The Atami cherry blossoms along the Itokawa Promenade are now at their best upstream. Downstream, flowering varies by tree, and some trees are still considerably behind. 15th Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208...

As of January 23, the plums at Atami Plum Garden and the Atami cherry blossoms along the Itogawa Promenade are blooming much later than usual... Both are less than 10% in bloom overall. They are more than a week behind the typical schedule. Please wait a little longer for peak bloom. The 81st Atami Plum Garden Plum Festival: January 11–March 2 https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/355... The 15th Atami Sakura Itogawa Cherry Blossom Festival: January 11–February 9 https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208...

Today, Sunday, January 12, the 40th Donton-yaki festival was held at Atami Sun Beach. This annual event is a long-standing tradition jointly organized by the ten neighborhood associations of the eastern and central districts. This year too, residents and tourists gathered to circle the piled New Year decorations called an ‘onbe’. At 11:00 a Shinto ceremony was performed by Chief Priest Amemiya of Kinomiya Shrine, and after the ritual the priest lit the fire. The ‘onbe’ blazed up vigorously as everyone prayed for health, academic success, prosperous business, and protection from fires. The photos look a bit dark, but it was actually sunny! Tourists who happened to pass by also stopped to watch this traditional New Year event.

Happy New Year! I took photos of the first sunrise of the year from Atami’s coastal Shinsui Park again this year. It wasn’t very cold and there was no wind, so the conditions were perfect! I waited in the Third Section before 6:00, and around 6:15 the horizon began to turn orange; light started to break through shortly after 6:50. Some trees were slightly in the way below, so I hurried to the Second Section and took more photos there. The first sunrise was truly beautiful. As in past years, many local residents and tourists gathered early at Shinsui Park to photograph the first sunrise of Reiwa 7. May Reiwa 7 bring an even better year for everyone. Thank you for your continued support of Atami Onsen this year.

JR East’s "atami station" will celebrate its 100th anniversary on March 25, 2025. Starting December 15, the “Atami Station 100th Anniversary Executive Committee,” made up of Atami station, the station building Lusca Atami, and others, launched a “countdown photo” campaign. The photos appear daily at the JR Atami station ticket gate exit and on Instagram through the day before the anniversary (March 24). More than 1,000 local organizations and individuals from the city are participating in this “countdown photo” series. Each day a new face appears alongside the number of days remaining until the 100th anniversary. Please take a look and join everyone in celebrating the 100th anniversary! Atami Station 100th Anniversary on Instagram @atamist100cd

Yesterday, Wednesday, December 25, the standard Atami cherry tree along the Itokawa Promenade was confirmed to be in bloom! Some trees began blooming in mid-December, but the standard tree has finally opened. This Atami cherry is a variety of the cold-loving Kanzakura cherry, native to India, that typically blooms from early January through February. Around 1871, an Italian introduced it, along with lemon and date palm, to Atami. It was named “Atami sakura” during the 1965 Flower-Filled Movement, and on April 10, 1977 (the city’s 40th anniversary), it was designated as Atami City’s official tree. Because the same branch can form early-blooming and later-blooming buds in two stages, the blossoms can usually be enjoyed for more than a month each year. The Cherry Blossom Festival opens after the New Year together with the Plum Festival! During the cherry blossom festival, you can expect nighttime illumination, servings of cherry blossom tea and green tea, street performances, sword dances, and band performances—so please come see the blossoms. The 15th Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival runs Saturday, January 11 through Sunday, February 9, 2025. https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208... Regarding bloom updates, we will post them on the page above as soon as the city hall survey materials arrive, so please refer to that information.

Atami Yogurt Fermentation Shop Grand opening today, 12/21! It’s in Nakamise Shopping Street in front of atami station. I attended the pre-opening yesterday! They use local Tanna milk and Izu aloe. Yogurt comes in many varieties, including plain, rich strained, and a limited fresh Atami yogurt. For eating while walking, try the drinkable yogurt, the "Yogurutto Pan" filled with Greek yogurt and plenty of yogurt butter cream, or the acai with Greek yogurt. For souvenirs, they offer fresh yogurt butter sandwiches, busse, and souffle sandwiches. It’s very delicious and very cute 🐤 Joining the lineup of popular Atami sweets—Atami Pudding, Atami Bata-an, Atami Square Cream Puffs, Atami Fruit King, Ichigo BonBonBERRY ATAMI HOUSE., Atami Mircheese, Atami Satori Main Store, and Montblanc Namaito—this new shop is the latest addition. Please give it a try. Atami Yogurt Fermentation Shop https://www.atami-yogurt.com//

