Crayon Shin-chan Led Me to Atami 🏖️ | My Childhood "Yakiniku Road of Honor" Comes True⁉️🍖🎆

Looking back on my summer break in Japan in 2023, I went to Atami twice in two weeks!🏖️

Once as a quick day trip near Tokyo, and once for two days and one night🧳

🔥 Why Atami?

For the Atami Fireworks Festival, which is super famous on the Japanese internet!

I saw so many great reviews online that I decided to go see for myself~

🍖 Atami = yakiniku!? A blast from my childhood

When I think of Atami, the first thing that pops into my head is yakiniku! Because as a kid I loved watching the movie Crayon Shin-chan: Yakiniku Road of Honor🤣

We even made a group chat called "Yakiniku Road of Honor," dying of laughter (lol)

We did our homework beforehand, looked up sights and planned the itinerary, and we were already super excited before we left🥵

(But Atami isn't actually a yakiniku capital at all~ What it's really famous for is hot springs and fireworks!)

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My Atami itinerary 📍Save this!

🚉 Atami Station & shopping streets: as soon as you leave the station you feel that strong Japanese vibe. Walk straight into the Heiwa-dori and Nakamise shopping streets

There are tons of distinctive snacks. Here are my picks:

✨熱海ばたーあん Round little red bean buns; the filling isn't too sweet, and one is just right!

✨熱海プリン

The shop is decorated with a hot spring theme, super cute and super photogenic~ The pudding is smooth and creamy. Recommended!

✨いそ揚げ まる天 You'd be letting yourself down if you came to Atami without trying this. Lots of kinds to choose from, filling and addictive.

✨熱海tea store sei you sha

Matcha lovers' heaven: the matcha is whisked by hand right in front of you, a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds! (Though people with a sweet tooth might find it not sweet enough)

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⛩️ Imamiya Shrine: a little shrine up a hill road that you reach by sightseeing bus. It's quiet and peaceful, and you really feel purified

🖼️ MOA Museum of Art (a must!)

It's by the sea, the views are super soothing and the art is excellent,

and there's afternoon tea by floor-to-ceiling windows with an ocean view. It's well worth setting aside half a day to wander slowly and take photos

🏯 Atami Castle

You can get there by ropeway, but it's a bit far from the town center, so decide based on your itinerary.

🍣 Seafood rice bowls on the shopping street: Atami's seafood is pretty famous too!

Pick a donburi place you like and dig in~ (The one we had this time was pretty good!)

- 🎆 Atami Fireworks Festival (the highlight of this trip!) All I can say is: the best of the best!!!

Sitting by the sea watching fireworks up close, with the sea breeze and crowds that weren't packed, was ridiculously comfortable...

The view was amazing, the fireworks burst right in front of us, and I was so moved I wanted to cry

🔖 Tips for watching the fireworks: Remember to bring a picnic mat and a handheld fan!

No need to fight for the front row; the sides are actually quieter~ * I recommend going early to grab a spot, find a good angle and enjoy the breeze while you wait for the fireworks!

A few thoughts on my Atami trip ✨

Thanks to Crayon Shin-chan, I thought Atami would have yakiniku restaurants all over the streets (it doesn't, haha)

but its hot springs, food and super romantic fireworks really make you fall in love with it.

This trip made me completely fall for Atami, and in the future I want to bring my family to see this unforgettable fireworks festival!🎆

And finally, totally wiped out on the shinkansen🚄