January to March in Atami
Atami in Winter and Early Spring
Plum blossoms, Atami Sakura, and a quiet stay on the Izusan Shrine approach (January to March 2027).
The short answer
- Atami's two flower festivals are planned for early 2027: the Atami Baien Plum Festival from January 9 (Sat) to March 7 (Sun), and the Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival from January 9 (Sat) to February 7 (Sun), according to the Atami City Tourism Association (checked October 18, 2026).
- From January 9 to February 7, both festivals run at the same time. You can see plum blossoms in the day and early-blooming cherry blossoms in the evening.
- Atami is 45 minutes from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen, so it works as a day trip, but staying one night lets you see both without rushing.
- Weekdays in January to March are the quietest time of the year in Atami.
- We are 123 MUSIC & RESORTS, a five-room music inn on the approach to Izusan Shrine, on the hill above central Atami. All rooms look out over the sea.
What we know so far (2027)
Atami Baien Plum Festival
- Dates: January 9 (Sat) to March 7 (Sun), 2027 (planned)
- Place: Atami Baien plum garden
- Getting there: JR Ito Line from Atami Station to Kinomiya Station (one stop), then a 10-minute walk. Or take a bus from Atami Station to the "Baien" stop (15 minutes).
- Opening hours and admission for 2027: not announced yet. At the 2026 festival, the garden was open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission was charged during the festival.
Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival
- Dates: January 9 (Sat) to February 7 (Sun), 2027 (planned)
- Place: the Itokawa river promenade in central Atami
- Getting there: a 20-minute walk from Atami Station, or a bus to the "Ginza" stop (10 minutes)
- Evening light-up for 2027: not announced yet. In 2026, the cherry trees were lit up every evening from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the festival.
Details for 2027 will be announced by the Atami City Tourism Association. Please check their latest information before you go: Atami Baien Plum Festival / Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival (both pages are in Japanese; your browser's translate function helps).
Atami Baien: one of the earliest plum gardens in Japan
Atami Baien is known for having some of the earliest plum blossoms in Japan. The first flowers can open as early as November.
- The garden has 469 plum trees of 60 varieties.
- Early, mid-season and late varieties bloom one after another, so during the festival there is usually something in flower.
- Some of the trees are more than 100 years old.
The roads around the garden get busy during the festival, and the tourism association recommends public transport. The train and bus are the easiest way to enjoy this season.
Atami Sakura: cherry blossoms in January
Atami Sakura is an early-blooming cherry that flowers from early January into February, weeks before most cherry blossoms in Japan.
- The same branch has buds that open early and buds that open later, so the flowers usually last for more than a month.
- It was named the official tree of Atami City in 1977.
- The main viewing spot, the Itokawa promenade, follows a small river through the town center. Viewing is free.
If the evening light-up is held again in 2027, staying the night means you can see the blossoms after dark and still get back to a quiet room.
A one-night plan for a weekday
- Late morning: Arrive at Atami Station. Take the JR Ito Line one stop to Kinomiya, or the bus to Atami Baien.
- Midday: Walk through the plum garden. Have lunch in central Atami.
- Mid-afternoon: Buy what you would like for the evening and breakfast around Atami Station. There is no convenience store near the inn, and the inn is on a hill.
- Afternoon: Check in. Watch the winter sea from your room. Winter skies are often clear, and the view out to sea is at its sharpest. If you would like to play one of the two grand pianos, this is a good time (they can be played until around 8:00 p.m.).
- Evening: Take a taxi down to the Itokawa promenade for the cherry blossoms, and have dinner in town.
- Night: Back at the inn, a quiet room with double-glazed windows.
- Early next morning: Walk up the approach to Izusan Shrine. Winter mornings are quiet, with few visitors.
123 MUSIC & RESORTS is not affiliated with Izusan Shrine. For prayers, amulets or ceremonies, please contact the shrine directly.
Why January to March weekdays
- It is the calmest time of year. After the New Year holidays, both the town and the inn are quiet.
- The flowers are easier to enjoy. Festival weekends are crowded; on weekdays you can walk under the blossoms at your own pace.
- We have only five rooms. Weekends fill up first, so Sunday to Thursday nights are the easiest to book.
Before you book: what to know about our inn
- Rooms: five rooms, all with a view of the sea, with double-glazed windows. All rooms are non-smoking.
- Meals: we are a room-only inn. The shared lounge has a fridge, a microwave and a kettle. There is no convenience store near the inn, so please buy food around Atami Station before you come up.
- Prices depend on the date and the number of guests, and you can see the price for your dates on our official booking site.
- Getting here: Tokyo Station to Atami Station is 45 minutes by Shinkansen. From Atami Station to the inn, it is 5 minutes by taxi. The area has slopes and stone steps, so comfortable shoes are best.
- Pianos: there are two grand pianos. You can play them until around 8:00 p.m.
The inn is run by the company of Tarnar-sensei, a voice trainer with 30 years of experience who has taught more than 50,000 students. He wrote and composed the ending theme of the TV Tokyo program "Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan" (2021 and 2025). The inn grew out of a simple wish: to bring life back to Izusan through music.
Questions in English? Ask us before you book
Our official booking site is in Japanese. If anything is unclear, send us a message on LINE in English before you book. We can check availability for your dates and guide you through the booking screen.
FAQ
- Q. When is the Atami plum festival in 2027?
A. The Atami Baien Plum Festival is planned for January 9 (Sat) to March 7 (Sun), 2027, according to the Atami City Tourism Association (checked October 18, 2026). Opening hours and admission have not been announced yet.
- Q. When do cherry blossoms bloom in Atami?
A. Atami Sakura, an early-blooming cherry, flowers from early January into February. The Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for January 9 (Sat) to February 7 (Sun), 2027.
- Q. Can I see plum and cherry blossoms on the same trip?
A. Yes. In 2027, the two festivals are planned to overlap from January 9 to February 7. How far the flowers have opened changes every year, so please check the tourism association's blossom updates before you go.
- Q. Is Atami worth visiting in February?
A. February is a good time for flowers in Atami: the plum festival is in full swing, and Atami Sakura can still be in bloom early in the month. Weekdays are quiet, and the winter sky is often clear.
- Q. How do I get from the inn to Atami Baien or the Itokawa promenade?
A. Go via Atami Station. From the inn to Atami Station is 5 minutes by taxi. From Atami Station, Atami Baien is one stop on the JR Ito Line to Kinomiya and then a 10-minute walk, or a 15-minute bus ride. The Itokawa promenade is a 20-minute walk from Atami Station.
- Q. Do you serve meals?
A. No, we are a room-only inn. The shared lounge has a fridge, a microwave and a kettle. Please buy food around Atami Station before you come up, as there is no convenience store near the inn.
Festival information was checked on the Atami City Tourism Association website on October 18, 2026. Dates, hours and fees may change. Please check the latest information before you go.