Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Atami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Atami or Harbin?
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 Harbin 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.
Where Should I go: Atami or Harbin?
Atami
Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Atami Prices
Japan PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAtami $108Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Atami is $108, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $66. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Atami and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAtami $44Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAtami $88Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Atami and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Atami or Harbin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Atami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Atami $37Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Atami or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Atami change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAtami $43Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $80
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Atami $7.96Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Atami
For Atami, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2025 1 Day Winter Sumo Official Provincial Tour at Odawara: $104
- Experience Tea Ceremony at a Traditional Japanese Inn : $46
- Hakone customized private one day tour: $173
- Japanese Traditional Music Experience: $48
- Ninja, Samurai, Odawara Castle Experience: $138
- Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour: $138
- Odawara Ramen Crawl Experience: Visit 2 Iconic Shops: $52
- Odawara to Hakone Scenic Adventure: $172
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Igloos Hot Pot Private Tour: $300
- Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice Festival: $261
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
- All-Inclusive Harbin City History and Local Culture Private Day Tour: $300
- Group Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World plus Sun Island Snow Sculpture Festival: $298
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Half-Day Private Old Harbin Street Walking Tour with Meal: $300
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAtami $5.65Harbin $7.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Harbin
Also in Harbin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Brewery Tour: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atami and Harbin, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Harbin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Harbin 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 Atami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atami than you might in Harbin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Atami Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Atami or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Atami and Harbin, 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 Atami or Harbin?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Atami or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Atami are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Atami in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Atami is around the same temperature as Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Harbin. It's quite rainy in Atami. In July, Atami usually receives more rain than Harbin. Atami gets 202 mm (8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAtami 26°C (78°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Atami or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Atami during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Atami for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Atami is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Atami in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. Atami usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Atami gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAtami 18°C (64°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Atami or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Atami and Harbin. The winter months attract visitors to Atami because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. In January, Atami is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Atami average around 5°C (42°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
In January, Atami usually receives more rain than Harbin. Atami gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAtami 5°C (42°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Atami or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Atami as well as Harbin. The beaches are the main draw to Atami this time of year.
Atami is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Atami receives a lot of rain in the spring. Atami usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Atami gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAtami 14°C (57°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Atami
| Atami | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 164 mm (6.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 108 mm (4.2 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.