Easily accessible and only a few hours south of Tokyo, the old resort town of Atami hit the big time during the madness of the bubble years, as along with money being readily available in general, it also became a key destination for business retreats and the vast entertainment funds they involved.
With that said, itโs no surprise at all then that the bursting of the bubble hit the town hard, and while itโs probably fair to say it has finally recovered, with visitors returning and its location making it an attractive commuter town, the scars of that asset fuelled rise and fall are still visible. Elements that to my eyes at least make Atami all the more interesting, and these photos show aspects of that. All of them taken just over a year ago during a short stay.
Sean says
The first and last 2 are so good. ๐
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Iโd wanted to get photos of that abandoned pool for ages, so it was great to finally access it.
Once an expat says
Actually, its my understanding Atami, before overseas travel became an option for most everyone, that Atami was the go-to place for honeymooners and thrived off of that business.
Lee says
Yeah, itโs definitely been through many stages, and its easy access from Tokyo made it a popular destination. Especially so when it got the Shinkansen in the 1960s. I mentioned the bubble years as that period in particular seems to have supercharged its popularity leading to a much harder fall.
YesterdaysHero says
Great documentary work as always, Lee. I think decline like this is common for many traditional resort or holiday destinations. Times and travel habits change.
Lee says
Thank you very much, and yeah, thatโs so true. Seen lots of similar cases in my native Britain.
cdilla says
Such a patchwork of faded seaside town gaudy laced with decay. A great collection of yor work.
No need to say which song is running through my mind for this post ๐
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and yes, you donโt need to say at all!
Damien says
I love those welcome mats out front of these bric a brac stores. ใใใฃใใใใพใ! Nice series. ๐๐พ
Lee says
Just seen that this was for the post after. Cheers. Yes, that’s always a nice touch.