Japanese Spa. Akihiko Seki

      Some dishes are so artistically presented that it seems aggressive to destroy their delicate beauty for the indulgence of a tempting bite. The chefs of Tsubaki take such pride in presenting a joyous meal that they will even accommodate guests’ possible aversions or allergies. If the thought of some of the freshest tuna sashimi in all of Japan does not make your mouth water, grilled fish or meat can be substituted upon request. There is also a banquet room for entertaining business colleagues or clients.

      All 29 rooms are in the Sukiya style of a Japanese tea-ceremony house, latticework shoji paper doors slide open and close along a corridor. Two rooms have private rotenburo. There are also two indoor spring baths and two outdoor baths.

      With tangerine orchards and Pacific Ocean views nearby, this is a fond area for hiking. Take a walk in the woods, then, in a garden of pink, enlighten your taste buds.

      Address: Oku-Yugawara, Yugawara-cho, Ashigashashimo-gun, Kanagawa-ken 259-0314, Japan Tel: 81 (0)465 63 3333. Fax: 81 (0)465 63 6640. Website: www.tsubaki.net. E-mail: [email protected]. Rooms: 29. Access: 50 min from Tokyo to Atami Station by Tokaido Shinkansen and 10 min to Tsubaki by taxi, or 2 hrs drive from Tokyo to Oku-Yugawara through Tomei Kosoku, Odawara-Atsugi Doro and Manazuru-Doro.

      Atami Sekitei あたみ石 Atami, Izu Peninsula