Last Updated on January 10, 2026
Train Trip to Atami
On a summer day, I enjoyed a little train trip from Tokyo with my old friend. We headed to Atami, a onsen town on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. Around 1970, Atami boomed as a popular destination with the opening of the Shinkansen. Although its popularity dipped for some time, it’s still a favorite hot spring town. Lately, its nostalgic, retro vibe has started attracting young people again.
The Journey Begins
I met my friend at Tokyo Station to kick off our trip. We’d had a light breakfast at home, but I still wanted to get into the travel mood. So, to get into the travel mood, we grabbed breakfast at the station first. We had coffee and pastries at a bakery café called BURDIGALA, just a short walk from the Odoriko train platform.
We also picked up some snacks for the train ride. I opted for sweet-and-salty karintō, and she chose tiny Oinari-san (Inari-sushi). ‘-san’ is an honorific suffix added after a name to show respect. In the case of ‘Oinari-san,’ it is used because the name comes from a deity, so people use it both to show respect and to express affection.
Karintō is a Japanese snack made from flour and sugar, fried until crispy, and coated with a sweet syrup. These days, you can find all kinds of flavors.
As for Inari-sushi, it’s vinegared rice stuffed into sweet and savory cooked tofu pockets. Fun fact: it’s named after the fox, the messenger of the Inari deity, which is said to love fried tofu.
Additionally, they’re even better with a bottle of green tea, like Oi Ocha! Both make perfect train-trip snacks, so I’ll include this information in the info section.
Atami
The limited express takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Atami. As I mentioned earlier, the Shinkansen also stops in Atami, but this time we chose the limited express because we wanted to enjoy a slower, more relaxed ride. During the ride, we chatted and enjoyed the ever-changing scenery. Although I usually enjoy driving, sometimes it feels wonderful to just relax in your seat and let someone else take you there. As we near our destination, the ocean comes into view on the left, adding a beautiful touch to our journey.
Atami Station is located on the mountainside, so you have to go down a slope to reach the city center. We took the bus, but it was tough because, even though it was hot, the air conditioning wasn’t working. I think it was just bad luck, but I’d recommend keeping taxis in mind as an option just in case.
There are plenty of shops along the slope, so if the weather is nice, walking down can be a pleasant option.
Seafood Rice Bowl Lunch
We finally arrived at the restaurant we had planned to visit. Since we were in a seaside town, we definitely wanted to enjoy some fresh fish. The restaurant was already open, and even though it was a weekday, it was completely full. While we were waiting outside in the heat, one of the staff kindly gave us a bag of ice, which helped us cool down.
Since we had already decided what to order while we were waiting, we placed our order as soon as we stepped inside. What we ordered was a Kaisen-don, a seafood rice bowl with a generous variety of toppings. Between the bites of fresh sashimi, I enjoyed miso soup with a rich fish broth, pickles, and simmered potatoes. Thanks to these side dishes, I was able to keep eating at a comfortable pace and enjoy everything.
Continue reading the next part below!
Shop Info
Tokyo station mall
– GRANSTA English website
Bakery café
– BURDIGALA TOKYO
Karintō – 2.45 USD / 2.11 EUR
– Nishikihorin
Inari-sushi(1 piece) – 1.29 USD / 1.11 EUR
– Mameda
(approximate conversion from JPY)
Restaurant Info
Masaru
Price:
Seafood Rice Bowl – 20.64 USD / 17.74 EUR
(approximate conversion from JPY)
Access:
1.1 Km / 0.68 mi from Atami Station
All info is current as of our visit.
