[2024] Atami Food Walking Map! 12 Recommended Gourmet Spots from Seafood to Sweets

*Prices include tax.
*Please refrain from eating while walking, eat in designated areas, throw away your food in the trash, and follow the rules.

When you arrive at Atami, the first thing to do is fill your stomach with gourmet food!

Atami is a town lined with restaurants that make use of seafood, a feature of a port town, and coffee shops with an old-fashioned feel. You can fill your stomach completely at one restaurant, but there are also many easy-to-eat gourmet options that cost around 500 yen. First, we will introduce the perfect restaurants to fill your stomach.

A delicious and satisfying dish "Kinmedai Tokuzo Atami Honten"

Just outside Atami Station, when you enter the Atami Ekimae Heiwa-dori shopping arcade, you will see "Kinmedai Tokuzo Atami " on your right. It is run by "Tokuzomaru," a long-established seafood and fishing restaurant in Izu, and is popular for its menu centered on Kinmedai, selected by connoisseurs, and takeout gourmet food.

If you come here, you can't miss the "Abalone Skewer" (950 yen) sold at the food stall in front of the store. It is a luxurious dish consisting of a whole abalone skewered on a skewer.

With one bite, the crunchy texture and delicious flavor of the abalone fills your mouth. The aroma of butter and soy sauce also whets your appetite, and it's so delicious that you'll finish it in no time. The abalone skewers are also available in double portions, so we recommend that for those who want to eat more.

Kinmedai Tokuzo Atami Main Branch

"Odawara Kissho Lasca Atami Store" - Crunchy and delicious like chips

A great spot to enjoy some food on your way to Atami is the shopping mall "Rusca Atami," which is directly connected to Atami Station.

Odawara Kisho, located on the first floor of Lasca Atami, is a restaurant famous for its "Aji Karaage" (300 yen), a whole horse mackerel fried using a unique method. The gills and innards are removed and the fried chicken is fried crisply right in front of the store, making it a standard menu item for eating on the go. It is also popular as a beer snack to have on the Shinkansen.

At the store, they display freshly fried horse mackerel sprinkled with flavors such as curry, soy sauce, and yuzu pepper. At the time of our visit, we chose the Lasca Atami-exclusive flavor, Nori Shio.

The fried chicken is sprinkled with green seaweed and salt on the surface, giving off a slight sea scent. When you bite into it, starting from the head, you hear a light crunch. While the batter is crunchy, the horse mackerel meat is so soft that it crumbles in your mouth. The seaweed and salt flavor brings out the sweetness of the horse mackerel, making it an addictive gourmet dish that will have you coming back for more the more you eat.

Odawara Kissho Lasca Atami store

No matter where you eat it, you'll enjoy fatty tuna! "Atami Station Fish Bowl Shop"

Seafood is one of the must-try foods in Atami. At Atami Ekimae Osakanadonya, you can eat a variety of seafood bowls made with fresh seafood caught in the waters off Izu. This is a recommended restaurant for those who want to feel full.

During the fireworks festivals, which are held more than 10 times a year in Atami, and the cherry blossom festival, customers come in droves in search of seafood bowls chock-full of seafood. There are more than 10 types of bowls available for takeout, including the "Kaisen Teppen Bowl," piled high with seafood such as tuna and amberjack, and the "Honmaguro Toro Bowl," packed with bluefin tuna that melts in your mouth.

This is the shop's recommended "Toro(tuna) Torotoro Donburi" (1,848 yen). As the name suggests, this is a luxurious dish topped with three types of toppings: albacore, medium fatty tuna, and negitoro. The thickly cut toppings are shiny when you pick them up with your chopsticks, which is sure to whet your appetite.

With one bite, the fatty ingredients melt on your tongue. You can compare the different textures of each cut. It goes perfectly with vinegared rice.

The Torotoro Donburi is available for takeout, or you can savor it at your leisure in the restaurant. There may be a wait on weekends and holidays, so it's best to come early.

Atami Station Fish Bowl Restaurant

A wide variety of dishes! Freshly fried dishes are delicious at "Isoage Maruten Atami Branch"

"Isoage Maruten Atami Branch" is located in the center of Atami Heiwa-dori Shopping Street, about a 2-minute walk from the station.

Maruten, headquartered in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, deep-fries the products delivered directly to its stores every day, providing freshly fried satsumaage at all times.

This popular store has long queues even on weekdays, and the first thing that catches your eye is the wide variety of satsumaage lined up in the display case.
A wide variety of products are available, including not only seafood such as shrimp and squid, but also kinpira tempura, butter potato tempura, and ginger lotus root tempura.

