A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Haifa vs. Koyasan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Haifa or Koyasan?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Haifa and Koyasan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Haifa or Koyasan?

Haifa

Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Haifa or Koyasan?

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

Should I visit Haifa or Koyasan in the Summer?

Both Koyasan and Haifa during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Haifa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 183 hours of full sun.

Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Koyasan. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Koyasan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Koyasan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Haifa is generally a little warmer than Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Haifa usually receives less rain than Koyasan. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Haifa or Koyasan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Koyasan. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Koyasan in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Haifa is much warmer than Koyasan in the winter. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Koyasan fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 140 hours of full sun.

Haifa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Haifa usually gets more rain in January than Koyasan. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Koyasan in the Spring?

Both Koyasan and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Haifa is a little warmer than Koyasan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Koyasan averages at about 15°C (59°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. In April, Haifa usually receives less rain than Koyasan. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Koyasan and Haifa