often spends time with the family of his senpai Adachi-san laidback atmosphere in the household makes up for the absence of his father who’s often away from home for work But an encounter in the bookstore with the outward-going over-friendly Kusumoto (from the class next door) leads to yet more encounters which Atami-kun finds exhausting But then a chance meeting on the train shows Atami a different side to Kusumoto’s personality as he sees him being attentive and helpful to the elderly citizens they come across Only then does Atami learn that Kusumoto is recovering from a broken shoulder and is on his way to the clinic for a check Kusumoto’s relentless optimism might be too much for Atami to deal with but after they part ways The school festival is coming up and Atami’s class have voted to make short videos is in charge of organizing the project but when she asks Atami-kun to act in one of the videos This results in disappointment from many of the others in class who were hoping to act alongside him and swiftly lose their enthusiasm for the project he volunteers to help with painting the backdrops and Adachi’s family encourage him And he gets to know Sunama-san a little better when they end up at the vending machine together and start chatting “When it comes t’things ya can only enjoy at a certain age,” she reflects “I figure it’s better t’go ahead an’ get the most out of ‘em.” But then she looks directly at him and says “But I was so focused on that… I didn’t give any thought to respectin’ ya wishes.” This clears the air between them as he relaxes realizing that she understands his reluctance to take a central role in the videos Another conversation with third-year Urabe helps him to crystallize his feelings about the project so he’s able to go back to Sunama-san and offer his help (but still not on the acting side) which she gratefully accepts And then it’s all systems go for the festival was based on the idea that ‘Atami is so good-looking that all the girls want to date him’ but he’s not interested as he’s into guys the problem crystallizes around the class festival project; it’s never overtly stated but shown from Atami’s classmates’ comments that they want to act alongside him in the videos But Atami is still intensely wary of any kind of commitment to anything The series won newcomer mangaka Asa Tanumi the 2023 Yofukashi Manga Award from Bungeishunjuu’s CREA magazine so Everyone speaks in the Kansai dialect (effectively rendered into the US equivalent for us by translator Amanda Haley) But the mood is often so laid-back that those craving action will find themselves fruitlessly turning the pages I liked the first volume a great deal but can’t help feeling that this second volume is not as successful as the first given the way the mangaka draws the characters it still really isn’t that obvious to me that Atami is any different in looks to his fellow high schoolers in working out which boy is which (Tsuji and Adachi look quite similar) Underlying these snapshots of everyday life is the fact that Atami is gradually learning about himself from his encounters at school and outside of school He’s now almost a part of Adachi-san’s lively family who’ve welcomed him unreservedly into their lives and that’s good as otherwise he’d be on his own for a lot of the time Adachi’s mother is good at making him feel at home and when his father – tired out by work – does come home for a brief holiday at the New Year talking about practical things like which work suit to get cleaned and buying garbage bags Atami – and his male school friends – start wondering what it really means to be in love This becomes the main focus in Chapter 14 where Kunijima-san (the second year student with the wild hair and glasses) shares some profound observations about love and he Atami and Adachi carry on their discussion over fries and shakes at the local restaurant “Are you speaking from experience?” he lapses into silence leaving the others to draw their own conclusions Amanda Haley’s translation works really well especially given that the Kansai accents could prove a distraction but never dominate the dialogue The two pages of translation notes are interesting and helpful And the lettering by Elena Pizarro helps to convey the all-important conversations (which lie at the heart of this series) There’s a brief bonus story about Tsuji-kun and an illustrated afterword by the mangaka reminding us to read Volume 3 (which will be out from Yen Press in September) it has some wise observations to make about life growing up and finding out what makes other people tick Sarah's been writing about her love of manga and anime since Whenever - and first started watching via Le Club Dorothée in France.. Atami is so good-looking that all the girls want to date him Will anyone understand how he really feels Miyano (first year) likes BL – and Sasaki (second year) likes Miyano Will real life mirror Miyano’s reading material Inspired by a performance of a band called Ho-Kago Tea Time a group of girls decide to form a band of their own Is this a yuri manga series worth signing up for After a downtrodden office worker stumbles upon a guy with a bag of the fish she is craving she finds herself in his apartment modelling nude for him will this lead to romance blossoming between them or is their arrangement going to stay strictly professional Having been established since February 2004 Anime UK News is constantly striving to deliver high quality UK anime news and reviews to your computer screens each and every day being sure to maintain high standards of writing and reliability Designed and maintained by devoted anime fans Anime UK News and it’s fledgling forum community is growing with each passing month proving we are an ambitious and trusted resource for UK-based anime fans and beyond Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo an hour from TokyoThis winter sakura viewing spot at Acao Forest in Atami Shizuoka peaks between January and February Cherry blossom season in Tokyo typically spans from late March to early April the pastel pink flowers have already started blooming in some parks Located less than an hour south of central Tokyo by shinkansen this seaside city in Shizuoka has a milder climate than our capital and has an abundance of cherry blossom trees that thrive in winter The early-blooming winter-variety atami-zakura blossoms reach their peak between mid-January and early February.  One good spot to revel in these prized pink flowers is Acao Forest – a flower park overlooking the Sagami Sea With roughly 650,000sqm of land divided into 13 themed flower gardens Acao Forest boasts an impressive array of French roses To celebrate cherry blossom season, the park is hosting a number of sakura-themed events to get you into the spring mood you can try your hand at a series of spring-inspired workshops including a herbarium class where you can preserve flowers in pretty glass bottles (¥3,500), as well as a flower photo frame class (¥5,000) where you can arrange flowers in a photo frame box hop onto the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen bound for Shin-Osaka at Shinagawa and get off at Atami Station (38 minutes) Then board the A64 or A66 bus bound for Ajiro-Asahimachi and ride for 11 stops until you reach the stop in front of Acao Forest (13 minutes) Admission to Acao Forest is ¥2,500 for adults (junior high school students and above) For more information, visit Acao Forest’s website.  Tokyo is ranked as one of the world’s best cities for 2025 teamLab Planets is expanding with new artworks Here's the official Japan cherry blossom forecast for 2025 Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton take over Harajuku with a pop-up shop and café Announcing the first 7 chefs and restaurateurs coming to Time Out Market Osaka in March 2025 Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us located in the eastern corner of the Shizuoka Prefecture Atami translates to “hot ocean” and is known for its famous hot springs millions of tourists come to the city each year to relax in the healing waters Atami is a 45-minute bullet train ride from JR Tokyo Station I opted to take a slow train on the JR Tokaido Main Line The fare for the slow train costs 1,980 yen while the bullet train costs 3,740 yen Why not take the time to enjoy the scenery and then buy some souvenirs for my coworkers with what I saved on the fare I changed from the JR Tokaido Main Line to the JR Ito Line so I could visit the Kinomiya Shrine It was just one station and five minutes away from Atami there were many people visiting as it is a custom in Japan to worship at a shrine the first several days of the new year I marveled at the 2,000-year-old camphor tree that stands 26 meters tall and is designated as a National Nature Treasure It is said that those who circle the tree’s trunk will be granted another year of life I shook off my tiredness by soaking in the hot spring at my hotel I was ready to visit my next destination: Hatsushima Island a small tourist island with a circumference of only 4 kilometers and a population of about 200 people It took only about half an hour by high-speed boat to get to the island from Atami Port Walking counterclockwise for half an hour on the island led me to the gorgeous hotel Xiv Hatsushima Club which was built in 1959 and is 16 meters high a resort facility which has gardens filled with different types of subtropical plants which were located beside each parasol in the gardens I decided to try one and I felt weightless but I left the facility in order to catch my boat back to Atami Harbor Leading up to the shrine is 837 stone steps Most people take a bus from JR Atami Station for about 7 minutes to the nearest bus stop and climb up about 180 steps I walked from the hotel for about 20 minutes the more beautiful the Atami scenery became Most of the shrines have a fortune slip hanger but the hanger at the Izusan Shrine is heart shaped which means an eye of a white-whiskered boar It is said that inome is an effective talisman to protect one against evil and bring good luck Since I visited two shrines two days in a row I hoped that the year would be a good one for me and most of the sightseeing spots are easily accessible from JR Atami Station by bus Though I could visit only three of the tourist spots the city has more attractive spots such as MOA Museum of Art Atami is a good place for those who live on the Kanto Plain to enjoy hot springs and many popular tourist destinations without driving or paying many transportation fees Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version With plum blossoms scent the sun is peeking out on this mountain trail Haiku by (Matsuo Basho) While Japan has always been known for its haven of cherry blossoms in springtime a couple of months before their bloom around mid-March exquisite plums start to sprout as early as mid-January in most places and white carry auspicious meanings in Japanese culture plums symbolise tolerance and endurance as they brave the chills of winter the beauty of life amidst harsh circumstances and remind Japanese of new beginnings as winter fades to welcome spring plums appear in Japanese New Year greeting cards they are often accompanied by the Japanese nightingale This image coincides with the popular Japanese saying “Ume ni Uguisu,” metaphorically indicating a “match made in heaven” between the elegant plums and the charismatic bird Among the numerous plum parks spread throughout Japan, the Atami Plum Garden commonly referred to as Atami Baien in Shizuoka Prefecture is highly reputed for its nearly 500 glorious plum trees of 40 varieties harvested across approximately 4.4 hectares of land the resort city of Atami lies along the coast of Izu Peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean; hence offering both spectacular mountain and seaside locations for enjoying the delicate blossoms one can feel the traces of history seeded since its opening in 1886 Yokohama businessman