Among them, the one that has captured the hearts of tourists is the "Takobo" (400 yen). The heavy takobo(octopus) can be eaten without getting your hands dirty, making it perfect for eating on the go.

The chunks of octopus meat peek out from inside the octopus stick, which is as thick as a frankfurter. The chewy octopus and the chewy satsumaage are very satisfying to eat. The pickled ginger adds texture and color. You can take it home as a souvenir, but we recommend enjoying the freshly fried taste on-site.

Isoage Maruten Atami branch

From the latest trending shops to Japanese sweets! Tempting sweets

After finishing the main course, you can't leave out the sweets. We've selected some gorgeous looking dishes and Atami specialties that you'll want to eat even after you're full.

Heartwarming and sweet visuals of "Strawberry BonBonBERRY ATAMI HOUSE"

Strawberry sweets specialty store "Ichigo BonBonBERRY ATAMI HOUSE" is a cute space that looks like a strawberry theme park, with the entire building from the 1st to 4th floors dyed in strawberry colors of pink, red, and white. The 3rd and 4th floors are eat-in spaces, so you can eat inside the store.

Among the many strawberry sweets available, including strawberry candy, drinks, and daifuku, I chose the most popular "Bonbon Soft Serve" (500 yen). The balance between the sweet and sour strawberries and the richness of the milk is just right, and the gorgeous appearance really lifts your spirits.

There are various photo spots inside the store, so you can take photos with the sweets. There are also plenty of souvenirs such as cookies and cakes, so it is a must-see store for strawberry lovers.

Strawberry BonBonBERRY ATAMI HOUSE

Atami Mill Cheese: Rich cheese concentrated into a drink

Atami Mill Cheese is characterized by its hot spring mark and neon sign. This shop has a unique concept, proposing original "post-bath sweets," by thinking about how to turn the milk you drink after a bath into a cheesecake.

A variety of cheesecakes are lined up in the display case. You can easily enjoy them as takeout, but you can also dine in the shop, where you can enjoy your meal at your leisure in an atmosphere reminiscent of a public bathhouse.

At the time of the interview, I ordered the "Drinkable Basque" (630 yen), a drink version of the signature "Basque Cheesecake." The cheese-flavored drink is layered with tiramisu cream and camembert cream, then bruléed with a burner. The crisp texture and the lemon jelly on top add a nice accent to this new and refreshing drink, which is rich yet refreshing.

Atami Mill Cheese

A visual treat! A wide variety of fruit at Atami Fruit King Heiwa-dori Store

Atami Fruit King Heiwa-dori Store is located at the end of the Atami Heiwa-dori Shopping Street. It is right in front of the Itoen Hotel. The big crown sign and the pop exterior with a turquoise blue base are the landmarks.

The colorful fruit sandwiches and jellies on display are so beautiful that you can't help but stop in your tracks.

The most popular item at this shop is their luxurious fruit sandwich, made with fresh cream, bread, and fruit. The balance of the fruit and cream, and the sweetness of the bread are all calculated to perfection, providing a level of satisfaction worthy of the name "King."

At the time of the interview, we chose the popular "Strawberry Daifuku Sandwich" (680 yen). It has been a constant favorite since the store opened in 2021. The sandwich is filled with 2.5 strawberries in total, with the strawberries surrounded by red bean paste, mochi, and fresh cream. (Note: The Strawberry Daifuku Sandwich is currently unavailable as of July 2024.)

The first thing you taste is the subtle sweetness of the fresh cream, followed later by the fresh acidity of the strawberries and the refined sweetness of the bean paste, and you're instantly enveloped in a feeling of happiness.

In addition, you can enjoy popular sandwiches with mandarin oranges and pineapples, as well as limited-edition menu items such as peaches. They are sure to be a hit not only as snacks to eat on the go, but also as souvenirs.

Atami Fruit King Heiwadori Store

A novel look! The new and unique square "Atami Square Cream Puff"

Atami Square Cream Puffs is a shop that sells cube-shaped cream puffs, just as the name suggests. The eye-catching design, firm and crunchy choux pastry, and rich custard filling inside have made it a popular choice for repeat customers.

The square cream puff was born from a desire to create a new Atami specialty through trial and error. The square shape represents the four seasons of Atami, which show different charms throughout the year. Cream puffs unique to Atami, using seasonal ingredients, are developed each season.

The shop's standard item, "Custard" (400 yen), is attractive for its rich cream made with local Tanna milk. The outside is baked crispy and fragrant, and the inside is packed with cream without any gaps.

The crunchy texture of the crust is what really sets it apart, and the smooth custard cream makes it so delicious you'll find yourself eating the whole thing in no time.

The gift set, which includes one each of the flavors custard, strawberry, matcha, and salted caramel, is sold for 1,500 yen, which is a better deal than buying them individually. It also comes with an ice pack for taking them home, so it's recommended as a souvenir for your family or as a treat for yourself.

