A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Atami vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Atami or Yakushima?

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 Yakushima 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 Yakushima?

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.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

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 Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima 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 Yakushima Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Atami or Yakushima?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Atami or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Atami as well as Yakushima. Many travelers come to Atami for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Atami is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Atami receives a lot of rain in the summer. Atami usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Yakushima. Atami gets 202 mm (8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atami or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Atami are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Atami in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Atami is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Atami in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Atami. In October, Atami usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Atami gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Atami or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Atami during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Atami is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Atami average around 5°C (42°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Atami usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Atami gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atami or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Atami and Yakushima. The spring months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches.

Atami is cooler than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Atami averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Atami usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Atami gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Atami