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 Traditional Japanese
inn is a unique experience for foreign visitors
if you are curious about how traveling feudal
lords were accommodated in ancient times. The
basic design of most guest rooms is that it is
huge and floored with tatami straw matting. The
baths in the inns at hot-spring resort are both
comforting and relaxing. One such particular
place for you to rejuvenate the mind and body is
at Atami Sekitei. This inn is situated in a
peaceful residential neighborhood surrounded by
beautiful scenery overlooking Atami Bay whereby
Sekitei is a stone pavilion. To make you way
here, catch the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet
train) from the nation's capital to Atami
Station and then take a quick
Photo: Atami Sekitei in Japan
taxi ride to Sekitei. The word Atami means hot sea and no
wonder this area becomes well known as a source
of hot spring waters.
Openes in the early
1950's, this place is very popular among the
locals. Just by sitting in one of its
twenty-nine rooms is relaxing itself since you
will have the opportunity to view its beautiful
pond filled with colorful carps. To further
cater for its ever growing list of guests, there
is the Sakuragaoka-Saryo which is an annex of
the original ten rooms. Literally meaning
Teahouse on Cherry Blossom Hill, these rooms
have their own hot spring baths but the main
attractions of these rooms is the weekend
performances of geisha spinning parasols and
dancing on a Noh stage set on the garden can be
seen from the rooms which are guaranteed to
thrill foreign visitors. A remarkable Japanese spa
experience awaits guests who will definitely
enjoy the mineral water baths and for
sightseeing, there are the Atami Castle and the Mokichi Okada Association (MOA) Art Museum. The
best time to visit is during autumn because it
is simply relaxing to soak in an open-air bath
in front of a magnificent landscape filled with
colorful leaves.
Located at : 6-17
Wada-cho,
Atami-shi,
Shizuoka-ken
413-0024,
Japan.
Telephone : 81
(0)557 83 2841
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