Atami City　(Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)

Sister City Conclusion ／signed on 5 August 1966
■　Population／Approximately　39,200
■　Area/ 61.55㎢
http://www.city.atami.shizuoka.jp/
（The Atami City official homepage will be translated in English）

Geography

It is a hot spring resort located in the easternmost tip of Shizuoka Prefecture, in the northeast of Izu Peninsula. It is formed mainly from hills upon which most of the dwellings and the cottages stand. There are also many steep slopes. As a result of the hilly character of the city, most of the land along the coastline is without beaches. Land has been reclaimed in order to make a sand beach in the central part of the coast. Hatsushima (Island), which is off the east coast of Sagami Bay, is also part of the city.

Climate

The city faces toward the Pacific Ocean, and as a result it experiences four clear seasons. It enjoys a temperate climate all through the year, which is an effect of the Kuroshio Current.

History

It used to be written as 「阿多美（Atami）」 and has been renowned as a hot spring resort for a long time. Then it was changed into 「熱海（Atami）」 as the hot （熱） springs gushed naturally from the sea （海）. People from metropolitan areas flooded into the area following the opening of the Atami Line run by the Ministry of Railroad (the present JR Tokaido Main Line). This made it one of the biggest resorts in the country. Once, large-scale hotels and Japanese Ryokans　stood in a row, which provided a favorite destination for visitors for honeymoons and office trips. However, since 1990 there had been a decline in the number of office trips coupled with people losing interest in large-scale hotels. The popularity of the area was decreasing. However, there has been an increase in the number of condominiums with hot springs after 2000.

Industry

Fishery

Process of making agreement

Through the intermediation of the Mayor of Atami, Ichikawa, we started talking about having a sister city relationship. In April 1966, when dial toll call services started operating, the Mayor Ichikawa talked on the phone with the Mayor of Beppu, Keiji Arakane, and that was how the sister city agreement was concluded.

お問い合わせ

文化国際課　

〒874-8511 別府市上野口町1番15号（市庁舎4F）

電話：0977-21-1131

Eメール：int-ma@city.beppu.lg.jp