Atami

Atami is located in the far eastern corner of Shizuoka Prefecture at the northern end of Izu Peninsula. The city is on the steep slopes of a partially submerged volcanic caldera on the edge of Sagami Bay. Atami literally means "hot ocean", due to the town's famous onsen hot springs. The city boundaries include the offshore island of Hatsushima. Most of Atami is located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current offshore, the area is known for its moderate maritime climate with hot, humid summers, and short winters.

• Kanagawa Prefecture
• Yugawara
• Shizuoka Prefecture
• Itō
• Izunokuni
• Kannami

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The average annual temperature in Atami is {{cvt|16.3|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|2012.7|mm}} with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|26.4|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|7.0|C}}.

{{Weather box

|width=auto

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|location = Ajiro, Atami (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1937−present)

|Jan record high C = 25.1

|Feb record high C = 25.4

|Mar record high C = 26.1

|Apr record high C = 28.6

|May record high C = 32.1

|Jun record high C = 35.0

|Jul record high C = 36.0

|Aug record high C = 36.8

|Sep record high C = 36.7

|Oct record high C = 31.9

|Nov record high C = 26.5

|Dec record high C = 24.1

|Jan record low C = -3.1

|Feb record low C = -4.5

|Mar record low C = -2.4

|Apr record low C = 1.8

|May record low C = 6.0

|Jun record low C = 11.8

|Jul record low C = 13.5

|Aug record low C = 17.1

|Sep record low C = 13.4

|Oct record low C = 7.7

|Nov record low C = 2.4

|Dec record low C = -2.7

|Jan high C = 10.7

|Feb high C = 11.3

|Mar high C = 14.2

|Apr high C = 18.8

|May high C = 22.7

|Jun high C = 25.0

|Jul high C = 28.9

|Aug high C = 30.2

|Sep high C = 26.7

|Oct high C = 21.8

|Nov high C = 17.2

|Dec high C = 12.9

|Jan mean C = 7.0

|Feb mean C = 7.4

|Mar mean C = 10.1

|Apr mean C = 14.5

|May mean C = 18.5

|Jun mean C = 21.4

|Jul mean C = 25.2

|Aug mean C = 26.4

|Sep mean C = 23.3

|Oct mean C = 18.7

|Nov mean C = 14.0

|Dec mean C = 9.6

|Jan low C = 3.9

|Feb low C = 4.0

|Mar low C = 6.6

|Apr low C = 10.9

|May low C = 15.3

|Jun low C = 18.8

|Jul low C = 22.6

|Aug low C = 23.8

|Sep low C = 20.9

|Oct low C = 16.1

|Nov low C = 11.3

|Dec low C = 6.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 76.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 82.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 158.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 168.1

|May precipitation mm = 172.6

|Jun precipitation mm = 251.5

|Jul precipitation mm = 242.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 186.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 263.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 237.3

|Nov precipitation mm = 108.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 66.3

|year precipitation mm = 2012.7

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 6.1

|Feb precipitation days = 6.7

|Mar precipitation days = 10.7

|Apr precipitation days = 10.2

|May precipitation days = 10.0

|Jun precipitation days = 12.4

|Jul precipitation days = 10.9

|Aug precipitation days = 8.2

|Sep precipitation days = 12.1

|Oct precipitation days = 10.2

|Nov precipitation days = 7.9

|Dec precipitation days = 6.1

|Jan snow cm = 0

|Feb snow cm = 1

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 0

|year snow cm = 1

|unit snow days = 1 cm

|Jan snow days = 0

|Feb snow days = 0.2

|Mar snow days = 0

|Apr snow days = 0

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0

|Dec snow days = 0

|humidity colour= green

|Jan humidity = 59

|Feb humidity = 60

|Mar humidity = 64

|Apr humidity = 67

|May humidity = 72

|Jun humidity = 80

|Jul humidity = 80

|Aug humidity = 79

|Sep humidity = 78

|Oct humidity = 73

|Nov humidity = 69

|Dec humidity = 62

|Jan sun = 147.4

|Feb sun = 142.8

|Mar sun = 158.2

|Apr sun = 176.4

|May sun = 184.1

|Jun sun = 127.7

|Jul sun = 161.8

|Aug sun = 194.1

|Sep sun = 136.9

|Oct sun = 126.0

|Nov sun = 128.5

|Dec sun = 142.8

|year sun = 1826.7

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=50&block_no=47668&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 17, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=50&block_no=47668&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 17, 2022}}}}

{{As of|2019|05|01}}, with the city's estimated population of 36,865 and per Japanese census data,[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/shizuoka/_/22205__atami/ Atami population statistics] the population of Atami has been in slow decline over the past half century.

