Atami, a vibrant city in Shizuoka, offers much more than its famed hot springs and seaside views. While coastal resorts in neighboring prefectures like Enoshima and Zushi are popular for beachgoers, Atami stands out as an exceptional destination for a holistic experience. Beyond Atami Sun Beach and its well-known hot springs and museums, the city truly shines through its lively street food scene, especially evident in the bustling shopping streets near Atami Station.

Upon exiting Atami Station, visitors are immediately drawn to two prominent shopping arcades: Nakamise-dori Shotengai and Heiwa-dori Meitengai, which runs parallel to the former. Our culinary journey began on Heiwa-dori, where a line outside Maruten, a shop specializing in freshly fried iso-age (deep-fried fish cakes), caught our attention. The Shrimp Mayo Stick, priced at 420 yen (US$2.83), was a surprisingly hefty and piping hot delight, with its springy shrimp texture and oozing mayonnaise proving to be unbelievably good. While Maruten offers no seating, numerous benches throughout the shopping street provide comfortable spots to enjoy the treats. Heiwa-dori also features shops selling Atami’s unique hot spring steamed buns and dried fish, alongside a spot where visitors can experience the local hot spring water by dipping their hands, serving as a delightful alternative to the footbath near the station. Other enticing finds included cute square cream puffs from Atami Square Chou a la crème, beautifully displayed fruit sandwiches at Atami Fruit King, and the dairy-centric offerings of Atami Milchee’s with its Basque cheesecakes, and Bon Bon Berry, bursting with strawberries. A standard pudding from Atami Purin, acquired during a rare moment without a queue for 400 yen, proved to be undeniably delicious with its bitter caramel perfectly complementing the rich egg flavor, though it was enjoyed the following day due to a full stomach.

Following Heiwa-dori, our stroll continued into Nakamise-dori, equally tempting for those with small appetites. This street showcased Atami Gelato King, Atami Yogurt, and Mataichian’s Atami Butter An. The sweetened yogurt from Atami Yogurt, also 400 yen, was irresistible due to its unique, stretchy texture reminiscent of Turkish ice cream, allowing for playful twisting and twirling. Despite being sweetened, it maintained a mild tartness and refreshing flavor, making it a worthwhile purchase. A unique find at Aoki, a dried fish shop, was dry-cured tuna for 1,209 yen, a rare souvenir not commonly found in Tokyo.

Continuing down towards the ocean, a 15-minute walk led us to a third shopping street, Atami Ginza. Here, shops like Kiito, known for its thinly layered Mont Blancs, and Chabakka Tea Parks, a Japanese tea shop, beckoned. However, our destination with room to spare in our stomachs was Atami Satori, a matcha dessert specialty store renowned for crepes that fully highlight the taste of matcha. The Big Atamai!!! Crispy Crepe for 850 yen, designed to emphasize the natural aroma and flavor of matcha without fillings, only matcha sauce and nuts, was thin, crispy, and delivered a strong, pleasant bitterness of tea. Its impressive size even garnered delightful exclamations from passing older ladies, leading to a charming shared moment.

Emerging from the final shopping street, we discovered Himono Dining Kamanari, a restaurant specializing in dried fish dishes, also offering dried fish chips and burgers for takeout, adding it to our future must-visit list. Our day concluded with a leisurely stroll along the promenade at Atami Seaside Park, offering stunning ocean views and serving as an excellent spot for watching Atami’s fireworks displays. The park area itself was bustling with shops selling food, miscellaneous goods, and vintage clothing, maintaining our excitement with continuous new discoveries. Atami truly is a fantastic destination for any traveler, offering a plethora of activities and delicious culinary experiences. It’s highly recommended to arrive with an empty stomach to fully indulge in its offerings and allow time for a relaxed walk afterward.