We are pleased to announce the annual “First Sunrise Cruise,” a refined way to welcome the New Year aboard a ship. Enjoy an exquisitely luxurious moment as you watch the first sunrise rise from the horizon in the special, unobstructed setting of the open sea. A geopark guide will once again provide commentary about the Izu Peninsula! This event requires reservations, so please book below as soon as possible if you wish to join. [From Atami Port: First Sunrise Cruise] Boarding location / Atami Port (regular ferry terminal for Atami–Hatsushima service) Date / Wednesday, January 1, 2025 6:00 Ticket sales begin (Atami Port counter) Around 6:30 Depart Atami Port for a sightseeing cruise; the ship will stop so passengers can watch the first sunrise from on board (sunrise around 6:50) Around 7:15 Return to Atami Port ※Cruise time approximately 45 minutes Vessel / Ile de Vacances Premiere or Ile de Vacances III Capacity / 250 passengers Reservations / Required by phone: 0557-81-0541 ※Reservations open from December 2, 2024 ※If cancellations occur on the day, those seats will be released for general sale. Fees / Adults ¥2,600; elementary school students ¥1,300 (preschool children free); pets ¥1,300 ※Depending on weather, the first sunrise or Mt. Fuji may not be visible; refunds cannot be issued in such cases. ※The cruise may be canceled due to poor sea conditions. ※The above information may change without notice for weather or other reasons. Thank you for your understanding. https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/spot/181...

Photo taken on December 1st The autumn leaves at Atami Plum Garden are now at their peak! The garden has about 380 maple trees, and perhaps because of the mild climate they usually change color from late November through December, earning the reputation of being "the latest autumn leaves in Japan." Early-blooming plum trees have already started flowering since mid-October, so searching for plum blossoms while enjoying the autumn foliage is a unique Atami experience. During the Momiji Festival, the annual footbath opens, the Atami Plum Garden Momiji Festival Photo Contest is held, and the Momiji Light-Up takes place, among other events. Event period / November 16 to December 8, 2024 Hours / Light-up (every night during the event) 4:30 PM–9:00 PM Venue / Atami Plum Garden (8-11 Ume-enzaka, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Phone / 0557-85-2222 Organizer / Atami City Tourism Association Access / ■ From JR Atami Station, take the bus bound for Ainobara Danchi for about 15 minutes and get off at "Ume-en" ■ From Atami Station, take the Ito Line about 3 minutes to Kinomiya Station, then walk about 10 minutes Admission / Free Parking / 100 spaces in front of the plum garden (open only during the event) (Weekdays) 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Standard car 300 yen · Motorcycle & bicycle 100 yen · Microbus 1000 yen

On Thursday, November 28, the blooming of the "Himalaya cherry" in Shinsui Park was confirmed. (Photo taken November 29) Of the two trees, the one facing the sea has begun to bloom, and only the uppermost part is flowering. Other buds are swelling, so more blooms are expected soon. This cherry is a rare variety that typically blooms from late November through December, producing delicate pale pink flowers. In Atami City, the parent tree stands on a slope near Atami High School, and young trees are scattered around Shinsui Park, Tsukimigaoka Park, the Sakura Scenic Walk, Nagahama Seaside Park, and other locations. The parent tree originates from seeds of the “Himalaya zakura” that were presented to former Crown Prince (later King) Birendra of Nepal during his study at the University of Tokyo. In August 1967, when he visited Ito City, the Atami Botanical Friends Association offered seeds of Atami cherries and plums. In return, seeds of the Himalaya zakura were sent from Nepal in May 1968 and sown and grown in July of the same year at the municipal farm in Shimotaga, Atami City. Against the cold sky, the modestly blooming cherry is very beautiful. Himalaya cherry A deciduous tall tree that grows in temperate to subtropical zones around the Himalayas. It blooms in November–December with reddish flowers; petals measure 8–13 mm in length and the flowers are rich in nectar. Scientific name: Prunus cerasoides Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Origin: Nepal Number of trees (as of November 2019): 49 in total ・Slope near Atami High School (parent tree, 1): Kamitaga, Atami City ・Tsukimigaoka Park (1): Shimotaga, Atami City ・Shinsui Park (2): beside the first parking lot of Shinsui Park, Nagisa-cho, Atami City ・Beside Taga Junior High School gymnasium (2): Shimotaga, Atami City ・Sakura Scenic Walk (14): Kamitaga, Atami City ・Nagahama Seaside Park (29): Kamitaga, Atami City Inquiries: Atami City Parks and Greenery Division Phone 0557-86-6218 At Atami Plum Garden, autumn colors will soon be at their peak, and early-blooming plums have been flowering since October, so right now you can see autumn leaves, plums, and cherries in Atami at the same time.

"Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai" Additional and Special Performances Announced We are pleased to announce additional and special performances of Atami geisha's "Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai," normally staged every Saturday and Sunday at the Atami Geisha Kenban Kaburenjo. Please enjoy professional dance performances that are rarely seen in everyday life: the elegance of kimono styling, graceful comportment, and breathtaking beauty. Come together with friends and family and join us for these shows. Additional Performance / Monday, December 9, 2024, 11:00 AM (Admission: 2,500 yen) Special Performances / Wednesday, January 1, 2025 (national holiday) and Thursday, January 2, 2025, 11:00 AM (Admission: 3,000 yen) Note: No performances on Saturday, December 21, 2024; Sunday, December 22, 2024; Saturday, December 28, 2024; and Sunday, December 29, 2024. Address / 17-13 Chuocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture (along the Hatsukawa River) Reservations and Inquiries / Atami Geisha Kenban, Tel: 0557-81-3575 Access / From JR Atami Station, take a bus bound for Momijigaoka for about 10 minutes and get off at Shimizucho. Admission / 2,500 yen (tax included). January 1 and January 2: 3,000 yen. Free for elementary school children and younger. Parking / None (paid municipal parking available nearby) Performance Dates / Every Saturday and Sunday; December 9, 2024; January 1 and 2, 2025 Start Time / 11:00 AM (Performance runs about 30 minutes) Venue / Atami Geisha Kenban

The Ajiro Onsen Himo Festival takes place every autumn and winter at Ajiro Onsen in the South Atami Area. Visitors are treated to sun‑dried, oil‑rich horse mackerel fillets grilled over charcoal (about 2,500 fillets served each day). Fresh vegetables delivered directly from farms, squid salted and pickled, yakisoba, and soups made with locally sourced ingredients will also be for sale. Come and taste the delicious dried fish of the port town of Ajiro! Please note that items for sale are subject to change. Please also note that venues may change depending on the event date. 【2024】 11/9 (Sat) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 11/10 (Sun) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 12/14 (Sat) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 12/15 (Sun) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 【2025】 1/12 (Sun) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 1/13 (Mon, public holiday) 10:00–14:30 Ajiro Oonawa Park 2/15 (Sat) 10:00–14:30 Umiere Nagahama 2/16 (Sun) 10:00–14:30 Umiere Nagahama ■ (Oonawa Park) From JR Atami Station, take the JR Ito Line to JR Ajiro Station, then about a 10‑minute walk. ■ (Nagahama Seaside Park) From JR Atami Station, take the JR Ito Line to JR Izu‑Taga Station, then about a 10‑minute walk. Free admission Parking / Oonawa Park: none; Nagahama Seaside Park: free parking available. Inquiries / Ajiro Onsen Tourism Association Tel: 0557-68-0136

