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

Should you visit Haifa or Mashiko?

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 Mashiko. 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 Mashiko?

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.

Mashiko

Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Haifa or Mashiko?

Haifa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mashiko. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Mashiko, 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 Haifa or Mashiko?

Mashiko 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 Mashiko in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Mashiko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mashiko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Haifa is generally a little warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 27°C (81°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Mashiko during summer. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 130 hours of full sun in the summer.

Mashiko receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Haifa usually receives less rain than Mashiko. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Haifa or Mashiko in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Mashiko. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

Haifa is much warmer than Mashiko in the autumn. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Mashiko fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Haifa this time of the year. In the autumn, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Mashiko. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 133 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Mashiko. Haifa usually gets less rain in October than Mashiko. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Mashiko in the Winter?

Both Mashiko and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year.

It's quite cold in Mashiko in the winter. In the winter, Haifa is much warmer than Mashiko. Typically, the winter temperatures in Haifa in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Mashiko averages at about 3°C (38°F).

Haifa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mashiko during winter. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Haifa. In January, Haifa usually receives more rain than Mashiko. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Haifa or Mashiko in the Spring?

Both Mashiko and Haifa during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Haifa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Mashiko for the small town charm.

In April, Haifa is generally much warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 19°C (66°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the spring, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Mashiko. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 160 hours of full sun.

Mashiko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in April than Mashiko. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Mashiko and Haifa