Sobe Mogi and other collaborators planted about 3,000 plum and other trees on 2.5 hectares of the current land and Japanese Sakaki or evergreen trees also abound The park became an Imperial property until its transfer to the national government in the 1950s it has undertaken continuous redevelopments over the years and has quickly attracted many visitors who are particularly eager to catch the early blooming season from mid-November to December One of the striking highlights of this picturesque garden is the group of Five Bridges: Zanka (gradual beauty) the first bridge Zanka leads to a shrine encircled by plums and redeemed poet Matsuo Basho’s haiku monument one reaches the Geigetsu Bridge over the flowing brook It is said that a perfect glimpse of the moon can be viewed from this bridge visitors often stop here to gaze at the grove of plums from behind and read another haiku by poet Oto Takeda on a stone monument one hits the eye-catching red Koufu Bridge layered by almost 400 colourful maple trees around Further ahead is the park’s prominent wooden Umezono bridge that connects the Sawada Masahiro Memorial Museum to the Japanese and Korean gardens exhibits significant works of the Atami-born artist Sawada the two country leaders proposed to incorporate a Korean garden within the premises as a mark of diplomatic friendship It utilises traditional techniques of the Joseon Dynasty and wall tiles all designed by a Korean architect Next to the Korean garden is the Nakayama Shinpei Memorial Museum He was especially known for children’s songs The fascinating Showa era two-storey wooden villa was the composer’s last resting place until his death in 1952 Korin-tei is another building lined along the Nakayama Shinpei Memorial Museum which is exclusively reserved for tea ceremonies and other special events The exquisite plum trees around it are also breathtaking Visitors can also rest at the foot bath just behind the Korean garden it has become a relaxing niche for visitors after a long stroll around the grounds to warm their feet particularly during the busy plum and maple festivals Surely unmissable is the Ume-mi no Taki waterfall which consists of a narrow path behind it so you can stand by the flowing water up close and peek through the gorgeous plum trees This cascade completes the essential elements of a Japanese landscape—trees Atami Plum Garden holds its plum festival from mid-January to early March and maple festival from mid-November to early December yearly visiting the park beyond these periods provides an equally scenic opportunity to savour Atami’s refreshing floral treasure If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Launching of New Sightseeing Boat "Hakone Yusen SORAKAZE" and Viewing Mount Fuji at Jukkoku Pass Hot Springs, and Family Fun - All in One New Sightseeing Boat "Hakone Yusen SORAKAZE" Blending Environment and Nature The sightseeing boat "Hakone Yusen SORAKAZE" not only offers easy access to various key attractions in Hakone but also allows passengers to enjoy the natural scenery of Lake Ashi Yasuyuki Kawanishi with the theme of "The Green Park Floating on Lake Ashi" the boat features an outdoor deck covered with natural grass and a stern adorned with green decorations blending harmoniously with the surrounding environment It is expected to become a new symbol of Hakone tourism You can board the "Hakone Yusen SORAKAZE" at Hakone-Sekishoato Port with options to get on and off at various points or choose a round-trip ticket that takes about 30 to 50 minutes The boat offers comfortable indoor and outdoor seating; on clear days and a Mount Fuji-shaped deck for taking photos creating a park-like space that elevates the travel experience into something comfortable and fun The onboard shop offers original souvenirs like Mount Fuji-shaped sweets available only on the "Hakone Yusen SORAKAZE" allowing passengers to enjoy their sightseeing experience fully Jukkoku Pass Between Hakone and Hot Spring Resort Atami Located between Hakone and the hot spring resort Atami, "Jukkoku Pass" is 770 meters above sea level offering a 360-degree view of natural scenery Named for its view of ten ancient provinces of Japan it can be included in your Hakone and Atami itinerary You can reach the summit station by taking the Jukkoku Pass Panoramic Cable Car The summit features observation facilities and a café where you can relax while enjoying the view which are shaped like the character "Pass" ("Pass" is a unique Chinese character in Japanese For unique accommodations, the glamping facility "THE GLAMPING Hakone Jukkoku Pass" offers 14 villa-style units with seven different types some units with saunas and rooftop terraces for stargazing at night if you want to delve deeper into the surrounding areas Atami is a famous hot spring resort in Japan that is highly recommended It's a short 30-minute bus ride from Hakone or a 40–50-minute direct Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station Atami is renowned for its frequent sea fireworks displays. The "Atami Seaside Spa & Resort" offers sea-view rooms in all accommodations and buffet-style dinner with around 80 options mainly fresh seafood such as sashimi and grilled seafood The hotel also features large public baths and open-air hot springs with hot spring water directly sourced from the spring private baths are also available for rent at an additional cost Secluded Resort Island Hatsushima in Atami A 30-minute high-speed boat ride from Atami Port takes you to the resort island "Hatsushima" the closest offshore island to the Tokyo metropolitan area You can enjoy a day trip or stay at the island's Glamping facilities Atami is known as the birthplace of Japanese lemons and since "Hatsushima" is close to Atami the resort complex "PICA Hatsushima" in Hatsushima features many Instagrammable lemon-themed photo spots The seaside swing is a must-visit for everyone and the unique island-style dishes add to the charm The restaurant "ENAK" offers a variety of lemon-themed dishes all visually appealing and creatively designed The adventure experience facility "SARUTOBI" in PICA Hatsushima involves walking on trees and climbing gear providing a thrilling experience with sea views suitable for children over five years old to enjoy with adults Do not sell or share my personal information: The best of Time Out straight to your inbox By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news Japan The town of Atami isn’t at the top of every tourist’s Japan itinerary If the town’s appealing shopping streets and bayside attractions became as over subscribed as Nara and Kyoto it would lose a significant chunk of its charm Perched on the top-right edge of the Izu peninsula laid-back side of Japan that most visitors never see.  The Hiramatsu resort is a traditional (to an extent) ryokan located just outside of the town’s centre halfway up a hill that overlooks the magnificent Sagami Bay The meandering road that leads to it is quite beautiful in its own right the kind of sunny coastal highway that’s redolent of City Pop album artwork In fact the whole area feels like a blissed-out flashback back to a time when Japanese manufacturing (rightfully) ruled supreme every home owned a Game Boy and the whole country was still riding high on its post-war economic miracle.  If Atami is a vibesy town that time forgot then Hiramatsu is the hotel that time never knew existed Guests enter the 13-room property via a suitably otherworldly secluded wooded area By the time you’ve surrendered your shoes (standard ryokan protocol) and shuffled into the elegantly rustic interior One end of the Hiramatsu is sequestered in beautiful woodland The other looks out onto the jaw-dropping Pacific Ocean The spacious rooms themselves are (in my experience) genuinely unique fusions of traditional ryokan aesthetics with western amenities but in the case of Hiramatsu with its dark-wood surfaces gigantic beds and bathrooms accented with marble and stone Watching dawn materialise from your own private onsen is something you’ll never ever forget Each of the 13 rooms has its own hot-spring bath - a stone pool heated by naturally warm It’s both a miracle of engineering (it adjusts its own temperature and refills automatically) and also a beguilingly magical experience The east-west fusion is at its starkest at dinner full to bursting with local and seasonal Japanese produce has a distinctly European haute cuisine aspect On our visit the seven courses ran the gamut from squid truffle and wagyu raspberries to scallops with champagne sauce and fish of the day served with Kyoho grape can be ordered either in its Japanese or western incarnation I can hand-on-heart say the cost is thoroughly worth it the supernaturally attentive omotenashi-style hospitality it all coalesces to form something wholly unique and unforgettable.  Booted out of the ryokan and have a bit of time to kill in Atami itself You’re in luck: this is a great town Culture vultures will have a delightful time pottering around the MOA Museum of Art and Atami Castle We also recommend kiunkaku - a beautifully preserved historic villa that was one of the first in Japan to blend European and Japanese styles of architecture In nice weather Atami is also just a charming place for a wander - with its vertiginous streets palm-lined roads and beautiful ocean views There’s also the town’s shotengai (covered shopping street) which has tons of local goods on sale.  Thanks for subscribing! 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About us Contact us Shizuoka (Jiji Press) — A ceremony was held in Atami to mourn 28 people who lost their lives due to a major mudslide three years ago please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent Residents and people affected by the mudslide offered a moment of silence across the city at 10:28 a.m. when the first report of the disaster came in three years ago “We will tackle challenges steadily so that people can get back their peaceful lives as soon as possible.” who lost a daughter who was 44 years old at the time Yasutomo Suzuki after the ceremony and urged him to investigate the cause of the disaster and take responsibility A massive soil mound near the upper stream area of the Aizome River collapsed due to heavy rain 47 people from 22 households had returned to Izusan a heavily damaged district that had been off-limits until September last year while 63 people from 32 households still live as evacuees Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun What do you do if you’re blessed with dazzling good looks and the girls at your high school keep asking you out you turn them down because you’ve come to realize that you prefer guys Since his one and only attempt (at the end of middle school) to tell his then-crush how he felt was rejected he’s been left wondering why and this unanswered question haunts his every interaction he’s made a good friend in the second year in Adachi-san (friend not crush) from hanging out together at lunchtimes and Adachi is easy-going and always happy to listen to Atami’s concerns He invites Atami home for a meal where Atami is made to feel very welcome (he lives with his father so he appreciates being part of the bustling Adachi watches as Atami turns down proposals from girls and falls for one unlikely guy after another and picks up the pieces afterward by discussing in a matter-of-fact way with him what’s happened Atami meets Adachi’s friend Kunijima (also in the second year) and the three hang out together When Atami’s class has to move places in the classroom he finds himself sitting behind the painfully shy and retiring Tsuji-kun who only communicates – at first – in strange grunts and avoids eye contact Atami has noticed that Tsuji spends much of his time in lessons doing elaborate doodles and eventually asks him one lunchtime to have a chat outside the classroom Has he made a friend in his own class at last Atami-kun is the first manga by Asa Tanuma to be published in