountains, Atami Onsen's biggest charm is that you can enjoy open-air baths while looking out at the blue Pacific Ocean.

1. Atami 1-Day Pass

This budget-friendly bus pass helps you save significantly on transportation costs when traveling around Atami. It offers unlimited rides for one day on buses connecting Atami's steep hills to its major attractions.

• Pass Coverage: Unlimited one-day travel within designated Atami city zones on Tokai Bus lines. It allows you to travel conveniently to key sights centering around Atami Station.
• Connecting Top Attractions: You can use this pass to visit highly popular spots such as Atami Castle, Kiunkaku, the MOA Museum of Art, and Izusan Shrine.
• Admission Discounts: Presenting the pass gives you various discount benefits at nearby partner attractions, including Atami Castle and the Atami Trick Art Museum.
• Pass Price: 800 JPY for adults and 400 JPY for children. Since the base fare for local buses in Atami is high, this pass easily pays for itself if you ride the bus three or more times.
• Where to Buy: Available at the bus information counter in front of Atami Station (09:00 - 18:00, closed on Wednesdays).
• Usage Notice: When boarding and exiting, simply show the date-stamped side of the pass clearly to the bus driver.

2. Atami Onsen (熱海温泉)

Meaning 'hot sea,' Atami Onsen is a historic hot spring resort that represents Japan. Since it borders the ocean, you can enjoy hot springs along with beautiful coastal scenery.

• Abundant Hot Spring Water: The volume of warm thermal water gushing from the ground is massive. Thanks to the high salt content of the spring water, your body stays warm for a long time after bathing.
• Tokugawa Ieyasu's Favorite Onsen: Tokugawa Ieyasu, the famous general who once ruled Japan, loved the hot springs here. It is famous for its high-quality water, to the point where he had the thermal water packed into barrels and delivered directly to Tokyo. A footbath named after him, 'Ieyasu-no-Yu,' can be used for free in front of Atami Station.

3. Atami Sun Beach

This is a lively beach promenade stretching out in the center of downtown Atami. Lined with palm trees, it makes you feel like you are at an overseas resort rather than in Japan.

• Beautiful Night Illuminations: At night, beautiful lights turn on along the beach. The calm night sea blends with the lighting, making it a great place to stroll and take photos.
• Prime Fireworks Spot: This is the best spot to view the large-scale marine fireworks festivals regularly held in Atami from the closest distance.

4. Atami Castle

This is a castle-shaped observatory built on a mountaintop overlooking the sea of Atami.

• A Structure Built for Tourism: Legend says that the Odawara Hojo clan tried to build a military fortress (castle) here during Japan's Warring States period, but an actual castle was never built. The current building was constructed in 1959 with a modern reinforced concrete structure for tourism, and it is now used as a representative observatory and cultural facility in Atami.
• Panoramic Ocean View: Climbing to the castle observatory reveals downtown Atami and the refreshing Sagami Bay spread out wide before your eyes. On clear days, even distant islands are clearly visible.

• Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
• Closed: Open year-round
• Admission: Adults 1,200 JPY, Junior High/Elementary Students 650 JPY, Children (Ages 3-6) 500 JPY

5. Kiunkaku

This is a historic villa originally built in 1919. It became more beautiful as three of Atami's wealthiest figures successively owned and upgraded the property. From 1947, it was operated as a famous luxury ryokan (Japanese inn) open to anyone. Preserving the local history and culture, it is now protected as a valuable cultural property designated by Atami City.

• East-Meets-West Harmony: Traditional Japanese tatami rooms, colorful Western-style stained glass windows, a Roman-style bath, and fireplaces are all found within the same building. It exudes an exotic and unique atmosphere rarely seen anywhere else.
• Traces of Literary Masters: Famous Japanese writers such as Osamu Dazai and Naoya Shiga stayed here for long periods to write their masterpieces. The rooms where they stayed and wrote are well-preserved in their original state. It is wonderful to take a quiet walk while looking at the beautiful Japanese garden stretching across the center of the estate.

• Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
• Closed: Every Wednesday (except when Wednesday is a public holiday), December 26 - December 30
• Admission: Adults 610 JPY, Junior High/Elementary Students 360 JPY, Preschoolers Free

6. MOA Museum of Art

This is a large-scale art museum located on a high hill overlooking the ocean.

• Art Merges with Scenic Views: The ocean views visible from inside the museum look just like a piece of fine art. The museum is packed with highly valuable East Asian artworks.
• Unique Escalators: The massive tunnel-like escalators leading from the entrance to the exhibition halls feature colorful lighting and music, giving you a mysterious feeling as if traveling through outer space.
• Hours: 09:30 - 16:30 (Last entry at 16:00)
• Closed: Every Thursday (except when Thursday is a public holiday), exhibition change periods
• Admission: Adults 2,000 JPY, University/High School Students 1,400 JPY, Junior High Students and under Free

Top Ito & Izu-Kogen Attractions & Transit PassesIntroducing top tourist attractions in Ito, a representative hot spring city on the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula.

In the Ito region, you must pay extra fares when taking local buses or trains even if you have the Mt. Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini. This pass alone cannot fully cover your transportation costs here.

Instead, local transit is covered when you hold a JR Tokyo Wide Pass. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep this point in mind when planning your entire travel itinerary.

• Pass Scope: The JR Tokyo Wide Pass allows you to travel from Tokyo through Atami to Ito Station via JR East lines. In addition, you can ride the Izu Kyuko Line.
• Notice: Even if you hold this pass, you must pay separately for local buses operating within the region.

1. Ito / Izu-Kogen Regional Bus Pass

This useful unlimited bus pass saves you money when exploring the Izu-Kogen and Jogasaki areas, which preserve the beautiful nature of the Izu Peninsula. It offers unlimited rides on Tokai Bus routes within designated zones.

• Pass Coverage: Offers unlimited use of bus routes connecting key attractions around Izu-Kogen Station, including the Jogasaki Coast, Izu Shaboten Zoo, and Mt. Omuro.
• Tourist Facility Discounts: Presenting the pass gives you admission discount benefits at popular nearby attractions such as Izu Shaboten Zoo and the Izu Teddy Bear Museum.
• Notice: The coverage zones for the 1-Day Pass and the 2-Day Pass are different, so please use them carefully.

1) Izu-Kogen / Jogasaki 1-Day Pass

• Price: 1,250 JPY for adults and 630 JPY for children.
• Recommended For: Travelers on a short course who want to make a day trip to see the Jogasaki Coast suspension bridge and lightly look around Mt. Omuro.
• Important Notes
  • It covers Tokai Bus routes between Futo Station and Izu-Kogen Station on the Izu Kyuko Line.
  • Since the Mt. Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini is only valid up to Atami Station, using this 1-Day Pass requires an extra train fare of 910 JPY from Atami Station to Futo Station.
  • If you come from Tokyo using the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, the Izu Kyuko Line is free, so you can start using the 1-Day Pass from Futo Station or Izu-Kogen Station.

2) Ito / Izu-Kogen 2-Day Pass

• Price: 1,800 JPY for adults and 900 JPY for children.
• Recommended For: A must-buy for travelers on a 2-day itinerary who want to enjoy the beautiful coastline and mountains on day one, and leisurely visit the zoo or museums the next day.
• Important Notes
  • The 2-Day Pass expands coverage beyond the 1-Day Pass zone to include Tokai Bus routes between Ito Station and Izu-Kogen Station on the Izu Kyuko Line.
  • To reach Ito Station—where the 2-Day Pass can be used immediately from Atami Station—you need to take a train, which costs an extra fare of about 350 JPY.
  • Riding the bus just three times along the Ito Station - Mt. Omuro - Jogasaki Coast - Ito Station route costs 2,310 JPY, making the 2-Day Pass highly profitable.

