The Risonare - One Of The Best Luxury Hotels In Atami
- Jan 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 6
A review of the Risonare Atami, one of the best luxury resort hotels on the Izu Peninsula
Image source: Ollie Ronin
Introduction
The Risonare Atami is a luxurious onsen resort on the Izu Peninsula, only 45 minutes from Tokyo. It sits on the hillside and offers stunning views of the ocean and the city of Atami. Recently, they renovated their onsen, and the result is possibly the most beautiful onsen I've ever experienced in Japan.
Risonare is a brand of up-market hotels by Hoshino Resorts, they focus on incorporating nature activities into the guest experience. For the Risonare Atami, this means an emphasis on the beach, the forest, amazing seafood, and natural hot springs. They offer activities such as roasting fruits on a campfire, climbing amongst the trees along a rope course, and making your own scented candle in the white sand lounge. It's a super nice escape from Tokyo, perfect for couples, friends, and especially families.
In This Article
1.
Key Highlights
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
Location
Incredible location on the hillside with stunning views of the ocean and Atami city.
Unmatched views
The location and design of the property give you unparalleled views throughout the hotel, it's a perspective that can't be matched by other hotels in the region.
Lots of activities
The resort has been designed to integrate with the surrounding forest and offers activities such as drinking matcha in a treehouse, roasting fruits on a barbecue, a tree-top obstacle course for both kids and adults, and making your own scented candles using Atami's famous mandarin oranges.
Huge ocean-view rooms
All rooms are huge, beautifully designed, and offer stunning views of the ocean.
Luxury onsen
The onsen has been completely renovated, and the result is truly spectacular. It's possibly the most beautiful and luxurious onsen I've ever seen. Each male and female area features an outdoor bath, an indoor bath, a sauna, and a cold plunge bath.
Gastonomy
The hotel's two exclusive restaurants serve incredible food. There's an amazing buffet for breakfast and dinner, and a firework-themed restaurant offering delicious kaiseki cuisine.
The White Sand Lounge
The Risonare Atami features a one-of-a-kind white sand lounge that offers a cafe, a play area for kids, and a library area for adults. There's also a cafe and bar serving delicious drinks.
Seasonal Experiences
The resort offers seasonal experiences, such as fireworks in summer, strawberry picking in winter, and stargazing during spring and autumn.
Perfect for families, couples, or big friend groups
The wide range of activities and huge rooms make it the perfect choice for families, couples, or friend groups. There are heaps of activities to keep kids entertained, lots of romantic moments for couples, and a bunch of fun things to do for friends.
Price Range
$500 - $1500 per night
2.
Location
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Risonare Atami is located only 10 minutes by taxi from Atami Station. A free shuttle bus is available, which was a convenient option when we checked out. The design of the property is truly impressive, I found myself constantly impressed with how the architecture and decor highlights the ocean, the beach, and the scenery.
3.
Rooms
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
The rooms are huge, some of the biggest I've seen in Japan. I toured all of the room types and was constantly impressed by their design and emphasis on the surrounding scenery. Every room faces the ocean, and their balconies give you a vast panorama that includes the surrounding mountains.
4.
Onsen
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
The biggest highlight for me personally was the onsen, and just one look at these photos explains everything. The Towada stone gives off the most beautiful blue-green hue when it becomes wet, and integrates seamlessly with the soft ambient lighting. The views from the outdoor bath are amazing, and equally impressive during the day and night. A traditional dry sauna is available, alongside a nice and refreshing cold bath. All the photos you see here are shot during the day, but the appearance at night is almost more impressive, the dim lighting has been carefully designed, creating a cinematic atmosphere.
5.
Dining
Image source: Risonare Atami
The food at Risonare Atami is super nice. The buffet was absolutely huge, with a lot of variety including Japanese, Western, and fusion cuisine. The breakfast was especially impressive, as it can be hard to find a good breakfast in Japan that suits the Western palate. Some of the highlights were freshly made scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, and a nice selection of pastries.
6.
The White Sand Lounge
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One of the most unique and charming aspects of the whole property was the white sand lounge on the top floor. The whole place has been filled with white sand that's been imported all the way from the Gold Coast of Australia. Guests are encouraged to take off their shoes and feel the soft sand while reading books, enjoying coffee, or playing with their kids. By day, the lounge is more focused on providing a fun place for children and families, but when the night falls, it becomes an adults-only space serving beer and cocktails.
7.
Activities
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Risonare Atami offers a range of fun activities focused on nature and regional highlights. It's easy to spend 2-3 nights here with all the activities they offer.
They have a large treetop rope course, which was heaps of fun, and offers 2 levels of difficulty.
There's a beautiful treehouse that can be reserved for afternoon tea.
They offer seasonal activities such as strawberry picking, rooftop firework viewing, and making your own scented candles.
And they have two campfires where you can roast locally grown fruits over the fire.
There are additional activities for kids, such as a cooking class, climbing wall, and craft making.
8.
Closing Comments & Further Reading
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
Spending two nights here was an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone. Everything exceeded my expectations - the room, the onsen, the lounge, and the facilities. One thing I love about Hoshino properties is the late checkout of 12pm, you never feel rushed. I would recommend spending at least 2 nights here to enjoy all the facilities, but chances are you'll want to stay an extra night once you arrive.
If you want to check out other attractions in Atami during your stay, then catching a taxi to the Museum of Art (MOA) is my top recommendation. And if you have a car, then a day trip to Shuzenji Onsen would be the perfect add-on to your trip. Check out our complete guide if you're interested in exploring more of the Izu Peninsula.