English and won the 2023 Yofukashi Manga Award from Bungeishunjuu’s CREA magazine It’s described as Boys’ Love but if you pick it up expecting a romance The manga proceeds at a leisurely (some would even say slow) pace to follow Atami’s day-to-day life his encounters with other people and the conversations that he has with them Everyone speaks in the Kansai dialect (unobtrusively and effectively rendered into the US equivalent by translator Amanda Haley) It riffs gently and with wry humour on the issues that beset us all when we’re in our teens (and later) When Adachi gets interested in a young florist at a local store it takes courage to make a face-to-face confession and face rejection Even though the story revolves around Atami discovering that he’s gay and the potential problems that arise from this his discussions with Adachi (and Adachi’s family) about life and relationships and anything are very realistically and relatably depicted Adachi tells Atami early on that he isn’t interested him ‘in that way’ and rejects him ‘properly’ which Atami appreciates as that means he knows where he stands with his senpai It doesn’t get in the way of their friendship too (a refreshing situation to see portrayed in BL!) and it also means Atami can continue coming over for dinner on Fridays when a senpai from another school hits on Atami (he catches the same train which is awkward) Atami feels deeply uncomfortable The mangaka’s art style could best be described as minimal but is very distinctive given the way she portrays all her characters Atami-kun doesn’t look especially handsome or gorgeous compared with his peers which means that one of the main points of the story doesn’t quite work (not for me But seeing the world through Atami-kun’s eyes is what gives the manga its unique and special quality His earnest soul-searching is very relatable as Atami does: ‘The trains are still runnin’ on time And my feet keep movin’ on their own Amanda Haley’s translation for Yen Press works extremely well; I thought I might have been irritated by the ‘Kansai dialect’ (Kansai-ben) rendered in English but she does it so skilfully that it is in no way a problem She also gives us a very useful couple of pages of translation notes The lettering by Elena Pizarro is similarly unobtrusive; there’s a great deal of conversation in this manga but she delivers where it counts Volume 2 is already out in Japan and Volume 3 has just been released although no sign yet of when Yen Press are going to bring us the next in the series; I hope we won’t have to wait too long Atami-kun is the kind of manga that repays several readings The relaxed art style might lead the reader to assume they’re in for a different kind of story maybe a more in-your-face high school comedy but the character interactions are quietly infused with observations on life and relationships (of all kinds) and the humour is subtle Our review copy from Yen Press was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK More snapshots from the everyday routine of high schooler Atami-kun as he and his friends discuss life and what it means to be in love… The ups and downs of day-to-day life of high school boys seen through the eyes of two dorm roommates getting to know each other… Christmas is approaching and Yamato wants to ask his childhood friend Kakeru out on a date – but will Kakeru accept And will going on a date place too much strain on their changing relationship Yuriko and Gakurouta have just got married – but they’ve embarked on a twenty-first century marriage of convenience and companionship Can this evolve into a rewarding relationship for the two of them The 81st annual Plum Festival kicked off at Atami Plum Garden in Shizuoka Prefecture on January 11 Atami Geisha also celebrated by giving a performance at the opening ceremony The garden boasts 469 plum trees of 60 different varieties 222 of them have started to flower as of January 24 Visitors were seen taking photos of the flowers The festival will run until March 2.  About Nippon Television By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. KanagawaPhoto: Yoshitaka Sato/Pixta10 best places to see winter cherry blossoms in Japan – outside of TokyoStart your hanami early at these gorgeous winter sakura spots across Japan: Osaka Waiting patiently for this year’s spring cherry blossoms to appear You can get a glimpse of spring long before the season rolls around you’ll find beautiful varieties of winter sakura trees that bloom from as early as January through to March.  Kawazu-zakura is one of the most common winter cherry blossom varieties and is a tree native to Shizuoka prefecture These pretty pink flowers usually bloom between February and March they have a longer lifespan than their spring cousins and usually last around a month Other varieties include the vibrant pink kanhi-zakura trees commonly found in Okinawa and atami-zakura which are indigineous to the coastal city of Atami If you’re planning on blossom hopping outside of Tokyo rivers and scenic spots around Japan to capture these impressive winter blossoms RECOMMENDED: Where to see winter cherry blossoms in Tokyo  Photo: ©Acao Spa & Resort | アカオ フォレストYou don't have to travel too far from Tokyo to find stunning winter cherry blossom and boasts stunning atami-zakura blossoms Peak season here is from mid-January to early February so you still have time to see the blossoms across the park's 13 themed flower gardens.  Photo: Genki/PixtaThis serene park in Yokohama is home to an extraordinary 1,600 sakura trees in 78 different varieties The prominent early bloomers here include the kanhi-zakura trees that often flower from mid-February As there’s such a wide variety of cherry blossom trees here you’re bound to see blooms on any visit between mid-February and April the park is close to Tokyo and completely free to enter Photo: Yoshitaka Sato/PixtaHead to the Mt Matsuda Herb Garden at Nishihirabatake Park for two things: sakura and views of Mt Fuji The park is home to roughly 360 pink kawazu-zakura trees the Herb Garden also gives you panoramic views of Sagami Bay and the Hakone Mountains.  Photo: Yuu/PixtaTake a road trip through the city of Tsukimi in Oita prefecture, and you’ll be graced with views of 5,000 kawazu-zakura trees lining the rugged coastline. The cherry blossoms start blooming in early February and usually reach their peak by the middle of the month. You can keep track of the flowering status here Photo: Cybister/PixtaOkinawa is much further south than the rest of Japan, so it’s only right that sakura bloom first on the subtropical islands. In Okinawa, you’ll find the kanhi-zakura species of cherry blossoms – they flourish well in humid climates, often blooming from the end of January to the beginning of February. One of the best spots to catch them is at the Nakijin Castle Ruins one of Okinawa’s Unesco World Heritage Sites.  Photo: Leung Cho Pan/DreamstimeKawazu-zakura were first discovered back in 1972 in Kawazu it’s one of the first places you can see cherry blossoms in Japan with trees often blooming from early February to early March One of the best spots to capture the flowers is along the Kawazu River just a short ten-minute walk from Kawazu Station There are approximately 850 trees lining the river and they are also illuminated at night be sure to head south to catch the sakura lining the Aono River at Shimogamo Onsen Photo: katudon1967/Photo ACThis little-known spot in Kyoto is home to approximately 200 kawazu-zakura trees planted along a small canal. The flowers here usually hit full bloom from mid-February and stick around until late March. These early bloomers are a bright, vivid pink in contrast to the more white-coloured somei-yoshino variety and are just as beautiful when the petals start to fall and float down the canal. Photo: prof240530/PixtaThis large park south of central Osaka is well-equipped for physical activity, with a baseball stadium, swimming pool, tennis courts and multiple shrines for a quiet cooldown. However, it’s also known for its flora, especially cherry blossoms. The greenspace boasts colourful plum blossoms and the winter-blooming kanhi-zakura trees from early February. It’s also worth a visit further into sakura season as somei-yoshino trees bloom later in March and April. Photo: Keisuke TanigawaNo need to wait until spring – here are the best parks gardens and shrines in Tokyo to see these early-blooming sakura There's more to these pink and white flowers than you think Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Immerse yourself in one of Japan’s oldest traditional practices Relaxing in a communal hot bath (ofuro) is a time-honored ritual in Japan and one which many international visitors are keen to try Explore options for experiencing this quintessential Japanese tradition in and around Tokyo and find out more about the history and etiquette of bathing culture Occupying the top five floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Building near Tokyo Station the Bulgari combines Italian flair and Japanese artistry The gorgeous Bulgari Spa area floor includes a Japanese bath plus a showstopping emerald green swimming pool Four Seasons Hotel at Otemachi Drawing on the concept of “East meets West” the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi blends a Japanese Zen aesthetic with modern luxury to provide a spa experience that will leave guests feeling relaxed and refreshed in mind and body This sky-high urban retreat overlooks the Imperial Palace Aman Tokyo The hotel employs the timeless beauty of natural materials to create a sense of minimalist sophistication and this design concept is carried through to the comprehensive spa which includes a 30-meter pool and dedicated yoga and Pilates studios Take advantage of the complimentary wellness classes to complete your blissful experience atop the Otemachi Tower at the Aman Tokyo Going Local at the Sento For a completely different kind of bathing experience consider visiting a Japanese public bathhouse These communal baths (segregated by gender) played an important role in daily health and hygiene in Tokyo in the post-war years when the population was growing rapidly and many cramped dwellings didn’t have bathing facilities sento served as community hubs for social interaction offering a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors for a leisurely chat They began dwindling in the 1960s as more homes became equipped with efficient modern bathrooms and now younger generations of Tokyoites and foreign visitors alike are discovering their charms Most sento open in the early afternoon and close around 1 AM Visitors should take their own towels and amenities One sento stalwart with a decidedly retro vibe is Atami-yu a fixture in Tokyo’s Kagurazaka neighborhood since 1954 The geisha of Kagurazaka used to visit twice a day and then to wash away their makeup and their fatigue at the end of a long evening These days Atami-yu attracts a diverse range of clients including international visitors looking for an authentic sento experience The water in the ofuro is still heated by burning wood and the walls are decorated with a mural of Mt Onsen—Nature’s Warm Embrace In contrast to sento Japan’s onsen (hot spring) facilities utilize mineral-rich water naturally heated by the earth Onsen water must meet certain requirements including being at least 25 degrees Celsius at the source and containing specified amounts of minerals Onsen bathing is mentioned in records dating back to the sixth century and this history is intertwined with Shinto and Buddhist traditions In the Middle Ages samurai visited onsen to rest and recuperate after battle and onsen towns flourished around the country to meet these needs the appeal of onsen spread to the general populace and they became popular vacation destinations The onsen experience is best savored in a leisurely fashion with an overnight stay at a hot spring resort Easily reached from Tokyo and surrounded by nature a stay at