Atami Square Cream Puff

"Atami Pudding" - Attractive for its cute retro bottle

Atami Pudding has been known as a popular store that has always had a constant line since it opened in 2017. It is a sister store of the previously introduced Atami Mill Cheese, and even on weekdays, there are lines from mid-morning, and on weekends, the waiting area opposite the store is filled with people looking for Atami Pudding.

In the waiting area, there is a retro gachapon machine where you can win original goods such as Atami pudding pin badges, so you can have fun while you wait.

The most popular item is the "Atami Pudding with Special Caramel Syrup" (380 yen), which is served with the syrup provided separately. When you scoop it up with a spoon, you'll notice that it's a thick, liquid-like pudding. When you take a bite, it melts in your mouth so easily that it disappears in an instant, leaving behind the rich flavor of the egg yolk. The bitter caramel also matches well with the flavor, making this a dish with an exquisite balance of all the ingredients.

There is also a wide variety of other sweets on offer, such as "Matcha Pudding" made with black beans and "Furo Maju Pudding" made with mascarpone cheese.

By the way, there is a neon sign along the shop that is also popular as a photogenic spot. The shop was bustling with people taking photos holding the bottle with the hippopotamus logo.

Once you've finished eating the bottle, it can be used as a vase for a single flower or a small item holder, allowing you to reminisce about your trip.

Atami pudding

The perfect combination: "Atami Butaan"

Next up, we'll introduce you to another sweets shop that has long lines. Atami Butter An, which opened in 2021, has a specialty called Butter An Bread (400 yen), which is a popular gourmet food that sells out within 30 minutes of being baked and has sold over 160,000 pieces in the year since it opened.

The Butter Anpan is stuffed with red bean paste from Mataichian, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, founded in 1871. The refined and gently sweet red bean paste is delicious as is, but when combined with salty butter, it shows a whole different charm.

The butter and red bean paste is wrapped in a unique bread that is a cross between a typical round anpan and a slice of bread. The outside has a hard texture, but the inside is soft and fluffy.

When you cut it open, you'll find a rich, creamy butter cream covering the bean paste on top. The slight saltiness brings out the sweetness of the bean paste and adds a mellowness. It's about the size of your fist, but you'll be so captivated by the flavor that you'll finish it in no time.

They bake bread every hour starting at 10am, so if you're looking for freshly baked, fluffy bread, try to come at that time.

Atami Butterfly

"Kameyamashachu" is a miniature skewered snack that is easy to eat.

Onsen manju is a classic sweet in hot spring areas. There are many manju shops in the shopping arcade, but Kameyamashachu offers a new style of onsen manju served on a skewer.

The warm "Atsuo Brand Triple Kushi Bun" (200 yen) is steamed right in front of the store and is arranged in threes like dumplings, so you can eat it with one hand.

The hot spring manju is branded with the familiar hot spring mark and Atami's mascot character, Atsuo. Atsuo's expression is so indescribable that you'll want to take a photo of him.

The manju, which had been steamed just before being served, had a soft and fluffy dough and the red bean paste was piping hot. The sweet red bean paste, which was as sweet as chocolate, was sure to soothe your tired body after a long day of walking. This is the perfect shop for anyone looking for a warming dessert.

Kameyama Company

Terakoya Honpo: A novel style of eating yakitori like yakitori

Finally, we'll introduce some salty sweets. Terakoya Honpo is located about a two-minute walk from Atami Station. The store, which has its main store in Kyoto, was founded in 1985 and currently has 19 stores across Japan.

When you order the "Nure Okaki" (300 yen), it is heated up right there in the store and served piping hot. The fragrant aroma of the roasting okaki draws you in, and before you know it, a crowd has formed in front of the store.

This stick contains four moist rice crackers, and at first glance it looks like yakitori. The outside is crispy and fragrant, while the inside is chewy. It is seasoned with sweet soy sauce, and the sweetness of the soy sauce spreads throughout your mouth with every bite.

The shop uses 100% domestically produced glutinous rice in pursuit of high quality and satisfying flavor. They also sell the same nure-okaki rice crackers available for takeout as souvenirs.

The landmark of Terakoya Honpo is the large wet rice cracker sign hanging in front of the store. Why not take a commemorative photo with the wet rice crackers sticking out from the sign?

Terakoya Honpo

New local specialties and new stores are constantly opening around Atami Station, evolving the town into a mix of old and new. If you come to Atami, be sure to enjoy sightseeing in the area, not only the hot springs but also the unique local cuisine.

Originally posted: February 22, 2023
*Some content was updated on August 1, 2024.

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