Hotel New Akao” (1993-65, Atami, Shizuoka, Japan), a long-established resort in Atami, finally had a grand opening of its entire building after about two years of renovation work.
As previously reported, the opening ceremony was held on July 12, and we had the opportunity to stay in the newly renovated “Ocean Wing” wing. Here are some of the things I enjoyed about my stay.
The former Hotel New Akao was established in 1973 and was a landmark in Atami, leading the “Atami travel boom” of the time. The hotel will temporarily close its doors in November 2021, but the former Hotel New Akao and the good old Showa-era flavor will remain, and Mystays Hotel Management is currently taking over management of the hotel.
The building is located at the tip of Nishikigaura, a scenic area recognized as a Japan Geopark, and consists of three major buildings along its quay: the Ocean Wing, the Horizon Wing, and the Sparium Nishiki. Each wing can be accessed via a connecting walkway and elevator within the building.
The Horizon Wing building, which opened earlier in December 2022, is a white Western-style building perched atop a cliff, with a total of 100 guest rooms, two restaurants, and a bathhouse.
On the other hand, the Ocean Wing, which opened this time, is the former main building, built almost on top of the ocean in the 0m above sea level zone. The neon sign with the katakana logo “New Atami” on the exterior of the entrance is full of Showa-era atmosphere, and the catchphrase “Atami’s symbol revived” is a perfect description of the scene.
The Ocean Wing building has a total of 250 guest rooms. One of the main attractions of this year’s event was the opening of the super-massive restaurant “Main Dining Nishiki”. Guests can enjoy a sumptuous buffet with a spectacular view of Nishikigaura from the large windows, fresh seafood, roast beef cut in front of them by the chef, and Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes using a variety of fresh vegetables from the foot of Mt.
On the first floor of the building, there is an open-air bath “Namioto (sound of waves)” only 5 meters from the sea, where you can enjoy natural hot spring water in a rock bathtub while listening to the sound of the tide, as its name suggests.
Guests are also free to use the Sparium Nishiki, a large bath with a spectacular view on the 15th floor, the Saikai, a large cypress bath located in the Horizon Wing building, which is also on the 15th floor through a connecting passageway, or the Sora and Tsuki private baths, located on the highest 11th and 12th floors, to ensure privacy and luxury. You are also free to use the private baths “Sora” and “Tsuki,” located on the 11th and 12th floors of the highest building.
This time we stayed in a Japanese-style room in the Ocean Wing building. It is not new or state-of-the-art, but it has everything you need: bathroom, toilet, TV, refrigerator, safe, cozy clothes, towels, hair dryer, and various amenities, as well as Wi-Fi and 3-in-1 charging cord.
Sleeping on futons laid out on tatami mats is a fresh new experience, and the rooms are filled with a Showa-era mood.
The best part is the ocean view outside the window. Not only the Japanese-style room on the 7th floor, where we stayed this time, but all rooms on all floors from the 3rd to 14th floor are furnished with small tables and chairs by the window, allowing you to relax and enjoy the view of the ocean.
Other selections include two Japanese-style rooms with separate bedroom and living room, a Japanese-style twin room, a Japanese-style Western-style room, and a Western-style room, depending on the style of your choice. In addition, the “Imperial Suite,” a limited number of maisonette-type suites, has also been newly introduced. The size of the suite is 203m2, the largest among all 350 guest rooms.
The Imperial Suite’s vaulted living room overlooks the beautiful Sagaminada Sea, and the two bedrooms are luxurious, with a traditional Japanese-style room and even a tea ceremony room.
It can accommodate up to 11 people (the recommended number is 6), so those traveling with a family or group of three generations may want to spend a special occasion here.
Next comes the fun part of the inn: dinner. If you book an overnight stay plan that includes a meal, you can choose between the aforementioned buffet dinner at “Main Dining Nishiki” or the Japanese cuisine “Maifan” or French cuisine “Bonheur” in the Horizon Wing building.
Located on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Atami is a treasure trove of ingredients, with everything from fresh seafood such as lobsters and snapper to brand-name meats, foothill vegetables, and fruits. Local sake is also abundant, so be sure to choose your favorite Japanese or Western restaurant to enjoy a pairing after taking a hot spring bath.
This time, we had a French course at Bonheur. The menu is for summer now, and it started with an appetizer of local horse mackerel carpaccio, followed by a cold soup of Shizuoka sayamusume (edamame) and cucumber, and for the main dish, Japanese beef ribeye steak and grilled local vegetables as an accompaniment. The final dish was a dessert of bavaroise cake made with seasonal cherries.
All of the carefully selected ingredients are of high quality. The dishes were beautiful to look at and filled me up.
The restaurant, decorated in the deep blue of the sea, has a stylish atmosphere and large glass windows overlooking the panoramic view of Sagaminada Sea. As the sun slowly fades from evening to night during the magic hour, we were intoxicated by the local beer “Shizuoka Mugishu Fujinokuni Limited,” mojitos made with the local specialty, new summer oranges, and other fine beverages.
Of course, the wine menu also offers a wide variety of champagnes, reds, and whites.
Looking around, one sees a variety of customers, from elderly couples enjoying a meal reminiscent of the New Atami of yesteryear, to female travelers, families with children, and tourists from overseas. One of the charms of this restaurant is that, despite its high-class service, you can enjoy authentic French cuisine in a casual atmosphere without being stiff-necked.
As night falls, the ocean view during the day is replaced by the night view of the fishing port and the hot spring resort area. After taking a bath, head to “Nigiwai Yokocho,” a retro Showa-era alley.
Here, you will find the “Canzo” bar, where you can choose your favorite canned goods and play corner games, as well as an old-fashioned shooting corner, boat games, ping-pong, karaoke, and other fun activities. The younger generation will find it refreshing, and adults who know the old days can also enjoy a long night out as if they were a child again.
The next morning, we recommend strolling through the Nishikizaki Garden on the hotel grounds in the fresh air, having a cup of coffee to wake up in the lounge, or refreshing yourself in the infinity bath that seems to embrace the great ocean.
You can also “tote around in the morning” by taking a bath in the sauna attached to the large bath and bathing outside while enjoying the spectacular view.
For breakfast, you can choose between a buffet in the main dining room Nishiki or a set menu of mainly Japanese dishes at Bonheur. Each offers a variety of dishes such as salad using vegetables from Mishima Nishinroku, freshly cooked rice made from Shizuoka Prefecture Koshihikari rice, egg dishes using fresh local chicken eggs, dried horse mackerel, and other flavorful dishes.
Then don’t forget to buy some Atami souvenirs. The museum’s stores also sell many famous confections, delicacies, and other specialties, so check them out during your stay.
After checking out by 10:00 a.m., take the free shuttle bus departing from the hotel entrance to JR Atami Station. If you have any questions about sightseeing in Atami, our staff will be happy to help you.
What has not changed since its establishment about 50 years ago is not only the building’s brand power and location in Atami Onsen, but also the hot hospitality and care of the staff. From the beginning to the end, we enjoyed our stay loosely and happily.
Only a short 40-minute ride on the Shinkansen from Tokyo. Why not enjoy a summer trip to a hot spring at the nostalgic yet new “Hotel New Atami”?
© Source travel watch
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