one of these MICHELIN Guide hotels is the perfect introduction to the charms of onsen FuFu Kawaguchiko Set among a tranquil forest in Yamanashi prefecture the hotel is a short walk from the shores of Kawaguchiko But that’s not the half of it—every guest room has a direct view of iconic Mt Communal baths and spa treatments are also available The beautifully-presented kaiseki dinners showcase the best of local ingredients and the loving attention to detail that characterize Japanese cuisine at its finest Take an express bus from Shinjuku or Tokyo to Kawaguchiko Station and from there it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to FuFu Kawaguchiko Atami Izuzan Karaku The seaside city of Atami is the gateway to the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture Situated on a hilltop a short distance from the city center Atami Izuzan Karaku affords stunning views of Sagami Bay while the comprehensive communal spa features both indoor and outdoor baths the hotel offers a sushi bar and a restaurant specializing in kaiseki-style seafood dishes take a bullet train or the Odoriko express train from Tokyo to Atami Station and then catch the hotel’s complimentary shuttle bus Louise George Kittaka is a Japan-based freelance writer and cross-cultural specialist with a passion for exploring the country she has called home for more than two decades and collecting anything related to the Aliens movie franchise From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York Update your must-visit list with The MICHELIN Guide’s new London restaurants the best hotel rooftops are a go-to when you touch down What the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Saw in 2025 The Mexican capital takes center stage alongside the culinary world's top talents From Texas Barbecue to Mexico City's cutting-edge dining these new MICHELIN Guide hot spots promise unforgettable vacations and world-class cuisine These are the best lake vacations for a summer break from Lake Tahoe in the US to Lake Como in Switzerland and the MICHELIN-recommended restaurants and bolt holes to bed down in when you visit The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have already added hundreds of hotels to the MICHELIN selection in 2025 we’re highlighting a special list of 10 that thrive in the sunny season where do fashion’s biggest names retreat for a bite and a bed We imagine the post-Gala sanctuaries of the chicest attendees these iconic chefs mentor professional chefs who have an ego Who knew brisket and biscuits could be so good From tartan fabrics and stag antler furnishings to rare Scotch whiskies and castle views you'll have no doubt which country you're in when staying at these Michelin-Key hotels she has championed America’s farm-to-table movement for 54 years Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Relaxing in a communal hot bath (ofuro) is a time-honored ritual in Japan and one which many international visitors are keen to try. Explore options for experiencing this quintessential Japanese tradition in and around Tokyo, and find out more about the history and etiquette of bathing culture. Occupying the top five floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Building near Tokyo Station, the Bulgari combines Italian flair and Japanese artistry. The gorgeous Bulgari Spa area floor includes a Japanese bath, sauna, steam room and nine treatment rooms, plus a showstopping emerald green swimming pool. The upper part remains as an old folk house with urethane insulation and ceiling structures exposed left as it is from the dismantling process the lower part is completely minimal and modern in the monochrome color scheme while three wooden pillars were left to make partial continuity from the ceiling to the floor The white concrete wall by the kitchen area does not adjoin the ceiling nor other walls and its arrangement is adapted to the space through a two-dimensional cut-and-paste layering/zapping idea – visitors are left to enjoy a tricky yet refined and inspirational stay at Yutorie to trigger their sense You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors From September 4 to November 27, 2023, Risonare Atami, a luxury hotel in Japan's scenic Shizuoka Prefecture, is offering a unique experience that combines the joys of karaoke with the tranquil ambiance of Sagami Bay. Guests have the opportunity to sing from boats designed like traditional Japanese wooden bath buckets, or oke, while holding a glass of champagne and enjoying views of the Atami cityscape. The concept, dubbed "Marine Kara-oke," aims to blend musical entertainment with elements of water and nature, reflecting Atami's reputation as a famous hot spring destination.The experience kicks off from Southern Atami, just a 20-minute car ride from the hotel. Once aboard these specially crafted boats designed for comfort and relaxation, participants can sing to their heart’s content. (Micriophones, speakers, tambourines and maracas are also provided). The Marine Kara-oke runs every Monday between 3pm and 5pm, with one hour designated for the aquatic singing adventure and another hour allocated for transportation to and from the starting point. The package is priced at ¥40,000 (£219) and includes not only the unique Marine Kara-oke experience but also a bottle of champagne. For an additional  ¥15,000 (£82), singers can order bruschetta with caviar and ricotta cheese. Open to groups of up to people, with a maximum capacity of one group per day, the experience also adheres to safety standards by requiring participants to be at least 20 years old – Japan's legal drinking age – and to wear life jackets while on the water. Search and rescue (SAR) operations involving of over 1,000 personnel Since then 3 more bodies have been located between 25 and 29 people were still unaccounted for The disaster occurred after torrential rainfall in the area pushed mud and debris down slopes surrounding the seaside city of Atami in the district of Itazuma in Shizuoka Prefecture More than 120 homes have been damaged or destroyed Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority released the aerial photographs of the site showing that the debris flow travelled a significant distance from slopes above Atami before widening and crashing through homes and streets of the city below Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList an event in which the audience can enjoy meals with dinnerware made by traditional craftsmen and special performances of traditional Japanese dancing by living national treasure kabuki actor Bando Tamasaburo will be held at the MOA Museum of Art in Atami talks by artists and craftsmen at the forefront of traditional artistic fields are also scheduled a metal crafts artist and former commissioner of the Cultural Affairs Agency an urushi artist and living national treasure maki-e lacquerware artist on Nov a porcelain artist and living national treasure as an artist of multicolored porcelain a metal crafts artist and living national treasure as a creator of hammered works on Nov The artists will talk about their respective work and the appeal of Japanese crafts The special performances by Bando Tamasaburo will feature two sets of dances “Ogata Korin’s Opus Magnum: Red and White Plum Blossoms meets Wind God and Thunder God.” The two sets of picture screens will be displayed together for the first time in 39 years and other works by Rinpa school artists will also be shown Kogei Dining has been held as part of Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 which the government organizes for the promotion of tourism and cultural arts Yomiuri Travel Service invites participants to come and enjoy Kogei Dining Japanese cuisine is served at ¥55,000 for each guest and Western cuisine is served on Nov please contact Yomiuri Travel Service at inbound@yomiuri-ryokou.co.jp A man watches as rescuers continue a search operation Monday at the site of a mudslide at Izusan in Atami Japan — Rescue workers dug through sludge and debris Monday looking for dozens of people who may be trapped after a a torrent of mud trees and rocks ripped with a roar through a Japanese seaside resort town Eighty people were still unaccounted for two days after the landslide according to Shizuoka prefectural disaster management official Takamichi Sugiyama hoping that perhaps some were away when the disaster struck since many of the apartments and houses in Atami are second homes or vacation rentals but that number was revised downward after officials confirmed some had safely evacuated or were simply not at home officials said 25 people have been rescued The disaster is an added trial as authorities prepare for the Tokyo Olympics while Japan is still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic with cases steadily climbing in the capital and experts suggesting a need for another state of emergency Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters that rescue workers are doing their utmost "to rescue those who may be buried under the mud and waiting for help as soon as possible." Three coast guard ships and six military drones were backing up hundreds of troops firefighters and others toiling in the rain and fog The landslide occurred Saturday mid-morning after days of heavy rain in Atami which like many seaside Japanese towns is built into a steep hillside The town has a registered population of 36,800 and is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo Officials stand Monday near a mudslide area caused by heavy rains in Atami who inspected the area Monday where the mudslide was believed to have started said rain soaked into the mountainside apparently weakening the ground under a massive pile of soil at a construction site that then slid down the slope Media reports said a planned housing development in the area was abandoned after its operator ran into financial problems Witnesses described a giant roar as a small stream turned into a torrent and bystanders were heard gasping in horror on cellphone videos taken as it happened The Izusan area is one of 660,000 locations in Japan identified as prone to mudslides by the government but those designations are not widely publicized and public awareness is low is often a time of deadly flooding and mudslides and many experts say the rains are worsening due to climate change Rescuers continue a search operation at the site of a mudslide at Izusan in Atami With other parts of the country expecting heavy downpours authorities were urging people near hillsides in areas at risk to use caution Public broadcaster NHK carried a program Monday about risk factors and warning signs that might precede a landslide flooding and mudslides triggered by heavy rain in Kumamoto and four other prefectures in the Kyushu region in southern Japan left nearly 80 people dead hillsides in crowded residential areas in Hiroshima collapsed mudslides and flooding in the Kyushu region killed 40 an employee at a care home for the elderly said the mudslide came close to but narrowly missed her house Okamoto said she hasn't been back home since fleeing because she is helping residents at the care home But her neighbor is still looking for his wife Become an NPR sponsor Japanese version — As Oregon maneuvers to become a leading economy in the semiconductor industry businesses in the state are working to gain from recent investments Tina Kotek (D-Ore.) awarded 240 million dollars in state funds to 15 different companies as part of Oregon's CHIPS Act The highest recipient was Intel in Hillsboro The lowest amount given out was $250,000 to Amorphyx a startup in Corvallis that uses Oregon State University as a hub for research Staffed primarily with current or former Oregon State students Amorphyx is a startup in the semiconductor industry founded about 10 years ago to license technology of displays like those on phones or tablets or televisions let's try something," Amorphyx CEO John Brewer remembered We finally got ourselves to the point where