A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Adelaide vs. Sendai for Attractions, Nightlife, Beaches, and Families

Should you visit Adelaide or Sendai?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Adelaide and Sendai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Adelaide

Adelaide is a welcoming, friendly, and under-rated city. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Sendai

Sendai is a lively, high energy, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Adelaide and Sendai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Adelaide or Sendai?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sendai. Although Adelaide and Sendai are popular destinations, Sendai has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sendai is very popular for its museums, nightlife, and big city activities, while Adelaide attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Sendai is more touristy than Adelaide and is known for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also well known for the statue of Lord Masamune. Adelaide is famous for its wine scene, vibrant festivals, green spaces, and local sporting events.

How is Adelaide different from Sendai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sendai and Adelaide. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Adelaide or Sendai?

Sendai is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sendai. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

Adelaide offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some interesting buildings along North Terrace such as the Parliament House, the State Library of South Australia, and the South Australian Museum. At the Botanic Garden there's the Santos Museum of Economic Botany. Also make sure you check out the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Is the Food Better in Adelaide or Sendai? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Adelaide and Sendai.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Adelaide. There's great wine, local restaurants, and charming cafes. You'll find local dishes as well as international flavors around town. The local produce is good and the restaurants offer fresh and delicious recipes.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Sendai. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Sendai has a large number of nightlife venues. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

Adelaide has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is filled with rooftop bars, live music venues, and boutique wine bars. Whether you're looking for trendy and luxury or casual and laid back, there are many places to spend a night out.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Beaches?

Adelaide is an excellent place to visit for the beache. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Adelaide. Part of what makes the city's beaches so great is how accessible they are. You don't have to go far to be at some of the area's best beaches. Glenelg is a family-friendly beach near town. It's also the most popular and most accessible. Brighton is relaxed with cafes and small restaurants nearby. And for seafood, head to Henley.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Sendai. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Hiking?

Adelaide is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Adelaide has hiking trails worth exploring. Outside of town there are national parks and reserves with hiking trails. You don't have to go far to explore the coastline or bushland in the area.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Adelaide or Sendai?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Adelaide and Sendai.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Adelaide. Rundle Mall is the most well known shopping area in town. You'll find boutique shops as well as large department stores. Whether you're looking for international fashion brands or something more local, there are many places to explore.

Sendai is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Families?

Sendai is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Sendai is a very family-friendly destination. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Adelaide. There are kids museums, water parks, playgrounds, and beaches that are fun to explore with children. The city has a family-friendly vibe with kid-friendly restaurants and a welcoming personality.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Couples?

Both Adelaide and Sendai are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.

Adelaide is a nice destination for couples. A great date activity is a night at the opera. There are also boat rides, hot air balloon rides, and nice restaurants that make for a fun evening out.

Sendai makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Adelaide and Sendai are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Adelaide is a good city to visit for backpackers. It's not high on the list for many backpackers, but those who venture here will enjoy a great wine scene, beautiful beaches, and lively festivals.

Plenty of backpackers visit Sendai. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Students?

Adelaide is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Sendai is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Adelaide. It's a friendly and affordable city that has a nice student culture. It's very livable and accessible to other interesting places.

Sendai is not popular with students.

Is Adelaide or Sendai Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both Adelaide and Sendai.

Public transit in Adelaide is fairly effecient and thorough. There are bus, trains, and trams throughout the city center.

Sendai has some very good public transit options. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Is Adelaide or Sendai a more walkable city?

Adelaide and Sendai are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Adelaide is very walkable. The city is compact and laid out in a grid pattern, so it's easy to explore on foot.

Sendai is a very walkable city. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

For even more information, also check out Is Adelaide Worth Visiting? and Is Sendai Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sendai or Adelaide?

How long in Adelaide or Sendai?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Adelaide and Sendai. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Adelaide than in Sendai. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Adelaide, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sendai.

Families should spend more time in Sendai than Adelaide. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sendai, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Adelaide than Sendai if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Adelaide.

One day in Adelaide or Sendai?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Adelaide. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Sendai offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Adelaide or Sendai?

Adelaide is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Sendai is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Sendai, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Adelaide or Sendai?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Adelaide. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Sendai is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Adelaide or Sendai?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Adelaide. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Sendai is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When comparing the travel costs between Adelaide and Sendai, we can see that Adelaide is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Adelaide is in Pacific and Sendai is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Adelaide Expensive? and Is Sendai Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Adelaide or Sendai?

Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Adelaide and Sendai, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Adelaide or Sendai?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Adelaide is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Adelaide or Sendai in the Summer?

Both Sendai and Adelaide are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Adelaide for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Adelaide is around the same temperature as Sendai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Adelaide in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Sendai averages at about 23°C (73°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Adelaide. Adelaide usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during summer. Adelaide gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sendai. In January, Adelaide usually receives less rain than Sendaiin July. Adelaide gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Adelaide or Sendai in the Autumn?

Both Sendai and Adelaide during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Adelaide because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

In April, Adelaide is generally a little warmer than Sendaiin October. Daily temperatures in Adelaide average around 18°C (64°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Adelaide. In the autumn, Adelaide often gets more sunshine than Sendaiin October. Adelaide gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.

Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Adelaide usually gets less rain in April than Sendaiin October. Adelaide gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Adelaide or Sendai in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Adelaide and Sendai. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sendai. Adelaide is much warmer than Sendai in the winter. The daily temperature in Adelaide averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°F)in January.

Adelaide usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sendai during winter. Adelaide gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Adelaide usually receives more rain than Sendaiin January. Adelaide gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Adelaide or Sendai in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Adelaide as well as Sendai. Many travelers come to Adelaide for the beaches. Additionally, many visitors come to Sendai in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Adelaide is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Adelaide in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Sendai averages at about 10°C (51°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Adelaide this time of the year. In the spring, Adelaide often gets more sunshine than Sendaiin April. Adelaide gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun.

Adelaide usually gets less rain in October than Sendaiin April. Adelaide gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sendai and Adelaide