Atami Hanami

#cherryblossom2024 Atami Castle, towering 120 meters above Sagami Bay, looks very ancient. However, although the creators were inspired by the architecture of the Momoyama period (1568-1600), this is one of the newest castles in Japan: it was built in 1959. Anyway, the view from the castle is simply magnificent, and tourists definitely have something to see. How to get there At Atami Station on the JR Tokaido Line, take the Yuyu Sightseeing Loop sightseeing tour bus and drive to Atami Castle. After getting off the ring bus at the Marine Spa Atami stop, use the Atami cable car: from the upper station to the castle it is only a few minutes on foot. Modern building Unlike other Japanese castles, Atami is not a historical building. It was built in 1959, during the period of the tourist boom, and has always served only for the entertainment of tourists. Nevertheless, the castle is a fairly accurate copy of those that were built during the Momoyama period, at the end of the XVI century. Therefore, it fits perfectly into a number of original buildings of that era, such as the castle in Osaka. Panoramic view Today, Atami Castle is a universal tourist attraction, where a variety of objects of Japanese culture are presented: from a collection of samurai costumes from the Edo period to an exhibition of erotic prints in the Ukiyo—e style. The exposition dedicated to the castles of Japan and their history is a tribute to the historical "ancestors" of the Atami. The real highlight of the castle is the view from the top floor of Sagami Bay. It becomes especially fascinating in the spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom. Sakura blooming here is esecially charming! However, it is also good idea to come here in the summer, during the famous Fireworks Festival.