Blue Ocean Izu

We brought our family of nine, including small children, to Atami, and having the whole villa to ourselves worked really well. It's quiet among the other villas, on a hill just off Route 135, though the drive up is steep. The ocean view right in front was just what we expected, and the scenery was really healing. The house was clean and well kept, with a spacious second floor, but otherwise it's a fairly ordinary villa-style home. If the view is what you're after, it's worth checking out. Outside, there's a small stone enclosure with an open-air bath fed by a natural hot spring, and the tub itself also uses hot spring water. There are a few small play structures for kids and artificial turf. It felt wonderfully open, and we had a special, out-of-the-ordinary stay. Being near the sea made the air feel pleasantly cool, though the sun is strong and you'll burn quickly. There's an extra charge for BBQ. Bring your own food and seasonings or shop nearby, MaxValu has lots of options. Basic tableware is in the house, but paper plates and disposable chopsticks make cleanup easier. The BBQ area is a little way from the house. The villa has no beds, so everyone lays out their own futon. One car can park at the house, with more spaces nearby. Low-riding cars may have trouble parking. This is a house in nature, so summer brings plenty of bugs and spiderwebs. Winged ants swarmed the lights at night and made quite a mess. Still, the kids who love bugs were thrilled to see beetles, geckos, cicadas, and countless red dragonflies flying around before dusk. The insects are hard to avoid in this setting, and it became a good memory too. Our Atami trip left us with some great memories.