Atami has been noted as a resort town centered on its hot springs since the 8th century AD. In the Kamakura period, Minamoto Yoritomo and H?j? Masako were noted visitors. During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenry? territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, Atami village was organized within Kamo District, Shizuoka. It was elevated to town status on June 11, 1894, and was transferred to the administrative control of Tagata District, Shizuoka in 1896.
The epicenter of the Great Kant? earthquake in 1923 was deep beneath Izu ?shima Island in Sagami Bay, close to Atami, which suffered considerable damage, as did other municipalities throughout the surrounding Kant? region.The tsunami wave height reached 35 feet at Atami, swamping the town and drowning three hundred people.
The modern city of Atami was founded on April 10, 1937 through the merger of Atami Town with neighboring Taga Village. After the proclamation of Atami as an "International Tourism and Culture City" by the Japanese government in 1950, the area experienced rapid growth in large resort hotel development. This was further encouraged by making Atami a stop on the T?kaid? Shinkansen high-speed train line in 1964. In concert with its famous onsen, Atami was known for its onsen geisha. Atami experienced a considerable decline in popularity as a vacation destination due to the Japanese economic crisis in the 1990s and the associated fall in large group company-sponsored vacations, but is currently experiencing a revival as a bedroom community due to its proximity to Tokyo and Yokohama.
The 24th Congress of the Japanese Communist Party was held at Atami in January 2006
