The ATAGO was laid down on 5 April 2004, launched on 24 August 2005, and completed on 15 March 2007 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's Nagasaki Shipyard. As of 2007, the ATAGO class is fundamentally an improved and scaled-up version of the KONGO class; a hangar was newly added to carry one SH-60K helicopter. To enhance its function as a command centre, the bridge is two floors higher than the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA class, making its load displacement larger than 10,000 tons — the first JMSDF surface combat vessel to achieve this. It features large accommodation and is capable of flexible operation. The ship carries an Mk-45 Mod 4 127mm 62-calibre gun with a stealth-shaped battery. The Mk 41 VLS is capable of launching Standard Missiles, ASROC missiles, and Sea Sparrow missiles. For anti-surface attack, domestically-made Type 90 surface-to-surface guided missiles (SSM-1B) are carried instead of US-made Harpoon missiles.

• Lower hull made from two-directional slide moulds
• Separate sonar dome
• Either full hull version or waterline version can be assembled