we were pretty convinced we'd actually come up with something and of course we filed patents on all of it It doesn't have the money to build its own massive factory "In Corvallis there's lots of good material science knowledge but because it's all academic it's focused on all over the horizon material stuff and really what companies like us do is take that and go let's go make some money with that and commercialize it," Brewer said Amorphyx is one of several small businesses working at OSU's Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute (ATAMI) It's actually an old Hewlett-Packard building "When you can go to Oregon State and say I just want to drop this into it,' and they charge you That takes hundreds of thousands to million dollars of capital equipment costs off the table," Brewer explained He said there's no way his company would survive without the university partnership "The beauty of doing it with a startup like us is you will get your hands dirty," he said I need an engineer and they need to dig in and so far what we've seen is the students are really gung-ho about doing it." Now Brewer is preparing for an influx of $250,000 from the Oregon CHIPS Act "For the level of ambiguity of where we are and where semiconductors are going today I give the state and especially OSU a lot of credit for pushing all the chips in Amorphyx will use that money for more efficient equipment to continue work on displays Amorphyx is also in the process of applying for federal grants from President Biden's federal CHIPS Act That application process just opened this month Number rose after officials in Atami checked residential registers rather than relying on reports of missing people following mudslide Officials in Japan have dramatically raised their estimate of the number of people still missing after a mudslide ripped through a seaside town at the weekend. Reports said three people had died in the disaster, which occurred after days of torrential rain in Atami, a famous hot spring resort about 60 miles (90 km) south-west of Tokyo. Officials had initially said about 20 people remained unaccounted for, but the number rose to 113 after they checked residential registers rather than relying on reports of missing people. Read more“We’re in touch with various groups and pushing forward with the search,” local spokesman Hiroki Onuma told Reuters Shizuoka prefecture received the usual monthly amount of rain for July in just 24 hours loosening huge quantities of soil which poured down the hill slopes Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty ImagesOnuma said the rain had stopped in Atami but added that more was forecast Several landslides crashed through part of the town on Saturday morning sending torrents of mud and rock through streets and destroying about 130 buildings firefighters and soldiers from the self-defence forces were trying to locate survivors “We want to rescue as many victims who have buried in the rubble as we can said authorities would investigate if building projects in the area had reduced the mountain’s ability to retain water and triggered the mudslide Members of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces conduct a search and rescue operation after a mudslide hit the resort town of Atami, Japan. Photograph: KYODO/Reuters“The prefecture will examine the causal relationship between the two factors,” the Kyodo news agency quoted him as saying. Heavy rainfall exceeded the usual monthly total for July in just 24 hours, loosening huge quantities of soil that cascaded down steep slopes leading to the Pacific Ocean. Read moreWith much of Japan affected by the annual rainy season the meteorological agency said heavy rain was also expected on the opposite side of the country and warned people to be vigilant against further mudslides “My mother is still missing,” a resident of Atami told the public broadcaster NHK “I never imagined something like this could happen.” who returned to his home town to check the damage said the mud had coursed down a steep mountain slope and became a deluge when it reached a narrow river below “I just wanted to cry when I saw what had happened,” he said ShareSaveCommentLifestyleForbesLifeWhy You Should Add Tokyo’s Secret Seaside Retreat To Your Travel ListByDavid Hochman Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 11:57am EDTShareSaveCommentAtami is often overlooked as a destination by international travelers to Japan but the seaside town .. More south of Tokyo certainly has its charms An hour and a half south by train from Tokyo Station the town of Atami on the eastern coast of Japan’s Izu Peninsula is known for its natural hot springs and scenic panoramas of the Pacific Ocean But most international visitors tend to travel instead to more popular towns like Hakone with its beaches and historic 12th century shrines and temples The rooftop gardens in the private villa at The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami all with the style and elegance of a French auberge is a chef with a longstanding passion for French food and he developed the Atami property as a dining destination in the manner of French country inns and is built in the sukiya-zukuri style of Japanese architecture called "Matsu-no-ma," is designed like a traditional private residence with shoji screens separating rooms and tatami reed mats lining the floors Outdoor private gardens with Japanese black pine trees and an open-air hot spring bath overlook the peninsula’s coastline Inside the traditional villa atop The Hiramatsu Hotel & Resorts Atami art by Joan Miro and Japanese landscape painter Tamako Kataoka But it’s the food that most overnight guests talk about The menu mixes flavors from Japan with French culinary techniques and dinner is served with a formal touch: white table linens and elegant wine service that draws from an outstanding cellar Look again: Atami Castle isn't ancient More built in 1959 to attract Tokyo businessmen on seaside getaways Menu Listen The Tokyo-based songwriter plays through the track from his recent debut LP in the seaside city With 232 pages and an expanded 12″ by 12″ format our biggest print issue yet celebrates the people and Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records the sophomore album from the endearing Brighton duo is a jolt of punk-rock beauty The NYC-based project’s second album delights in its confident sense of chaos with vocalist Cole Haden knowing full well there’s no way we’re going to avert our gaze for a single moment Channeling Ziggy Stardust’s glam transcendence Will Toledo resurrects the album as a grandiose narrative vehicle while marking his valiant stride into the rock canon Over the summer, Yuma Abe released his debut collection of songs inspired by the ambient folk and electronic sounds of Mort Garson and Haruomi Hosono—the latter finding himself involved in the mixing of Fantasia Abe enlisted former tour mate Devendra Banhart to play guitar on the pre-album single “Omaemo,” a low-energy acoustic track that reflects the oddball folk of Banhart’s own recordings “​​A monster with terrifying eyes might actually be crying inside,” Abe shares of the single It’s important that we use our imagination It was this track Abe chose to play for his “Neighborhoods” set filmed in Atami a seaside city about an hour and a half outside his hometown of Tokyo “Atami is one of the most famous getaway destinations in Japan,” he notes Japanese people go there to relax.” Backed by an additional guitar and maracas (their sounds somehow amplified by their percussionist’s sombrero) watch Abe play the track in front of tranquil greenery below Read about Jacksonville University's Future Focused initiative, including reimagined academic offerings here We appreciate your understanding during this transition Apply | My JU | Give Now If JavaScript is not enabled on your browser 2023 – ORIX Real Estate Corporation (“ORIX Real Estate”) announced today that Atami Izusan KARAKU The onsen resort will be operated by ORIX Group company ORIX Hotel Management Corporation The Atami Izusan KARAKU will be the second facility under the flagship luxury onsen resort brand KARAKU of ORIX Hotel Management’s business brand Under the brand concept of “a place where beautiful vitality is born,” KARAKU will provide a space and service where all guests can relax and unwind to their heart’s content.Utilizing its location on a hilltop approximately 1.9 km from JR Atami Station and approximately seven minutes by car the reception area welcome guests on the eighth floor The eighth floor features a water basin terrace arranged to look like it extends into Sagami Bay while the seventh floor features two large public baths each equipped with an open-air bath with a magnificent view All 57 guest rooms will have an open-air bath and there will be four types of rooms ranging from deluxe to suites with floor space ranging from approximately 51.47 m2 to 70.17 m2 There will also be two guest lounges and two restaurants as common facilities.The Atami Izusan KARAKU has obtained a B+ rating for Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE*2) and installed six charging ports for electric vehicles (EVs) in the parking lot We will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society such as by using electricity derived from renewable energy sources using a non-fossil certificate with tracking (designated as renewable energy) to power the whole facility.ORIX Real Estate will continue to strive for environmental friendliness and security and develop attractive facilities *1 “’KARAKU’ Luxury Onsen Hotel Brand ORIX Real Estate to Develop Onsen Hotel in Izusan, Atami” (December 12, 2022)*2 A system that comprehensively evaluates the quality of buildings including environmental considerations such as energy-saving and the usage of environmentally friendly equipment and materials as well as provision of a comfortable indoor environment and consideration for the surrounding landscape Atami Izusan KARAKU is located on a hill overlooking Sagami Bay along Route 135 approximately 1.9 km from JR Atami Station The surrounding area is dotted with luxury onsen resorts and vacation homes and is a quiet and serene location rich in nature and views of the ocean The exterior of the facility is designed to harmonize with the surrounding nature of the mountains of Atami and the sea of Sagami Bay and the stones and tiles are varied in color and gloss to create a distinguished and luxurious atmosphere A reception area overlooking Sagami Bay is located on the top floor (eighth floor) The south side of this area has floor-to-ceiling glass windows for an open view and a water basin has been installed outside on the south side to create the effect of the sea and the sky merging into one A footbath and terrace are also available to relax and enjoy the nature.Art walls installed in the elevator hall and reception area depict the various faces of waves such as waves lapping against the rocks and rolling waves Public Baths “Soukai” and “Atami” / 7th Floor The seventh floor features two large baths “Soukai (men’s bath)” and “Atami (women’s bath).” The open-air baths are 900 mm deep and offer a panoramic view of Sagami Bay “Soukai” is equipped with a dry sauna and “Atami” with a steam sauna Guests can relax and enjoy the Izusan Onsen in an open space There is also a post-bath salon where guests can comfortably relax in yukata This facility has a total of 57 guest rooms Four types of rooms are available: “Deluxe Rooms,” available in Japanese and Western styles “KARAKU Rooms” and “Universal Rooms,” located on the upper floors and the special “KARAKU Suite,” only two of which are located on the top floor Rooms range in size from approximately 51.47 m2 to 70.17 m2 and all are equipped with an open-air onsen bath.The interior design was inspired by two different images of Sagami Bay Restaurant “MUTSUKI” and Sushi Restaurant “AIJU” / 1st Floor Two restaurant options are available on the first floor: the