5 Best Restaurants in Atami

Kamatsuru is a small counter-serve restaurant that specialises in fresh and cooked seafood. The intimate setup allows you to watch as chefs skillfully assemble your food. Fish is local and depends on the season, meaning raw fish dishes like sashimi land on your plate as fresh as possible.

Order a set meal for an assortment of fish and seafood paired with tofu, soybeans, and spicy sauce. The ‘3-colour seafood bowl’ is brimming with sea bream and whitebait, while the lunch bowl special has ingredients chosen by the chef. Try some of the excellent wasabi, which is freshly ground by the restaurant for a bright, zingy taste.

Takaratei has been serving its famous katsu curry in Atami since 1947. The restaurant has a nostalgic mid-century atmosphere, with a historic Showa-era interior and heavy wooden chairs. The menu focuses on so-called 'western-style' Japanese food, with moderately spicy curries and curried sauces.

The main draw is the pork cutlets, which are thin and crispy and served with hayashi (hashed beef) rice and a rich sauce. Alternatively, Takaratei’s pork cutlet is served as a doorstop sandwich of meat and salad greens sliced into neat squares. There are also chicken, beef and scampi curries, spicy stews, and spaghetti. Raise a glass of sake or shochu with your meal.

Shunyotei Restaurant commands breathtaking views from its perch on the top of the cliffs along Atami Beach. The atmosphere is French through and through, from the crisp white linen napkins to the vases of flowers on every table. Expect classics of French fine dining like roasted sea bream with salmon roe and wagyu steak served with a pat of herb butter.

Try the light and fluffy quiche, with asparagus and prosciutto, or the creamy pumpkin soup. Dessert comes around on a quaint trolley and often includes tiramisu, crème brûlée and fruit compote. Have a glass of Syrah or Bordeaux on the wooden outdoor deck for the best views of the ocean.

Ishin Atami Honten is a ramen joint that does quick and tasty noodle dishes. Its tsukemen comes with cold noodles alongside a separate serving of piping hot broth. Dip your noodles in the broth to pick up the flavour before you eat. There are a variety of warming broth flavours, plus toppings of spicy chicken and crispy shrimp.

The restaurant's unique setup means you choose your food at the vending machine outside. Buy a ticket for your meal – you'll need cash – then head inside and exchange said ticket for a steaming bowl of noodles. The comfortable, casual interior has padded stools and a wrap-around wooden counter.

The calming atmosphere of Ren strikes you as soon as you walk through the door. A clean, minimalist interior is enhanced with creative lighting and walls decorated in modern art. The food is equally a work of art, presented on carefully arranged wooden trays. Take a seat on a tatami mat around the low tables and prepare to be wowed.

The sushi and sashimi are made with the freshest, locally-caught fish. Try the rice bowl (topped with sea urchin and salmon roe), Japanese-style crab gratin, steamed egg custard, or seared beef tataki. Beyond the usual sake and beer options, Ren also serves cocktails, wines and Veuve Clicquot champagne.