You can reach Atami from one of Tokyo's two airports. From [wiki=892a44591540d8e6e2789b73d1cf26a7]Narita Airport[/wiki], take the Narita Express train to [wiki=f5b0e470f43e6cd9ba303304a84f369c]Shinagawa[/wiki], then transfer to either a Shinkansen Kodama train or a Tokaido Line local train. It is 2 hours via shinkansen connection (¥7100) and 3 hours via local connection (¥4900).
From Haneda Airport, take a Keihin Kyuko line train to Shinagawa (¥400) for connection to the Shinkansen (1 1/4 hours, ¥4500 total). Alternatively you can take the Keikyu Line from Haneda to Yokohama via Keikyu-Kamata station (¥470) and change at Yokohama for the local JR Tokaido line (2 hours, ¥1750 total).
Atami is on the Tokaido Shinkansen main line, just 50 minutes from [wiki=62413a57c5e3dc51177995fa175d3286]Tokyo[/wiki] (¥3570 for an unreserved seat). All Kodama trains stop at Atami, and a select number of Hikari stop there as well.
Kodama trains make the run to Atami from Shizuoka in 40 minutes (¥2960 unreserved seat) and Hamamatsu in 70 minutes (¥4930 unreserved seat).
Atami is also a stop on the regular Tokaido Line which runs from Tokyo (2 hours to Atami, ¥1890), Shizuoka (80 minutes, ¥1280) and Hamamatsu (2 3/4 hours, ¥2520).
With the exception of the Keihin Kyuko line, all train rides listed above are free with the Japan Rail Pass.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the 'Hot Springs/Spas' on the town map are onsen baths; they are literally locations where the hot volcanic water pumps up from the ground. Some even have geysers! There is however a free foot-bath directly outside the train station that runs up until the evening. A conveniently placed vending machine sells towels lest you forgot yours.
However, this area does have several excellent onsen open to the public for a small entrance fee.
* Atami Marine Spa
* Nikkotei (日航亭), located 10 metres uphill from the Ōyu Kanketsusen hot spring/geyser. Indoor & outdoor baths, sauna & relaxation room.
Atami is a popular day or weekend trip from Tokyo for scuba diving, largely due to its proximity to the city (40 minutes by shinkansen). Sites feature some spectacular soft corals and sea life including nudibranchs, moray eels, and octopus. Atami also has one of the only divable wrecks in mainland Japan. Visibility can be poor during certain times of year, but it peaks toward the end of the summer/early fall.
*'Discovery Divers Tokyo; 6-25-26 Asamizodai (Sagamihara , Kanagawa 228-0828); Phone: 042 854-7711; Email: [mailto:info@discoverydiverstokyo.com info@discoverydiverstokyo.com]; [url=http://www.discoverydiverstokyo.com]]One English-speaking dive operation that offers dive tours in Atami is Discovery Divers Tokyo.
*DiveZone Tokyo; Email: [mailto:info@divezonetokyo.com info@divezonetokyo.com[/url]; ; Website: [url=http://www.divezonetokyo.com]http://www.divezonetokyo.com[/url] DiveZone Tokyo offers scuba diving in Atami as well as various other sites in Izu, Japan. English, Dutch, French and Japanese.
*Mar Scuba Tokyo; Phone: +81 (0)90 3851 3901; Email: [mailto:matt@marscuba.com matt@marscuba.com]; Website: [url=http://www.marscuba.com]http://www.marscuba.com[/url] Mar Scuba Tokyo is the longest-running English dive operator in the Tokyo area and offers fun dives and courses in Atami and the surrounding area.
*Japan Underwater Explorers; Email: [mailto:info@jue.jp info@jue.jp]; Website: [url=http://www.jue.jp]http://www.jue.jp[/url] J.U.E. is a recreational and technical dive club/service offering multi-lingual training and fun dive adventures. Japan's premier GUE training service.
This Relais & Chateaux hotel has 16 guestrooms with large bathrooms. The hotel itself is set out in the style of a ryokan but also features amazingly designed rooms and spa.
Kinjōkan (金城館). Tel. 0557-81-6261, [http://www.kinjokan.co.jp/]. The glitzily named Golden Palace Hotel was the top place in town in the 1980s but has remained firmly stuck there ever since, with gaudy chandeliers and miles of brown plush. On the plus side, there's a full range of spa and pool facilities and a beautiful little garden too. Rooms for two from ¥15,900 and up, up and away.