MUTSUKI restaurant and the AIJU sushi restaurant Guests can choose between kaiseki and sushi for dinner MUTSUKI is a spacious dining venue with seating for 126 guests where guests can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine centered on seafood in a kaiseki style AIJU offers sushi made with fresh seafood at the counter made of a single piece of hinoki cypress 10 seats at the counter and four tables (16 seats) in a semi-private room are also available Guest Lounges “AWAI” and “TOKI” located on the eighth floor as part of the reception area These lounges with different atmospheres will entertain guests with a variety of drinks and snacks.AWAI is one of KARAKU’s symbolic guest lounges It offers each guest a moment of quality relaxation with modern minimalist furnishings and a spectacular view of Sagami Bay.TOKI was designed to evoke the history of Atami which was a popular vacation spot for many cultural figures where they can enjoy the view of the mountains of Atami ■About KARAKUKARAKU is a luxury onsen resort created so that all guests can relax and unwind to their heart’s content It delivers the finest experience by uncompromisingly pursuing the essentials with attentive hospitality and various spaces (“AWAI”) under the brand concept of “a place where beautiful vitality is born.” KARAKU was created as the flagship brand of ORIX HOTELS & RESORTS and Hakone Gora KARAKU was the first onsen resort in the brand to open in October 2020 ■About ORIX HOTELS & RESORTSORIX HOTELS & RESORTS is the business brand for onsen resorts and hotels run by ORIX Hotel Management the brand covers a wide range in both onsen resorts and hotels providing visiting guests with experiences to match their various life stages in order to be “a location to which customers wish to return.” ORIX HOTELS & RESORTS currently has 13 onsen resorts and hotels under five brands throughout Japan from Hokkaido in the north to Fukuoka and Oita in the south Contact Information: Investor Relations and Sustainability Department ORIX Corporation Tel: +81-3-3435-3121 Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements:These documents may contain forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial results that involve risks and uncertainties Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results that differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements Factors that could cause such a difference include those described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and under “(4) Risk Factors” of the “1 Summary of Consolidated Financial Results” of the “Consolidated Financial Results April 1 2023 News Releases List Today's print edition Home Delivery Heavy rain was lashing the greater Tokyo area on Tuesday with the Meteorological Agency warning of the risk of floods and landslides Warm and humid air driven by a low-pressure system has destabilized the atmosphere resulting in intense rainfall in some areas and potentially leading to instances of flooded roads according to the Japan Weather Association a private weather forecasting outlet.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); with up to 200 millimeters possible in the southern Kanto region 150 millimeters in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures and 120 millimeters in northern Kanto and the Izu Islands The low-pressure system is anticipated to further develop as it moves eastward potentially bringing hourly rainfall rates of up to 40 millimeters an hour accompanied by thunderstorms in localized areas across the greater Tokyo area Tuesday’s rainfall has substantially lowered temperatures in the area Compared to midday highs exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in many areas on Monday temperatures are expected to top out at 19 degrees in Tokyo and 21 degrees in Yokohama East Japan Railway has advised commuters to prepare for possible disruptions through Tuesday evening with services between Odawara and Atami stations on the Tokaido Line set to be suspended from 2 p.m The Ito Line between Atami and Ito stations in Shizuoka Prefecture has already been suspended the Meteorological Agency has urged vigilance against potential hazards including landslides In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By 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To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division 2022 at 10:30 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Heading out to grab a bite to eat Get the dish on recent restaurant inspections at Canton establishments GA — The Cherokee County Public Health Department conducted food service inspections April 7-14 at the below establishments Any establishments with grades below an A have the inspector's notes listed Atami Grill & Sushi (Food Service Inspections)6768 HICKORY FLAT HWY STE 116 CANTON, GA 30115View inspections:April 13, 2022 Score: 83, Grade: B Canton Nutrition (Food Service Inspections)149 REINHARDT COLLEGE PKWY STE 5 CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 11, 2022 Score: 99, Grade: A Canton Nutrition (Food Service Inspections)901 WALESKA RD CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 13, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A Club Vida Y Bienestar (Food Service Inspections)65 WALESKA ST CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 12, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A Dean Rusk Middle School (Food Service Inspections)2761 E CHEROKEE DR CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 13, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A Guthrie's (Food Service Inspections)176 VINCE MEROLLA CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 12, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A Martin's Restaurants (Food Service Inspections)3494 MARIETTA HWY CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 12, 2022 Score: 73, Grade: C Riverstone Corner Bistro (Food Service Inspections)151 REINHARDT COLLEGE PKWY STE 103 CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 13, 2022 Score: 84, Grade: B Salud es Vida (Food Service Inspections)2530 MARIETTA HWY STE 110 CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 13, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A The Arbor at Bridgemill (Food Service Inspections)700 FREEDOM BLVD CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 12, 2022 Score: 73, Grade: C The Basket Shack (Food Service Inspections)1054 MARIETTA RD CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 7, 2022 Score: 80, Grade: B Wickshire Canton (Food Service Inspections)125 RIVERSTONE TER CANTON, GA 30114View inspections:April 7, 2022 Score: 93, Grade: A Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. located just a short walk from the ancient kinomiya shrine covering an area of about 60 square meters the form of the compact project is defined by the steep slope on which it is sited the site itself was carved out of this slope a slight gradient extends toward the lowest point of the site while the pleasant sound of a small stream can be heard throughout the area the team seeks to generate a space that would relieve visitors from the harshness of the slope so that they might savor the subtle charms that can be seen and heard hidden away from the surroundings when designing the tea house, yamazaki kentaro design workshop (YKDW) made use of a concrete retaining wall along the long axis of the narrow site this element protects the area against landslides from the top of the dramatic slope a structure of light timber framing is hung along an L-shaped foundation of reinforced concrete which projects upward from the ground reinforced concrete construction protects visitors from inclement environments while the wooden frame introduces a softer ‘we felt this to be the most suitable structure for this site,’ continues yamazaki kentaro design workshop. ‘in addition, since the horizontal force is borne by the concrete structure, it was not necessary to install any structural reinforcements in the upper wooden portion that would obstruct the scenery.’ see other projects by YKDW on designboom here architecture: yamazaki kentaro design workshop structure: shuji tada structural design office AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style A convenient 1.5-hour train ride from Yokosuka Atami (the town’s name means “hot sea”) has been a famous hot spring destination for over a millennium The city experienced a massive building boom during the 1980s bubble economy and was a popular weekend getaway for company retreats hosted at Atami’s many hot spring hotels dated entertainment like the Atami Adult Museum and delightfully retro kissaten (coffee shops) and old-school covered shopping arcades dotted around town How to get there: JR Tokaido and Ito lines or Tokaido Shinkansen Getting around town: Grab English-language maps and information at the small tourist information center next to the station then hop the Yu-Yu Loop Bus outside Atami Station for an easy way to get to the major tourist destinations A one-day pass is 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for children Hot springs Atami’s seven hot springs are rich in chloride and sulfate There are more than two dozen hot spring hotels and bathhouses scattered around Atami; the larger ones offer foreign-language support including the free Ieyasu-No-Yu right outside JR Atami station Towels are available from the vending machine for 100 yen Another free footbath can be found at the lovely Atami Plum Garden Fun fact: Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa loved Atami’s hot spring waters so much he transported them to Edo Castle Ryokan Kiunkaku A melding of traditional Japanese and Western architecture Kiunkaku was originally the private villa of a shipping magnate Built in 1919 and converted to a ryokan in 1947 Kiunkaku hosted a number of notable Japanese writers and other celebrities until its closure in 1999; today it is owned by the city of Atami and is open to the public as a museum there’s a free app and audio-guide available in English that unlocks the secrets of Kiunkaku The lovely Yasuragi Café overlooks the traditional gardens this is a pleasant way to pass an afternoon Izusan Shrine Atami’s 2,000-year history is deeply entwined with Shinto If you’re up for a steep but rewarding climb brave the 837 stairs to small-but-scenic Izusan Shrine sought refuge and met his future wife (hence the matchmaking charms and reputation as a “love shrine”) and Ieyasu Tokugawa was said to worship The shrine’s iconic dragons are the guardians of Atami’s hot springs and said to be the source of its hot spring waters (the red dragon represents fire and the white dragon represents water) MOA Museum of Art Commanding a spectacular view of Sagami Bay MOA Museum of Art offers a number of national treasures and important artworks including Korin Ogata’s red and white plum blossom screen tea-leaf jar with wisteria design by Nonomura Ninsei and a Tokugawa tea ceremony room crafted of entirely of gool also founded the Hakone Museum of Art in Gora Atami Plum Garden Located 10 minutes on foot from JR Kinomiya Station (Ito Line) or a 10-minute taxi ride from JR Atami Station the Atami Plum Garden is home to some of Japan's earliest blooming plum varieties The annual plum festival showcases nearly 500 plum trees from nine different varieties Summer is approaching and we can soon look forward to warm nights lit up by spectacular fireworks festivals in and around Tokyo. One of the best displays is in the nearby hot spring town of Atami in Shizuoka prefecture The coastal resort is widely known for its massive fireworks shows and there will be five happening over July and August Atami is only a 36-minute shinkansen ride away from Shinagawa Station Atami’s fireworks festivals are scheduled for July 26 as well as August 5 The hanabi (fireworks) are launched from Atami Bay so you’ll get the best views along the coastline between Sun Beach and Atami Port Atami