Atami & Izu

Atami is one of Japan's most accessible seaside escapes, combining ocean views, onsen and direct rail access from Tokyo. Yet it is only the gateway to the much larger Izu Peninsula, where the landscape opens into forested villa communities, beach towns, historic hot-spring resorts and some of the most dramatic coastline within easy reach of the capital.

• Location: Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture
• Best For: Onsen, ocean views, second homes, beaches, golf and access from Tokyo
• Property: Apartments, villas, detached houses, ryokan, hospitality assets and development land
• Character: Established seaside and mountain resort communities spread across a large peninsula
• Access: Tokaido Shinkansen to Atami, with rail and road connections extending south through Izu

Atami and Izu occupy an unusual position in Japan's second-home market. They are close enough to Tokyo to be used regularly, yet the combination of ocean, mountains and hot springs creates a genuine sense of escape from the capital.

Atami is the most accessible expression of that lifestyle. The town rises steeply from Sagami Bay, creating a landscape of apartments, hotels and private villas positioned to take advantage of sea views. Onsen is woven into the town's identity, while the station provides direct access to the Tokaido Shinkansen network.

Travel south and the character changes quickly. Ito and Izu Kogen combine established resort communities with forest and coastline; Shuzenji provides a more traditional inland onsen setting; Shimoda and southern Izu are defined by beaches and a slower coastal lifestyle; and the western side of the peninsula feels considerably more remote.

It is therefore better to think of Izu as a collection of second-home markets rather than one destination.

Atami

Atami offers the strongest combination of accessibility and resort lifestyle. Central apartments can provide a comparatively simple lock-up-and-leave base, while the hills above the town contain detached villas, larger plots and properties with sweeping views across Sagami Bay.

Older resort buildings are an important part of the market alongside much newer luxury residences, meaning buyers should look carefully at building management, maintenance and ongoing costs rather than comparing floor area alone.

Izusan And The Atami Hills

Above and north of central Atami, areas such as Izusan offer a quieter and more private version of the city.

Detached homes and villas can sit among greenery on substantial sites, often with elevated sea views and, in some cases, private onsen. The trade-off is straightforward: greater space and privacy generally mean greater reliance on a car.

Ito And Izu Kogen

Further down the eastern coast, Ito is another established hot-spring town, while Izu Kogen has long been associated with villas and second homes.

The environment becomes lower density than Atami, with individual houses, wooded sites and resort communities spread across a larger area. This can be particularly attractive to buyers looking for a substantial private home rather than an urban resort apartment.

Shuzenji And Central Izu

The centre of the peninsula moves away from the sea and towards mountains, forest, golf and traditional onsen communities.

Shuzenji is the best-known of these, but the wider interior offers rural homes, hospitality properties and unusually large sites. For buyers considering a retreat, wellness project or other land-intensive concept, central Izu can present opportunities that would be difficult to reproduce in Atami.

Shimoda And South Izu

Shimoda combines an established town with some of the peninsula's best-known beaches. The southern end of Izu feels markedly further removed from Tokyo despite remaining accessible by road and rail.

Property here is much more about the coast itself: beach access, ocean views, villas, small hotels and guesthouses, with a slower rhythm than the northern peninsula.

Nishi-Izu

The western coast is the least urban part of the Izu story. Rugged cliffs, small fishing communities, onsen and views across Suruga Bay create an exceptionally scenic environment, but convenience is lower and car access becomes essential.

For the right buyer, that relative isolation is precisely the attraction.

There is no standard Izu property.

A compact Atami apartment can function as an extremely convenient weekend base from Tokyo. A hillside villa may provide private onsen and substantial outdoor space. Further south, buyers encounter old ryokan, beach houses, resort subdivisions and major development sites.

That makes intended use particularly important. Buyers looking for frequent short stays may place enormous value on Atami Station access. Someone planning to spend several weeks at a time in Izu may prefer the space of Izu Kogen or the southern peninsula.

Onsen also requires proper due diligence. The existence of hot springs in a neighbourhood does not mean every property has an unrestricted private supply, and buyers should understand the specific rights, infrastructure and ongoing charges attached to any property marketed with onsen.

The Izu Peninsula does not depend on one season. Beaches and marine activities dominate parts of the summer, while spring and autumn suit hiking, golf and outdoor life. Onsen, food and the coastline remain relevant throughout the year.

That makes Izu particularly useful as a second-home destination. Rather than owning a property for one annual holiday, buyers can realistically return throughout the year—and, from Tokyo, even for a weekend.

The most important first decision is how far into the peninsula you want to go. Atami prioritises convenience; the further south and west you travel, the more space, nature and seclusion begin to define the experience.