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

Should you visit Eilat or Yakushima?

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

Should I visit Eilat 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: Eilat or Yakushima?

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.

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 in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, 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 Eilat and Yakushima, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Yakushima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Yakushima 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 Yakushima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yakushima 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 Yakushima.

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

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Yakushima?

Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?

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

Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Yakushima in the Autumn?

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

Eilat is a little warmer than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Eilat or Yakushima in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Eilat is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Yakushima in the Spring?

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

In April, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Eilat