Bay’s mortar-like terrain helps create an acoustic effect similar to that of a large stadium The reverberations of the fireworks’ explosion will sound amplified Atami is known as one of the best locations for hanabi in Japan The fireworks’ reflections on the water’s surface also make for a memorable sight You’ll also want to stay until the end for the grand finale showcase known as Niagara Falls in the Sky where a torrent of fireworks are launched simultaneously Atami’s fireworks festival dates back to 1952 It was first held in honour of the reconstruction efforts by the local residents after a typhoon washed away 140 houses in 1949 and a large fire destroyed 979 buildings in 1950 Don’t worry if you can’t make it to any of the five summer shows Atami’s fireworks are held multiple times a year so you can still catch the autumn/winter shows on September 16 November 4 as well as December 8 and 22 between 8.20pm and 8.40pm For more information, see the event website (in Japanese only) This article was originally published on July 7 2022 and updated on May 9 2024 Tokyo Haneda is the world’s cleanest airport for 2024 Tsukiji Market site to become a commercial complex with stadium, hotel and more Tokyo ranked among the most affordable holiday destinations of 2024 Harajuku is bringing back its original 100-year-old station building The breathtaking 230m-high rooftop bar at Shibuya Sky is now open Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. More than 500 people continue to take shelter following a massive mudslide a week ago in central Japan but not in school gymnasiums as is usually the case for evacuees from natural disasters in the country a famed spa resort with plenty of hotels less than an hour from Tokyo by bullet train local hotel operators have offered to accept those affected by the mudslide which claimed at least nine lives with 20 people still missing New WelCity Yugawara took in about 90 people on July 3 "I could rest in a clean tatami room," said Kenji Aikawa A hotel with a hot spring is a world apart from a gymnasium sleeping on the floor in large numbers with little or no privacy Hotel New Akao told the city government the morning following the disaster that it was ready to accommodate evacuees After receiving a formal request from city officials to accept a group of elderly people who needed to evacuate from a care facility near the disaster zone the hotel spread futons over a large tatami room usually used for banquets It also provided rice balls accompanied by pork and vegetable soup to others affected by the disaster "We thought about what we could do as a hotel," said Shinobu Kamei "All of the hotel staff got fired up in preparations" for helping out a total of 572 people were staying in Atami New Fujiya Hotel and Hotel New Akao Most of them -- more than 500 -- were using Atami New Fujiya which decided to extend the initial plan by a week until July 16 to accommodate the evacuees major disaster for Atami," said Hotel New Akao's Kamei We don't know how long the situation requiring evacuation will last but we would like to offer full support," she said Some small-scale accommodation facilities in Atami have also started to take in evacuees free of charge Death toll from large mudslide in central Japan rises to 9 Rescue efforts continue after fatal mudslide rips central Japan city FOCUS: Improperly piled-up soil seen behind deadly central Japan mudslide To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" Surround yourself with beautiful blossoms at ACAO FOREST SAKURA BLOOMING You can buy tickets at the link below for convenience Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Shizuoka Prefecture--A teahouse in this coastal hot spring resort close to Tokyo is offering geisha shows as part of efforts to keep the dwindling cultural tradition alive The idea is to allow visitors to appreciate geisha culture in a relaxed setting at affordable prices are usually called upon to entertain guests at fancy ryokan inns and exclusive “ryotei” restaurants accepts reservations from groups of at least four guests to entertain them with food The teahouse has tables for up to 20 guests It currently offers a “bento” lunch box program from noon for 5,500 yen ($37) and a “matcha” powdered green tea one from around 2 p.m Plans are in the works to offer a dinner set complete with alcoholic drinks from late February geisha take to the stage to perform dances to the accompaniment of samisen “Zabuton” cushions are laid out for the guests to play games under the guidance of the geisha reached more than 1,000 in the late Showa Era (1926-1989) when group tours were popular but as of early 2020 there were only 100 or so due to increasingly diverse forms of tourism and other factors The decline coincided with the novel coronavirus pandemic “We opened the teahouse to create work opportunities instead of waiting for calls to come in,” said Akiko Ogasawara “We want to see the traditional culture continue.” The teahouse is not alone in trying to preserve the geisha tradition here The Atami Geigi Kenban Kaburenjo theater near the teahouse now offers a “Hana no Mai” dance show from 11 a.m A ticket for the teahouse that includes admission to the show costs 8,250 yen For reservations and inquiries, visit the union's official website at (https://atami-geigi.jp/index.html) Pandemic forces geisha to resort to doing discount shows in the day Hopes fading for survivors a week after Atami landslip disaster Panel blasts local entities for Atami landslide disaster in 2021 Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information 2023 at 6:00 PM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.A once-faded Japanese honeymoon hot spot is getting a new lease on life thanks in part to Chinese investment as industry insiders predict that more hot spring hotels will be the beneficiaries of an exodus of money from China a former luxury inn occupying a prime location in the town of Atami 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Tokyo was once a magnet for vacationers thanks to its ocean views and hot springs As Japan’s economy sputtered and honeymooners opted for other locations such as Hawaii the hotel became a symbol of Atami’s fading fortunes We use cookies to provide a more personalized website experience By clicking “I Accept” you consent to all cookies Click “I Decline” to continue with essential cookies only Learn about how we use cookies all images courtesy of ashida architect & associates for atami tower house, ashida architect & associates was commissioned to design a home with the living area on the 4th floor in order to maximize the magnificent ocean views a tower-like shape with a large volume on the top floor was needed considering the reinforced concrete construction on the steep slope it’s impossible to shape the building with a cantilevered top floor the architects made the lower floor the foundation for the shoring and shifted the volumes a gap was generated because of this shifting resulting in a terrace and a space that can be added in the future name: atami tower house architecture: nobutoshi ashita architect & associates: nobuhito ashita structure: ryoma murata design co. yamato kosaka construction: daido kogyo co. contact: shinichiro hara location: atami city shizuoka prefecture site area: 282.42㎡ building area: 46.54㎡ total floor area: 139.38㎡ scale: 4 floors above ground use: housing structure: reinforced concrete structure rigid frame structure with load-bearing walls National Report A ceremony to mourn the 28 people killed in a landslide was held in the seaside resort city of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on July 3 A siren sounded throughout the city at 10:28 a.m. the time when emergency services received the first call about the landslide which was caused when a landfill on a steep mountainside collapsed in torrential rain near the Aizomegawa river in Atami’s Izusan district The landslide killed 28 people and destroyed or damaged more than 100 homes and buildings A business operator had flouted a law and an ordinance in creating that soil mound And although the Shizuoka prefectural and Atami city governments were aware of the danger posed by the mound they did not take measures to avert the disaster Yet still many other dangerous earthen mounds exist around the country the Atami landslide site has been designated as a danger zone 1 after work to remove what remains of the dangerous mound has been completed In contrast to such progress on the ground many survivors of the landslide still live in temporary accommodations not knowing when and how they can rebuild their lives 217 residents from 124 households remained in temporary accommodations “Homes and assets of many people were lost and they are still forced to live in emergency accommodations,” Atami Mayor Sakae Saito said in a speech at the ceremony which was attended by bereaved family members from 13 households “We will steadily take steps for recovery.” The city government and the prefectural government plan to widen the river and construct public roads on both of its banks But the governments haven’t been able to gain consent for the plan from the landowners The governments have bought only 30 percent of the land necessary for the project so far authorities in other areas of the country conducted studies on landfill mounds a new law to regulate such soil mounds took effect in May The law gives public authorities the power to strictly deal with unscrupulous landowners or business operators regarding dangerous soil mounds local authorities can be stuck with a financial burden in imposing the law A soil mound dozens of meters in width and height sits in a mountainous area in the Sugio district of Shizuoka’s Aoi Ward around 20 kilometers northwest from the central part of the prefectural capital The Sugio district is 800 meters above sea level The volume of the landfill in the Sugio district is roughly 51,000 cubic meters about the same size as the mound that collapsed in Atami “I’m worried that it might collapse if it rains heavily in a typhoon,” a woman in her 80s in the Sugio district said The mound was made without permission from local authorities The Shizuoka prefectural government published a list of 163 dangerous earthen mounds in the prefecture in April The prefectural government has instructed the company that created the Sugio soil mound to remove it the company is believed to have continued depositing more soil on the mound while the prefectural government deferred issuing an order for the removal The soil mound that triggered the 2021 Atami disaster exceeded the size permitted under standards set by the prefectural government After failing to prevent the Atami disaster the prefectural government in July last year adopted an ordinance to strictly regulate such mounds It also set up a dedicated telephone number that residents could use to report dangerous soil mounds the prefectural government has decided to take a legal step known as administrative subrogation enabling it to remove the mound on behalf of the company The prefecture plans to get rid of the mound after the typhoon season it will set up a barrier and equipment around the mound and monitor it for danger Prefectural government officials say they still don’t know how much these measures will cost The new law that took effect in May allows local authorities to designate as “regulated zones” areas where the collapse of earthen mounds could destroy houses The law also requires business operators to gain local permission to create new soil mounds Unscrupulous business operators face administrative measures The maximum fine imposed on such business operators was increased to 300 million yen ($2 million) from 500,000 yen large soil mounds that are more than 3,000 square meters exist in 51,000 sites under the jurisdiction of around 1,000 local authorities These local authorities need to check and study the earthen mounds in their areas to enforce the law The