On October 26 and 27, at the Shinsui Park venue, we will hold the 14th Atami Fish Festival (2024), where you can enjoy Atami’s delicious seafood on the spot. Event period: Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 2024 Hours: 10:00–16:00 (until 15:00 on October 27) Venue: Shinsui Park Event Plaza (2018-8 Nagisa-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Contact: Atami City Tourism Association 0557-85-2222 Fee: Free admission Parking: Municipal Shinsui Park P and others (paid) *The event may be canceled or changed due to weather or other reasons. Food and drink vendors Around 10 vendors, mainly local restaurants, are scheduled to participate. Dates/times: October 26, 2024 (Sat) 10:00–16:00; October 27, 2024 (Sun) 10:00–15:00 Grilled seafood on the beach (hamayaki) Dates/times: October 26, 2024 (Sat) 10:00–16:00 (reception until 15:00); October 27, 2024 (Sun) 10:00–15:00 (reception until 14:00) One table seats four (40 tables total, 160 seats) Hamayaki ingredient set: 3,000 yen (Each table must purchase one set. After purchase, individual ingredients may be bought separately.) *No advance reservations; reception is on-site only on the day. Dried fish workshop Date: October 26, 2024 (Sat) Participation fee: Adults 3,000 yen; children elementary school age and under 2,000 yen (both tax included) *Children elementary school age and under require a guardian to participate or accompany them because knives are used. Same-day take-home plan: 10:00–15:00 Fish filleting → salting → drying (2 hours) → completion Shipping plan: 13:00–15:00 Fish filleting → salting → drying (left to the professionals) → shipped after completion *Additional shipping fee applies (from 1,045 yen). Capacity: Each plan limited to the first 10 applicants Reservation deadline: By 17:00 the day before; if capacity is not reached, same-day participation is possible. Please contact the number below. What to bring / clothing: Apron and clothes that can get slightly dirty. *Wearing a mask is required. Reservations: Atami City Tourism Association, tel. 0557-85-2222 (9:00–17:00; closed on October 16) Stage program October 26 (Sat) 11:00–11:40 Kids’ dance (Eyes Dance School) 12:00–12:30 Band performance (Itokawa Ventures) 12:30–13:00 Character appearance (Atsuo, Mamekko) 13:00–13:30 Kayou show (Ami Mitsuya) October 27 (Sun) 11:00–11:30 Hula dance (Ka Fuakai Hula Studio) 11:45–12:15 Kids’ dance (Infinity Dance Studio) Special operation of the Sun Remo sightseeing boat Dates: October 26 and 27, 2024 Free service times (approx. 30-minute ride) October 26 (Sat): 8th voyage departs 15:00; 9th voyage departs 15:40 October 27 (Sun): 7th voyage departs 14:20; 8th voyage departs 15:00 Capacity: 50 passengers per voyage Inquiries: Sun Remo Sightseeing Boat tel. 0557-52-6657 *Tickets will be distributed on the day (October 26 from 14:30; October 27 from 13:50) at the sightseeing boat boarding area: Shinsui Park Third Pier. *Voyages 1–7 on October 26 and voyages 1–6 on October 27 will operate at the regular fare. (The 9th voyage on October 27 is reserved and not available for boarding.) *Please note that operations may be suspended depending on sea conditions on the day.

On October 14 and 19, we held the Atami Offshore Fireworks Festival! Thank you for attending. The next event is on Monday, November 4, 2024.

On Saturday, October 19, Fujikyu Marine Resort will operate a fireworks cruise for the first 100 guests to celebrate the Atami Sea Fireworks Festival. With no obstructing views and the unique experience of being on a boat, why not watch 3,000 fireworks light up Atami’s night sky? We look forward to welcoming you aboard. Date / Saturday, October 19, 2024 Time / Departing 19:50 – Fireworks viewing (20:20–20:40) – Scheduled return around 20:50 Boarding location / Atami Port (ticket window for Hatsushima departures) Fare / Adults ¥2,800; Children ¥1,400. One preschool child free per paying adult. Tickets / Limited to 100 people ● Advance phone reservation required (Please purchase your ticket at the day-of waiting area counter between 19:10 and 19:40.) Vessel in service / Ile de Vacances III *The event may be canceled due to weather or other circumstances. Thank you for your understanding. *Please fill out the boarding register. Reservations & Inquiries / Fujikyu Marine Resort Phone: 0557-81-0541