{{Historical populations

| 1940 | 27,966

| 1950 | 38,938

| 1960 | 52,163

| 1970 | 51,281

| 1980 | 50,082

| 1990 | 47,291

| 2000 | 42,936

| 2010 | 39,592

| align = none

}}

File:Atami c1900.jpg

Atami has been known as a resort town centered on its hot springs since the 8th century AD. In the Kamakura period, Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hōjō Masako were notable visitors. During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, Atami village was organized within Kamo District, Shizuoka. It was elevated to town status on June 11, 1894, and was transferred to the administrative control of Tagata District in 1896.

The epicenter of the Great Kantō earthquake in 1923 was deep beneath Izu Ōshima Island in Sagami Bay, close to Atami, which suffered considerable damage, as did other municipalities throughout the surrounding Kantō region.Hammer, Joshua. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=6O8VyhDbUPgC Yokohama Burning: the Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II, p. 278]. The tsunami wave height reached 11 meters (35 feet) at Atami, swamping the town and drowning three hundred people.Hammer, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6O8VyhDbUPgC p. 114].

In 1932, Japanese authorities raided a meeting of members of the Japanese Communist Party in Atami.The Japanese Communist Party 1922-1945 By Beckmann, George M page 237

The Inagawa-kai, third largest of Japan's yakuza groups, was founded in Atami in 1949 as the {{nihongo|Inagawa-gumi|稲川組}} by Kakuji Inagawa.[http://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/h05/h050101.html "1993 Police White Paper Chapter 1 : The Actual Condition of the Boryokudan"], 1993, National Police Agency {{in lang|ja}}

In 1963 the Japanese Communist Party established a study facility in the mountains near Atami. The JCP holds a triennial congress there.[http://shingetsunewsagency.com/2017/01/20/the-mountain-fortress-of-the-japan-communist-party/ The Mountain Fortress of the Japan Communist Party]

The modern city of Atami was founded on April 10, 1937, through the merger of Atami Town with neighboring Taga Village. After the proclamation of Atami as an "International Tourism and Culture City" by the Japanese government in 1950, the area experienced rapid growth in large resort hotel development. This growth increased after Atami station became a stop on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed train line in 1964. In concert with its famous onsen, Atami was known for its onsen geisha.

Atami experienced a considerable decline in popularity as a vacation destination due to the Japanese economic crisis in the 1990s and the associated fall in large group company-sponsored vacations, but is currently experiencing a revival as a commuter town due to its proximity to Tokyo and Yokohama.

File:熱海土石流 被害状況視察.jpg overlooks an area of Atami damaged by the 2021 landslide]]

{{main|2021 Atami landslide}}

Following torrential rainfall a landslide was triggered which swept through part of the city on 3 July 2021. 27 people were killed and 3 were injured.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-03 |title=2 feared dead, some 20 missing in large mudslide southwest of Tokyo |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/4fdfcd0277e5-heavy-rain-lashes-pacific-coast-of-japan-highest-alert-issued.html |access-date=2021-07-03 |website=Kyodo News}}{{Cite web |title=Japan landslide: 20 missing in Atami city |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57704967 |access-date=2021-07-03 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite web |date=9 July 2021 |title=Death Toll from Central Japan Mudslide Rises to 9 |url=https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2021070801237 |access-date=9 July 2021 |website=Jiji Press |archive-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190315/https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2021070801237 }}{{cite web |title=Improper soil accumulation suspected of leading to Japan mudslide |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/09/national/atami-landslide-soil/ |website=The Japan Times |access-date=10 July 2021 |location=Kyodo |date=9 July 2021 |url-access=registration |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709082146/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/09/national/atami-landslide-soil/ |url-status=live }}

File:%E7%86%B1%E6%B5%B7%E5%B8%82%E5%BD%B9%E6%89%80%E7%AC%AC1%E5%BA%81%E8%88%8E.jpg

Atami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 15 members.

File:Atami city night-View.jpg

The economy of Atami is heavily dependent on the tourist industry, mostly centered on its hot spring resorts.Mansfield, Stephen, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fv20111218a1.html Cultures mingle amid Atami's hot springs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109201123/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fv20111218a1.html |date=2013-01-09 }}", Japan Times, 18 December 2011, p. 12. Commercial fishing is a major secondary industry.

Atami has eight public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. The International University of Health and Welfare, based in Ōtawara, Tochigi, has a campus in Atami.