3) Where to Buy

• Offline Purchase: Available at the Tokai Bus Ito Station information counter.
• Online Purchase: You can also purchase a digital pass (mobile ticket) conveniently using your smartphone.

4) Usage Notice

• How to Ride: Simply show the pass clearly to the driver when boarding and exiting so the date is visible. Traveling outside the designated free zone will result in extra charges, so it is best to check the bus route map before moving.

2. Jogasaki Coast (城ヶ崎海岸)

This is a rugged cliff coastline formed around 4,000 years ago when lava from a major volcanic eruption cooled and hardened in the sea.

• Thrilling Suspension Bridge: The Kadowaki Suspension Bridge, hanging precariously between cliffs, is famous. Looking down at the rough waves crashing beneath your feet from the bridge offers a thrilling experience.
• Kadowaki Lighthouse: Climbing the lighthouse gives you a panoramic view of the endless blue Pacific Ocean and the beautiful coastline of the Izu Peninsula. (Free admission)

3. Mt. Omuro (大室山)

This spot is widely known for serving as a background inspiration for the anime film 'Your Name.'

It is a massive, extinct cinder cone volcano with a unique rounded shape resembling an inverted bowl. The entire mountain is covered in green grass, giving it an exotic look.

• Chairlift Access: Walking up the mountain is forbidden; you must take a two-seater chairlift to reach the summit. Riding the lift up and down while taking in the surrounding scenery is highly enjoyable.
• Crater Trail: Arriving at the summit reveals a 1-km walking path along the edge of the circular crater. Walking the trail is a great way to view the massive Mount Fuji on one side and the refreshing ocean on the other at the same time.

4. Izu Shaboten Zoo

Located right across from Mt. Omuro, this unique park lets you see thousands of cacti from around the world along with cute animals.

1) Cactus Greenhouses and Animal Interaction

• Admiring Diverse Plants: You can view thousands of rare cactus species inside large pyramid-shaped greenhouses.
• Meeting Animals: You can interact closely and directly feed animals like peacocks and squirrel monkeys that roam freely around the park.

2) Capybara Open-Air Bath

• Signature Attraction: During the winter season, the park's most famous attraction—the Capybara Bath—begins. You can watch cute capybaras relaxing comfortably as they soak in warm hot spring baths.

3) Visitor Information

• Hours: 09:30 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
• Closed: Open year-round
• Admission
  • Weekdays: Adults 2,800 JPY, Elementary Students 1,400 JPY, Children (Ages 4+) 700 JPY
  • Weekends & Holidays: Adults 3,000 JPY, Elementary Students 1,500 JPY, Children (Ages 4+) 800 JPY

5. Izu Teddy Bear Museum

This charming museum showcases rare and beautiful teddy bears collected from all over the world. Built with red bricks, the quiet building and green garden create a fairy-tale atmosphere.

1) Diverse Teddy Bear Exhibits

• Historic Dolls: You can view a wide range of dolls, from early teddy bears showing the traces of time to artistic works created by global artists. Moving large-scale teddy bear displays add plenty of things to see.
• Special Themed Exhibit: A permanent My Neighbor Totoro Exhibition, a globally loved animation, is held together here. It is an amazing spot to hop inside a giant Catbus or take beautiful souvenir photos with a moving Totoro.

2) Cozy Garden and Cafe

• Relaxation Space: Outside the museum, a pretty garden hiding cute teddy bear statues is carefully landscaped. At the cafe next to the garden, you can spend a relaxing time tasting cute bear-shaped desserts and drinks.

3) Visitor Information

• Hours: 09:30 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
• Closed: The second Tuesday of February, March, June, and December (Note: It closes on both Tuesday and Wednesday in February and June; it operates normally during public holidays and holiday seasons)
• Admission: Adults 1,800 JPY, High/Junior High Students 1,200 JPY, Elementary Students 1,000 JPY (Infants and seniors aged 75+ can enter for free.)