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

Should you visit Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dewa Sanzan and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima?

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

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 Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dewa Sanzan as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Dewa Sanzan for the hiking during these months.

Dewa Sanzan is cooler than Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Dewa Sanzan averages around 23°C (74°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Dewa Sanzan usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Yakushima. Dewa Sanzan gets 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Dewa Sanzan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the hiking trails.

In the autumn, Dewa Sanzan is much colder than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dewa Sanzan in October average around 13°C (56°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 Dewa Sanzan. In October, Dewa Sanzan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Dewa Sanzan gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Dewa Sanzan during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Dewa Sanzan this time of year.

It's quite cold in Dewa Sanzan in the winter. In January, Dewa Sanzan is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Dewa Sanzan average around -1°C (30°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Dewa Sanzan. Dewa Sanzan usually gets more rain in January than Yakushima. Dewa Sanzan gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dewa Sanzan or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dewa Sanzan and Yakushima.

Dewa Sanzan is much colder than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Dewa Sanzan averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dewa Sanzan usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Dewa Sanzan gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Dewa Sanzan