A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ayutthaya vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima?

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

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ayutthaya or Yakushima?

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

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 Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ayutthaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya throughout the year.

In the summer, Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ayutthaya in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Ayutthaya. In July, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Ayutthaya during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Ayutthaya is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to April is the dry season in Ayutthaya. May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ayutthaya and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ayutthaya year-round.

Ayutthaya is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 25°C (78°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Ayutthaya as well as Yakushima. Ayutthaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The heat can be very extreme in Ayutthaya. In the spring, Ayutthaya is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ayutthaya in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Ayutthaya usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. May to October in Ayutthaya is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Ayutthaya