File:Atami Station.jpg

• 20px Central Japan Railway Company - Tōkaidō Shinkansen
• Atami Station
• 20px East Japan Railway Company - Tōkaidō Main Line
• Atami Station
• 20px East Japan Railway Company - Itō Line
• Atami Station – Kinomiya Station – Izu-Taga Station – Ajiro Station

• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|135}}
• Atami Beach Line
• Izu Skyline

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Atami is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|JPN}} Beppu, Ōita, Japan, since August 1966
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Sanremo, Italy, since November 1976{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=22&n=Shizuoka%20Prefecture |title=International Exchange |work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures |publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) |access-date=21 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113132810/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=22&n=Shizuoka%20Prefecture |archive-date=13 January 2016 }}
• {{flagicon|POR}} Cascais, Portugal, since July 1990
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Zhuhai, China, friendship city since July 2004{{cite web|url=http://fpcj.jp/en/useful-en/chief-en/p=27976/|title=City of Atami: Mr. Sakae Saito, Mayor (December 2014)|date=December 26, 2014|work=Mayor/Governor Interviews|publisher=Foreign Press Center Japan|access-date=5 January 2016}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2012}}

• Yū Hayami, singer, actress{{Cite web |title=Yû Hayami {{!}} Actress |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0370584/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
• Yuka Imai, voice actress
• Yuji Ohno, jazz musician
• Atamifuji Sakutarō, professional sumo wrestler
• Mitsuko Uchida, classical pianist

• Atami Castle, a Japanese castle replica serving as a museum, built in 1959. Features a garden with over 200 sakura trees{{Cite web |last=Organization |first=Japan National Tourism |title=Atami Castle {{!}} Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site) |url=https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1293/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Travel Japan (Japan National Tourism Organization) |language=en-us}}
• Church of World Messianity headquarters
• Izusan Jinja, an ancient Shinto shrine, a major site of the syncretic Shugendō religion
• MOA Museum of Art, housing the extensive art collection of eccentric multimillionaire and religious leader Mokichi Okada
• Peace Pagoda, built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji in 1961

• In the 1951 film Tokyo File 212, a key scene takes place at a resort in Atami.
• In the 1953 film Tokyo Story, the parents visit the hot springs in Atami.
• Much of the 1953 film, A Japanese Tragedy, is set in Atami.
• Atami is also the setting of the TV drama Atami no Sousakan.
• Atami also appears in the 1954 film, Golden Demon (Konjiki Yasha), based on the novel of the same name by Kōyō Ozaki, as the place where two main characters become engaged to be married.{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-6026 |title=Odagiri to star in "Atami no Sousakan" |publisher=Tokyograph |date=2010-04-18 |access-date=2013-03-25}}
• In the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla, the final throes of the film's climactic battle between Godzilla and King Kong sees them descending Mount Fuji and into Atami. After destroying Atami Castle during a trade of blows, the two monsters fall over a cliff into Sagami Bay, with Kong emerging as the victor of the fight.
• In the 1967 film, Gappa, the Triphibian Monster, the two adult Gappa creatures make landfall in Atami, destroying much of it in the process.
• In the Studio Ghibli anime drama, Only Yesterday, the main character Taeko goes to Atami at age 10, visiting some of the onsen, but she passes out in the Roman bath from dizziness.[http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/opp/synopsis/ Nausicaa.net: Synopsis Omohide Poro Poro]
• In the 2016 anime, Prince of Stride, Atami is the first stop in the End of Summer Trial Tour.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csdkq4GaSJ0 Prince of Stride: Alternative Episode 4 English Sub]

• In the 89th episode of the anime, "Urusei Yatsura", Mrs. Moroboshi wins a 2-day trip to Atami with her husband, leaving her son Ataru, the main character, at home alone with Lum.
• In the 2019 video game, AI: The Somnium Files, protagonist Kaname Date is a detective solving a murder mystery. In one of the game's endings, he quits the case and goes with a woman to Atami. In the 2022 sequel, AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative, protagonist Kuruto Ryuki can have a similar ending with the same woman.

{{reflist}}

• Hammer, Joshua. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=6O8VyhDbUPgC Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II]. New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-7432-6465-7}}; {{ISBN|978-0-7432-6465-5}} (cloth).

{{Commons category|Atami, Shizuoka}}

• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Atami}}
• [http://www.city.atami.lg.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Shizuoka}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Cities in Shizuoka Prefecture

Category:Populated coastal places in Japan