A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Atami vs. Arrowtown for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Atami or Arrowtown?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Atami and Arrowtown 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.

Atami

Atami is a overlooked, nostalgic, and authentic town. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Atami travel costs.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a charming, quaint, and quirky town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Arrowtown travel costs.

Atami and Arrowtown: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atami or Arrowtown?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Arrowtown. Although Atami and Arrowtown are popular destinations, Arrowtown has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arrowtown is very popular for its skiing, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Atami attracts visitors for its beaches. Arrowtown is more touristy than Atami and is known for its gold rush history, impressive ski slopes, and famous hikes. It is also well known for the Chinese Settlement. Atami is famous for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Atami different from Arrowtown?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Skiing?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for skiing and snowboarding. However, Atami is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Arrowtown. In the area you'll find amazing skiing that ranges from professional level to family-friendly.

Atami is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Atami or Arrowtown?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Atami and Arrowtown.

Atami offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Arrowtown. The town feels likes a living museum with its historic sights. There's also the Lakes District Museum in town that you can visit.

Is the Food Better in Atami or Arrowtown? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Arrowtown has a huge number of terrific restaurants. For such a small town, there's a surprising number of great restaurants with award winning chefs. You'll find quaint cafes, traditional eateries, and casual restaurants where you can sample the local dishes.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Atami and Arrowtown.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Atami. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Arrowtown has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For such a small town, there's a surprisingly bustling nightlife scene with casual pubs and waterfront bars.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Beaches?

Atami is very good for its beaches. However, Arrowtown is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Atami to enjoy the beach. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Arrowtown is not a beach destination.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for its Old Town?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for its old town. However, Atami does not have a historic old town.

Arrowtown is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. This is a quirky and charming historic mining town that has many cottages and historic buildings. Many places have been restored to maintain their original character.

Atami does not have a historic old town.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Hiking?

Arrowtown is renowned for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Around Arrowtown visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Many people use this town as a jumping off point for some of the world's most iconic hikes. You can explore Lord of the Rings country or do one of fifteen different listed walks in the area.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atami or Arrowtown?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Arrowtown is well-known for its shopping. Shopping is an experience in town. Head to Buckingham Street, which is the main street in town. You can wander through a wild west setting with local vendors and quirky galleries.

Many visitors go to Atami to go shopping. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Families?

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

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Arrowtown is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy the old world charm as much as adults. There's gold panning, bike trails, and even a historic Chinese village. During the winter there are snow sports and during the summer there are outdoor activities that take advantage of the nice weather.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Atami. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Couples?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Arrowtown makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The charming atmosphere and beautiful walks make this a great weekend destination for couples. You can take a stroll on the Arrow River Walkway or grab a meal at a quaint cafe followed by ice cream at a classic ice cream parlor.

Atami is a good town for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arrowtown is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Arrowtown. There are a couple of hostels in town and backpackers love the frequent festivals and activities that the town hosts.

Plenty of backpackers visit Atami. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Is Atami or Arrowtown Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Atami and Arrowtown.

Atami has some public transit options. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

You'll find some public transit in Arrowtown, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses throughout the region.

Is Atami or Arrowtown a more walkable city?

Atami and Arrowtown are nice when it comes to walkability.

Atami is a somewhat walkable place. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

Arrowtown is a somewhat walkable town. Parts of the town are fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Atami Worth Visiting? and Is Arrowtown Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arrowtown or Atami?

How long in Atami or Arrowtown?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Atami or Arrowtown to fill your time. In our opinion, Arrowtown has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Arrowtown than Atami. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Arrowtown than Atami. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arrowtown that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arrowtown than Atami 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 Arrowtown.

One day in Atami or Arrowtown?

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Atami. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atami has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Even though Arrowtown is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the hiking. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Atami or Arrowtown?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of Atami. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arrowtown. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Atami or Arrowtown?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the overlooked town of Atami. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arrowtown is a fun place to experience. Arrowtown is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Lots of people come for the hiking. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Atami or Arrowtown?

Atami is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Arrowtown is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the hiking. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atami and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Atami is in Asia and Arrowtown is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Atami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atami and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Atami.

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

Which is Bigger, Atami or Arrowtown?

Atami has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Atami and Arrowtown, 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.