A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Atami vs. Mashiko for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Atami or Mashiko?

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 Mashiko 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. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Mashiko

Mashiko is a charming, traditional, and rural town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Atami and Mashiko: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atami or Mashiko?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Mashiko. Although Atami and Mashiko are both popular with visitors, Mashiko has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Mashiko is more popular for its hiking, shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Atami is known for its nightlife and beaches. Mashiko is more touristy than Atami and is known for its local sake, rural farms, and longstanding tradition in pottery making. It is also home to Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art. Atami is popular for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Atami different from Mashiko?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mashiko 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 Mashiko?

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

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 Mashiko. There are a couple of museums around town that are focused on the local activities such as pottery. You can check out the Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Entsuji Temple.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Atami and Mashiko.

Atami has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Mashiko area. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around town that serve udon, soba, and other Japanese favorites that use local ingredients.

Is Atami or Mashiko Better for Nightlife?

Atami is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Mashiko is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Atami has a few options to choose from. 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.

Most people don't head to Mashiko specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are a couple of bars and pubs around town, but not a huge nightlife scene.

Is Atami or Mashiko Better for Beaches?

Atami is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Mashiko is not a beach destination.

Atami has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Mashiko is not a beach destination.

Is Atami or Mashiko Better for Hiking?

Mashiko is a town with good options for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Mashiko. There are three mountains in the area with hiking trails that let you experience the Japanese countryside and natural beauty. These mountains are Mt. Amamakisan, Mt.Mitsudoyasan, and Mt. Takadateyama.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atami or Mashiko?

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

Mashiko is well-known for its shopping. Local pottery is the main purchase in town, and there are many shops and local vendors who sell locally made pottery.

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 Mashiko Better for Families?

Mashiko 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, Mashiko is very family-friendly. Pottery is the claim to fame in this small town, and kids will thoroughly enjoy taking a children's pottery class. Its the perfect way to immerse them in the local culture in a fun and hands-on way. Farm life, and fruit picking are also popular here.

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 Mashiko Better for Couples?

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

Mashiko makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a charming town with local farms, pottery, and sake. Many couples enjoy spending a few days soaking up the local atmosphere and enjoying the simple pleasures.

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 Mashiko Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atami is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Mashiko is not known for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Mashiko is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers don't venture to this community, but its seeped in quaint culture and small town atmosphere.

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

Visitors will find good public transit in both Atami and Mashiko.

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 Mashiko, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local trains that stop by the strawberry picking farms. There are also local buses in the area.

Is Atami or Mashiko a more walkable city?

Mashiko is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Mashiko is a very walkable town. Many people choose to walk around town and the pottery area is about a 20 minute walk from Mashiko Station.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Mashiko or Atami?

How long in Atami or Mashiko?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atami than Mashiko 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 Mashiko?

In Atami, you'll find nightlife and food. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Even though Mashiko is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. 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 Mashiko?

In Atami, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atami has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mashiko. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. 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 Mashiko?

Atami is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Mashiko is a fun place to experience. Mashiko is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Atami or Mashiko?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atami. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atami. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Mashiko is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. 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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Atami and Mashiko, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Mashiko much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mashiko would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mashiko 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 Mashiko.

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

Which is Bigger, Atami or Mashiko?

Atami has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Mashiko. When comparing the sizes of Atami and Mashiko, 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 Mashiko?

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 Mashiko in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Atami and Mashiko. Most visitors come to Atami for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Atami is around the same temperature as Mashiko. Typically, the summer temperatures in Atami in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Mashiko averages at about 24°C (75°F).

Atami usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mashiko during summer. Atami gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 130 hours of full sun in the summer.

Mashiko receives a lot of rain in the summer. Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Atami usually receives more rain than Mashiko. Atami gets 202 mm (8 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Atami or Mashiko in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Atami as well as Mashiko. The autumn months attract visitors to Atami because of the shopping scene. Additionally, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year.

In October, Atami is generally a little warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Atami average around 18°C (64°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Atami often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mashiko. Atami gets 130 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 133 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Mashiko. Atami receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Atami usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Mashiko. Atami gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atami or Mashiko in the Winter?

Both Mashiko and Atami are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Atami this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Mashiko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Mashiko. Atami is much warmer than Mashiko in the winter. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Mashiko fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Atami usually receives less sunshine than Mashiko during winter. Atami gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Atami usually receives more rain than Mashiko. Atami gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Atami or Mashiko in the Spring?

Both Mashiko and Atami during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Atami for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Mashiko in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Atami is a little warmer than Mashiko. Typically, the spring temperatures in Atami in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Mashiko averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the spring, Atami often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mashiko. Atami gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 160 hours of full sun.

Mashiko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. Atami usually gets more rain in April than Mashiko. Atami gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Mashiko and Atami