Before Summer ends here in Japan, (aw actually I think it's already Autumn here now), let me share my journey to one of the beaches in Shizuoka.
Last August, I took a personal leave at work in the afternoon so I could go to Atami Sun Beach. I went to Atami because I wanted to see the Atami Grand Fireworks Festival and I wanted to be early so I could go around the place.
It was my first time going to Atami. Before I was just passing by this place and witnessing the sea view from the windows of the bullet train so I was so excited.
From JR Shinjuku Station, I took the train to Atami for almost 1.5 hours. It's not that bad if you think about it, since Atami is in Shizuoka. I could take the bullet train but I didn't. Bullet trains are expensive and I got myself a discounted pass called Seishun 18 Kippu.
The Seishun 18 Kippu will allow me to ride the JR trains (rapid or local) all day within its validity period. I'm allowed to use it 5 times on different days or share it with 5 friends for 1 day. My friends and I have already used this pass when we went to Onjuku Beach in Chiba last July. To know more about this discounted pass, you can check this link.
Luckily, my train wasn't so crowded so I could sit comfortably and away from people.
When I arrived at Atami Station, I was surrounded with lush greens and I was in a dilemma for a bit if I was in the right place. I was expecting to see the ocean but where?
The clouds in the sky also made me worried. I hoped it wouldn't rain.
Outside the train station, it was a bit crowded and I was pretty sure these people would go to the beach area to witness the fireworks.
The surroundings of the train station was full of establishments and I wasn't really expecting much because this area is not as urbanized as Tokyo. So I was a bit surprised to see this place lively.
If ever the map on your phone won't work, there's a map outside the station. Upon checking, I still need to walk a few more to get to the beach. The map board is also showing the tourist destinations of Atami. Next time, I'll be back to check them out.
Everybody seems to be going in the same direction so I was just following them.
I passed by a covered shotengai but many shops were closed. Probably because of the effects of COVID. I love shotengais, there were a lot of them in Osaka and I used to go to different shotengais when I was still living there.
A shΕtengai (εεΊθ‘) is a style of Japanese commercial district, typically in the form of a local market street that is closed to car traffic.
source: Wikipedia
There are so many hotels and ryokans that I passed on the way to the beach. Maybe next time, I'll try to stay in one of the accommodations around this place.
In small towns like this, I guess it's okay to cross the road not in the pedestrian lane? π
I honestly felt like I was lost. I wasn't sure if this was the way because it seems like a narrow road with nothing to see. But I trust my map and my instincts. π
It seems like this staircase was a shortcut to get to the beach but it's really so long and high. I would be dead tired if I take the same stairs going back to the station.
There was another set of stairs but now I felt relieved seeing the beach. That means, I almost reached at my destination.
I passed by the skywalk, some kind of overpass for pedestrians and I was surprised to see this. I am not familiar with other religions' practices but it seems to be a shrine.
For a moment, I was thinking if I should just go and watch the fireworks festival in the 2nd floor of the convenience store, Lawson but I erased the thought.
I took some more photos while I was still in the overpass before I went to the beach area.
Walking around the concrete area of the beach, you could see some art. Since they are labels on them, I think they were from a competition. Some were significant events on the years I guess.
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In this post, I won't be talking about what happened to me after in Atami Sun Beach and how the Grand Fireworks Festival went. You can read about that in my previous post.
I'll just share this one photo of the docks. No worries, this photo wasn't shared in my previous post.
After the fireworks show, it was drizzling so I was like a Wet Wittyzell walking to the station. Yep, no umbrella for me and figured no need to buy one.
Outside the train station, I noticed this old display of a train and it was also wet from the rain. Guess I wasn't the only one. LOL
It was a rainy Atami when I went home but it was all worth coming. I'll be sure to come back in the future to tell you about the beauty of this place.
This is my contribution to the #WednesdayWalk initiative by 
Thanks for reading!
See you around! γγγγγΎγγοΌ
All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.