The Atami Plum Garden Autumn Leaves Festival will be held from Saturday, November 16, 2024 to Sunday, December 8, 2024. Known as the earliest-blooming plum site in Japan, Atami Plum Garden is also a spot for autumn foliage. About 380 maple trees line the garden, and thanks to the warm climate they often change color from late November into December, making this place sometimes called the latest autumn foliage in Japan. Early-blooming plums begin to flower around mid-November, so you may see plum blossoms and autumn leaves at the same time. During the festival there will be a footbath, a photo contest, jazz performances, illumination, and a wildflower moss-ball (kokedama) workshop, among other events. Please take this opportunity to enjoy the red-hued Atami Plum Garden. *On November 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun), the Japan–Korea Gourmet Fair 2024 in Atami will also take place.* Event period: November 16–December 8, 2024 Hours: Illumination daily during the period, 16:30–21:00 Venue: Atami Plum Garden (8-11 Umezonocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Phone: 0557-85-2222 Contact: Atami City Tourism Association Access: ■ From JR Atami Station, take a bus bound for Ainohara Danchi for about 15 minutes and get off at "Ume-en" (Plum Garden). ■ From Atami Station, take the Ito Line for about 3 minutes to Kinomiya Station, then walk about 10 minutes. Admission: Free Parking: 100 spaces in front of the Plum Garden (open only during the event period) (Weekdays) 9:00–17:00 (Sat, Sun, and public holidays) 8:30–17:00 Fees: Ordinary cars 300 yen; motorcycles & bicycles 100 yen; microbuses 1,000 yen

Atami Marine Fireworks Festival, a Specialties of Atami, is Held in more than 10 times not only in summer but also throughout the year I have been there many times so far, but this time I tried to intertwine it with Atami Castle. There are many ways to enjoy the fireworks here, such as from the Ocean, from the Coast, or from the top of the Hilltop.

Today, Saturday, July 6, three bathing beaches in Atami City opened for the season simultaneously. At Atami Sun Beach, officials attended a safety prayer ceremony led by Kinomiya Shrine. After the safety prayer ceremony, swimming began at 9:00. Handheld fireworks were given as gifts to the children who gathered. Please enjoy the sea in Atami this summer as well! Beach opening period / Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Sunday, August 25, 2024 Atami Sun Beach: Higashikaigancho, Atami City Nagahama Beach: Kamitaga, Atami City Ajiro Onsen Beach: Shimotaga, Atami City * The Atami Sun Beach Water Park runs from Saturday, July 13, 2024 to Sunday, August 25, 2024.

In the summer of 2024, MOA Museum of Art presents the special exhibition Pokemon × Crafts: A Grand Discovery of Beauty and Techniques! What kind of “chemical reaction” would occur if Pokemon and traditional crafts met head-on? Twenty artists, from Living National Treasures to emerging creators, took on this question with full commitment. The works evoke Pokemon forms, gestures, and presences. Some trace memories from the games, such as evolution, trading, travel settings, and highly effective moves. Others lure Pokemon into everyday life as tableware, kimono accessories, and stylish obis. What will your encounter with the pieces waiting for you in the gallery be like…exciting, entrancing, smirking, or spine-tingling? Enjoy discoveries of beauty and technique amplified by multiplying powers. Exhibition title: Pokemon × Crafts: A Grand Discovery of Beauty and Techniques Venue: MOA Museum of Art Dates: Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Monday, September 9, 2024 To ensure smooth entry and a pleasant viewing experience, please purchase a timed-entry ticket in advance. (Same-day tickets will be available.) During busy periods, visitors with timed-entry tickets will be admitted with priority. Same-day ticket holders may be asked to wait before entering. *Children up to junior high school age, members of the Friends of the Museum, visitors with disability certificates (up to two accompanying helpers), and holders of invitation postcards may enter free of charge and do not need a timed-entry ticket. *Groups of 10 or more must make a reservation in advance. Please contact the MOA Museum of Art at 0557-84-2511 to apply. Ⓒ2024 Pokémon. Ⓒ1995-2024 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, Ⓡ, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo. ⒸPhotograph by Taiichiro Yoshida and Taku Saijo For details, please check the museum’s official website.

The jacaranda, the flower that heralds early summer in Atami. Whether it will bloom or not is something you won’t know until the season arrives. The jacaranda is a bit capricious that way. Two trees gifted in 1990 from Atami’s sister city, Cascais in Portugal, have grown into more than 100 plantings today. Once native mainly to tropical regions, one of the world’s three great flowering trees has now come to announce early summer in Atami. Along the shore in June, clusters of small trumpet-shaped, blue-violet jacaranda flowers paint the sky like bouquets from Omiya Green Space to Sun Beach. Each year in early June during the blooming season, we hold the Jacaranda Festival. Legend says that if a flower falls on your head, happiness will come. How many will bloom this season? Come and see these precious purple blossoms.♪ *During the event period, light-ups will take place. Please note that blooming times may vary.* Event period / June 1, 2024 – June 16, 2024 Venue / Jacaranda Promenade (around Omiya no Matsu) Light-up hours / Daily during the above period from 18:00 to 22:00

