The hip side of Japan the tourists haven’t figured out yet
From faded resorts to kissaten and neon-lit bars, Showa Japan is finding new life among locals and visitors alike.
In Japan, the bustling metropolis of Tokyo hides a lesser-known gem just 40 minutes away by bullet train - Atami. This seaside city, once renowned for its therapeutic hot springs, has quietly captured the hearts of expats and longtime friends Hillary Hewins and Blake Piper. During the four decades following World War II, Atami's popularity grew steadily as a favored destination for Japanese holidaymakers.
The cityscape transformed, with sprawling concrete resorts and vibrant nightlife venues, all illuminated by dazzling neon signs.
However, the city's prosperity was short-lived. The economic bubble in Japan burst in the early 1990s, and Atami's growth came to a screeching halt. Hotel revenues plummeted by nearly a quarter, and dozens of properties stood idle. By 2011, visitation had plummeted by half from its peak. The local population mirrored this decline, shrinking from 50,000 residents to approximately 30,000 today.
Atami's transformation from a thriving tourist hotspot to a sleepy seaside town is a story of Japan's evolving economic landscape. As the country's bubble economy collapsed, Atami's hotels and nightlife venues were among the first to suffer. The city's residents followed suit, and today, Atami remains a quiet, unassuming gem for those in the know.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
