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

Should you visit Atami or Lake Tekapo?

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 Lake Tekapo 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 authentic, overlooked, and nostalgic town. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and shopping.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a small, remote, and basic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the hiking.

Atami and Lake Tekapo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Atami. Although Atami and Lake Tekapo are both popular with visitors, Atami has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Atami is more popular for its museums & sights, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Lake Tekapo is known for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lake Tekapo is more touristy than Atami and is popular for its hot springs, remote location, and beautiful night sky. Atami is popular for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches. It is also home to Kinomiya Shrine.

How is Atami different from Lake Tekapo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Atami is a good destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Atami. 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.

Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Atami is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

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.

Lake Tekapo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The town is very small with just a couple of restaurants and fast food joints.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo Better for Nightlife?

Atami is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

Atami has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Lake Tekapo This is a very small town and there isn't a real nightlife scene. The night sky is incredible though, and you should absolutely do some stargazing.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo Better for Beaches?

Atami is a good destination for the beach. However, Lake Tekapo is not a beach destination.

Atami offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Lake Tekapo is not a beach destination.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo Better for Hiking?

Lake Tekapo is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Lake Tekapo. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Atami is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for shopping.

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.

Shopping in Lake Tekapo can be found for those interested. There are a couple of shops where you can pick up basic necessities.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo Better for Families?

Lake Tekapo 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, Lake Tekapo is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy a visit to Tekapo Springs, which is particularly fun in the winter months. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and, of course, the hot pools. There are also short hikes in the area like the Mount John Summit Walk. Biking, paddleboarding, and kayaking are also popular in the area.

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 Lake Tekapo Better for Couples?

Both Atami and Lake Tekapo are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Atami makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Lake Tekapo is a good town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the stunning scenery, beautiful hikes, and the romantic hot springs. Stargazing is another popular activity in the area.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atami and Lake Tekapo are both good destinations for backpackers.

Atami is a good town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Lake Tekapo. It's a small town with a couple of cheap places to stay that backpackers will appreciate.

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

Atami is a good destination for its public transit. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Atami, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Public transit is quite limited in Lake Tekapo. Public transportation in the area is very limited. If you don't have a car, you'll want to arrange tours to get out and about.

Is Atami or Lake Tekapo a more walkable city?

Atami and Lake Tekapo are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Lake Tekapo is a somewhat walkable town. The town is small enough to get around on foot, and you can hire a tour to get out into the region.

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

Should I spend more time in Lake Tekapo or Atami?

How long in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

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

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

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

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

One day in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic town of Atami. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Lake Tekapo, many people enjoy the that this small destination offers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the nostalgic destination of Atami. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lake Tekapo. 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 Lake Tekapo?

The nostalgic town of Atami offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Lake Tekapo is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the when visiting the destination of Lake Tekapo. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atami. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find around the remote destination of Lake Tekapo. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, 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 Lake Tekapo, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Atami is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

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

Which is Bigger, Atami or Lake Tekapo?

Atami has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Atami and Lake Tekapo, 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.