The additional dates for this year’s Atami Bay Fireworks Festival have been decided. We are sharing them together with the dates already announced. (As of April 6, 2024) [Atami Bay Fireworks Festival 2024 (Reiwa 6) Dates] Spring: April 13 (Sat) and May 2 (Thu) Summer: July 26 (Fri), August 5 (Mon), August 8 (Thu), August 18 (Sun), and August 23 (Fri) Autumn: September 16 (Mon, public holiday), October 14 (Mon, public holiday), October 19 (Sat), and November 4 (Mon, substitute holiday) Winter: December 8 (Sun) and December 22 (Sun) 2025: March 23 (Sun) Note: The newly added dates are October 14, December 22, and March 23, 2025. Time: 20:20–20:40 (In July and August only: 20:20–20:45) Venue: Atami Bay ※The event will go ahead in rain. Please note that the above dates and times are tentative and may change depending on future circumstances.

I visited Atami City’s power spot, Kinomiya Shrine, for the first time in a long while. When I drew a fortune by the more-than-2,100-year-old natural monument "Ookusu", a cute little leaf was tucked inside.🌿

The 81st issue of Atami de Asobo, the magazine that introduces restaurants, souvenir shops, and other businesses in Atami City, has been published. This free paper is packed with ways to enjoy Atami. It features 74 recommended spots, including trending eateries and shops offering special deals, Japanese, Western, and Chinese restaurants, safe nightlife venues, day-use hot springs, and specialty stores. This issue also includes a special feature titled "Retro Atami Time: Savoring the Past at a Historic Western-Style Restaurant." Copies of Atami de Asobo are available from the Atami City Tourism Association, the Atami Tourist Information Center (Lusca Atami station building, 1st floor), the Atami Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other local shops, so please pick one up.

※There is a possibility of cancellation due to wind conditions, so please inquire in advance. A fireworks cruise will operate for the first 150 guests on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, to coincide with the Atami Offshore Fireworks Festival. With no obstructions and from the extraordinary setting of a ship, why not watch 3,000 fireworks light up Atami’s night sky? It’s a perfect addition to your spring break memories. We look forward to welcoming you aboard. Date and time / Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Depart 19:50 – Fireworks viewing (20:20–20:40) – Return to port around 20:50 Boarding location / Atami Port (ticket booth for Hatsushima departures) ※Ticket sales begin at 19:10 (limited to the first 150 guests on the day) Fare / Adults ¥2,800, Children ¥1,400 ※Preschool children free How to purchase tickets / Tickets will be sold at the waiting area ticket window on the day. Please visit the window between 19:10 and 19:40. Vessel in service / Ild Vacances Premier ※The event may be canceled due to weather or other circumstances on the day. Thank you for your understanding. Inquiries / Fujikyuu Marine Resort Tel 0557-81-0541

On Saturday, March 16, we released firefly larvae into Hatsukawa within Atami Plum Garden. As an annual tradition, children from Umeenomachi helped us again! Japan is said to be home to around 50 species of fireflies. The species released in Atami is Japan’s representative firefly, the genji-botaru. We hatch the larvae, feed them kawanina (freshwater snails) about once a month while raising them, and release the final-instar larvae when they reach 2–3 centimeters. These larvae leave the river on humid nights from mid to late April, burrow into the soil, and form oval “soil cocoons.” Inside those soil cocoons they pupate and emerge as adults from late May to early June. This year we will hold “Evenings for Firefly Viewing” from Saturday, June 1 through Sunday, June 9. Please come and see the pale glow of the fireflies that can be seen only during this season.

Photographed on February 26 The early-blooming Oshima cherry in Nagisa Elementary Park is now at its best. This large cherry is said to be a cultivar created by crossing Oshima-zakura with Somei-yoshino, and it usually reaches peak bloom from early to mid-March each year. Perhaps because temperatures have been high this year, it is already in full bloom! The tree has many flower buds and is truly impressive. Nagisa Elementary Park Address / Nagisacho, Atami City (in front of the third section of the waterfront park)

Yesterday, Saturday, February 24, we held the Atami Sea Fireworks Festival! The weather blessed the mid-holiday weekend day, and beautiful fireworks colored the night sky. The next event is on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 (a national holiday).

