A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Matsue?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Matsue? 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: Eilat or Matsue?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Matsue, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Matsue is in Asia, 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 Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Matsue.

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

Which is Bigger, Eilat or Matsue?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Matsue, 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 Eilat or Matsue?

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

Should I visit Eilat or Matsue in the Summer?

Both Matsue and Eilat during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Matsue because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Eilat is much warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Matsue. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Eilat or Matsue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Matsue. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. In the winter, Eilat is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Matsue averages at about 4°C (39°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the natural beauty.

In April, Eilat is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Matsue. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Eilat