mounds include those used for the construction of houses and buildings as well as those developed through the creation of forests or farmlands The authorities also need to check areas that could be endangered by the creation of a new mound only 81 of the local authorities had finished checking the safety of soil mounds in their areas Many local authorities will start putting in place safety measures for soil mounds and the central government will cover part of the costs the Utsunomiya city government in Tochigi Prefecture had finished checking and studying 84 large soil mounds in the prefecture by the end of last fiscal year the city government will set up safety measures at three earthen mounds that could collapse if an earthquake of a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 occurs It will cost the city government around 2.3 billion yen to insert several hundred iron rods in slopes of the three soil mounds and solidifying the slopes with cement “Our finances will suffer if more dangerous earthen mounds are found,” an Utsunomiya city official said The Hiroshima prefectural government will designate regulated zones and start enforcing the new law in September at the earliest Hiroshima Prefecture checked and studied 1,514 large soil mounds who lives near one of the dangerous soil mounds in the prefecture has reported to a city government about the danger of the mound for three years “The administrative body finally started taking action,” he said “We have more localized torrential rain these days than in the past so it will be a disaster if measures aren’t quickly taken about the mound.” locals mourn on 1st anniversary of deadly landslide Officials aware of Atami landslide risk a year before they had said Atami knew of landslide risk but slow to move on problem Open data gave volunteer experts the scoop on Atami landslide Construction of landfill part of Atami mudslide was ‘illegal’ Shizuoka official criticizes landfill that collapsed in Atami landslide Japan’s annual summer fireworks and festivals were once again cancelled due to the pandemic this year but now that vaccination rates are climbing a hot spring town by the sea in Shizuoka prefecture is celebrating with one of the biggest fireworks festivals in Japan this year The Shizuoka Atami Hanabi Festival was launched this year to help save local pyrotechnic businesses after the widespread cancellation of festivals resulted in a steep decline in demand for fireworks a long-established firework shop in Shizuoka that’s been trading for 117 years will be in charge of the overall production The festival will be held at Nagisa Shinsui Park Moon Terrace on October 23 from 6pm to 9.30pm with plenty of live entertainment to keep you busy before the big bang The music will be curated by Tomoyuki Tanaka who worked on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony so you can expect an impressive lineup of performers a whopping 5,500 fireworks will be shot up into the sky The fireworks segment will last about 40 minutes Tickets to the festival cost ¥10,000 per person, which includes a reserved seat, one drink, one food item and a dried fish, a Japanese festival staple. Unfortunately, the first round of tickets have already sold out, but there’ll be more tickets released in the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye on the website.  Not to worry if you miss the second round of tickets too – you’ll still be able to catch the colourful fireworks from just about anywhere in Atami Enjoy wagyu curry from just ¥680 at this pop-up restaurant in Ginza Snow Peak has a glamping facility in Arashiyama, Kyoto designed by Kengo Kuma Dine in a glamping tent at this seaside restaurant in Zushi Kamakura Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera Temple is now open at night for a special autumn light-up This new luxury sightseeing train will run between Osaka, Nara and Kyoto Houses damaged by a mudslide following heavy rain are seen in Atami TOKYO (Reuters) -- At least three people were found dead and more than 100 were missing after torrential rains triggered landslides in the central Japanese city of Atami over the weekend bringing the death toll to three with 113 people still missing in the seaside city of Atami 90 km southwest of Tokyo landslides and cascading mud collapsed and half-submerged houses on Saturday The third person killed after the landslides was a woman The torrential rains and landslides are a reminder of the natural disasters -- including earthquakes volcano eruptions and tsunami -- that haunt Japan where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics beginning this month which is home to hot spring resorts and sits on a steep slope into a bay mud and debris are thought to have flowed along a river for about 2 km to the sea The town’s name literally translates to “hot sea,” so it’s no wonder that Atami has been a haven for hot spring resorts for centuries A building boom in the 1980s has left Atami’s steep hillsides covered in nostalgically dated hotels and towering mansions with ocean-view balconies but there is still plenty of local charm to discover be sure to visit the tourist information office which has maps and information in Japanese There’s also a scalding mineral footbath directly in front of the entrance (if you forgot to bring a towel purchase one from the nearby vending machine for ¥100) Atami’s one-day bus pass for ¥700 gets you unlimited rides on the colorful Yu-Yu bus which stops at most of Atami’s main attractions including Atami Castle Akao Rose and Herb Garden as well as the major hot springs (onsen) hotels (There’s also an on-board volunteer guide giving narration in Japanese to local history and sights; ours also spoke excellent English) Atami Castle castle is actually a newer addition having been built in 1959 as a tourist attraction and note that all signage and exhibits are in Japanese only The main draw for me was the outstanding panoramic view and the hot spring footbaths at the back of the first floor with gorgeous views over the bay the MOA Museum of Art was recently refreshed In addition to an excellent collection of Oriental ceramics and art the museum has several cafés and restaurants with sweeping views of Sagami Bay the museum offers exquisite Japanese gardens teahouses and traditional restaurants nearby; don’t miss the Atami set lunch at Hana-no-Chaya Kiunkaku Former Ryokan will be sure to delight fans of Japanese architecture this private villa-turned-ryokan dating from the Taisho Era is a quirky combination of Japanese and Western elements There is a café with a view of the superb traditional landscape gardens Atami Baien features the earliest-blooming plum blossoms in Japan with a plum festival running from early-January to early March the garden charges 300 yen admission during the festival and features footbaths souvenir shops and a wide variety of events (note that there is no lightup for the plum blossom festival; the garden closes at 16:00) Atami’s 2,000-year history is deeply entwined with Shinto sought refuge and met his future wife (hence the matchmaking charms and reputation as a “love shrine”) and Tokugawa Ieyasu was said to worship 2022Art Above the Seacoast of AtamiWoodcut masterpieces by Hiroshi Yoshida and Hasui KawaseHiroshi Yoshida "Changgyong Palace" (1937) AD For those who have not discovered another side of Atami apart from its breathtaking bright blue sea, the MOA Museum of Art is a worthwhile visit Sitting on a scenic hill at 270 meters above sea level the museum was redesigned by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Tomoyuki Sakakida of the firm Shinsoken The Indian sandstone facade stretches across the rolling hill blending beautifully with the surrounding trees a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean emerges An underground passageway of escalators 25-to-35 meters long canopied by a colorful kaleidoscopic installation mesmerizes Upon reaching the underground hall on Art Street one is greeted by a mosaic ceiling of moving images in sea colors incorporating ten varieties of marble from Italy The long interior prelude to the main exhibition hall is art and design in itself Running until January 25th, Travel Journals in Woodblock Prints: Yoshida Hiroshi and Kawase Hasui celebrates wonderful woodcut masterpieces by two highly acclaimed woodblock print artists About 80 prints have been selected for their depictions of captivating sceneries across Japan and the world Hiroshi Yoshida (1876‒1950) was born to a samurai family from Fukuoka He moved to Tokyo when he was 18 to study art then five years later decided to travel to North America with his watercolor pictures He succeeded in selling some of his works at the Detroit Institute of Arts and other galleries His journeys abroad influenced his art extensively and sharpened his drawing skills eventually making him a leading figure in the watercolor and woodcut genres in the early 20th century he was largely recognized for painting foreign subjects in a Japanese woodblock style Yoshida was also an avid outdoorsman and hiker He took full advantage of this passion to paint the magnificent national mountain treasures of America and Europe especially during his travels there in 1923 Among Yoshida’s highlighted works is Mount Rainier (1925) Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the state of Washington Yoshida’s dramatic rendering of the mountain scenery uses earth colors scattered around a quiet pond in blue and grey tones that reflect towering forest trees One also notices the use of bokashi (color gradation) which creates contrast between the white snowy parts of the mountain and the scattered red leaves on the ground He visited various sites and national parks painting endlessly before moving on to his next destination he was “struck by the intricacy of the architecture and natural environment.” The Taj Mahal in the Morning Mist (1932) was part of his travel series evident on the ghostly appearance of the mausoleum green trees on both sides steal the limelight of the picture Hasui Kawase (1883‒1957) came from a trading family in Tokyo but was obliged to pause his studies to help his family business It was only after he turned 25 when his brother-in-law stepped in to manage the trade that he resumed painting and taking sketching lessons from Saburōsuke Okada Kawase produced woodblock landscape prints for the rest of his life traveled widely across Japan to absorb inspiration from the local culture and striking beauty of nature His drawing style is marked by atmospheric effects and natural lighting After the colossal Kanto earthquake of 1923 He set out on a 102-day sketching trip a month after the disaster producing the sketches that wouldform his Travel Series Part III Included in this series is the notable work In the Snow Nakayama-Shichiri is famous for its valley and gorge sceneries along the Hida River Kawase brilliantly captures the snow-capped Hida mountains and accentuates the blue river and glittering windows of the village homes Suo (1924) is an example of Kawase’s manipulation of colors in subdued tones Kintai Bridge is in Yamaguchi Prefecture and spans the Nishiki River Its stonework and wood construction details are intricate Kawase's depiction shows a merchant on the bridge dressed in deep blue while carrying a yoke on his shoulders He is immersed in the blue and green hues of the river a mother in white washes clothes while her daughter in red sits patiently—a scene providing both local feeling and artistic accent Another of Kawase’s bewitching prints is Zojo Temple It portrays a realistic winter scene in which snow blows evenly across a stark red temple as a woman with a huge umbrella struggles against ghastly winds A snow-covered pine tree in the foreground adds a further touch of ingenuity to the picture visitors  can stroll around the museum garden to admire the reconstructed residence of the artist Korin Ogata Other sights include the traditional Shotei teahouse