Yuzenn Shrine Founded in 749 (the first year of Tenpyō Shōhō). The shrine venerates the hot springs of Atami According to a divine oracle that spoke of a hot spring with the power to cure illness, a small shrine was erected to enshrine the deity. Since then, the shrine has protected Atami’s hot springs. To give thanks to Atami’s springs and pray that their flow never ceases, grand festivals are held every spring and autumn. The shrine’s votive plaques bear a long list of inn names, including those of inns that no longer exist, offering a glimpse into the history of modern hot-spring ryokan. In front of the shrine, the great hot spring source known as Oyu bubbles up; its intermittent geyser is also a local attraction. Address／4-12 Kamijukucho, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-0018 Phone／0557-81-9817 Parking／None

Bougainvillea Along the Itokawa River that runs through central Atami City, between Onaribashi and Itokawabashi (about 180 meters), bougainvillea vines arch over and cover the stream. These bougainvillea produce tropical, vividly colored bracts—red, magenta, purple and more—from May through October each year. Near Itokawabashi, a staircase leads down to the river, creating a hidden photo spot. Yellow Hypericum ‘Hidecoat’ adds a splash of color and makes the scene even more lovely. The display peaks around the same time as the jacaranda, from late May to mid-June, so be sure to visit then as well. <Bougainvillea> A tropical shrub in the Nyctaginaceae family native to Brazil in South America. While it blooms year-round in tropical regions, in Japan it flowers from May to October. What looks like the flower is actually the bract; three bracts gather together, and the small white true flower blooms at their center. The bracts show leaf veins and resemble leaves. Because the bracts are thin, they flutter in the wind. Bract colors include red, white, pink, orange, yellow, and various bicolors. Address / Ginza-cho and Chuocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone / 0557-86-6218 (Atami City Parks and Greenery Division) Access ■About a 20-minute walk from JR atami station ■About a 10-minute bus ride from JR atami station toward Atami Port → get off at “Ginza” → a few minutes’ walk

Ocean Spa Fuua Ocean Spa Fuua (Fuua) is Atami’s largest day-use hot spring facility, offering panoramic views of Sagami Bay. At the breathtaking open-air standing bath—about 25 meters long and one of Japan’s largest—you can float in a sensation where sea and sky seem to merge. By day you’ll see the blue sky and sparkling Sagami Bay; by night you can enjoy the glittering nightscape of Atami City. Atami Living, a richly appointed relaxation area built around the theme of “seaside villa life,” features eight different lounges and terraces, as well as bedrock baths, a café, and extensive treatment and beauty services. The spacious Ocean Lounge, with its high ceiling, is a popular spot to relax while gazing at the sea stretching before you. The Onsuijoku Torukka offers supreme relaxation under the moonlight, with carefully selected sofas and natural aromatherapy scents. A restaurant serving resort-style dishes adjoins the facility, promising a restorative time that helps you forget everyday life, both physically and mentally. ※Guests under 18 years old must be accompanied by a guardian aged 20 or older. ※Children aged 4 through elementary school must be accompanied by a guardian of the same sex and cannot use mixed bathing areas. Some facilities may be unavailable for safety reasons. ※For safety reasons, children aged 0–3 are not allowed to enter. ※The open-air standing bath is not available to guests shorter than 135 cm. ※Entry may be limited depending on congestion. ※Operating conditions may change; for details please check the official Ocean Spa Fuua website. Address / 10-1 Wadahamaminami-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-8626 Phone / 0557-82-0123 Access / ■ About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR atami station ■ About 10 minutes by bus from JR atami station bound for Atami Port / Korakuen, then get off at the final stop Hours / 10:00–22:00 (last admission 21:00) Closed / Irregular holidays Fees (including consumption tax) <Standard Fee> Adult 3,080 yen · Child 2,310 yen <After-5 Fee (entry from 17:00)> Adult 2,310 yen · Child 1,760 yen ※An additional bathing tax of 150 yen applies to adults only. ※On weekends, public holidays, and certain days, a surcharge applies (Adult +330 yen · Child +220 yen). ※Please check the official site for the specific dates. Parking / 230 spaces