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

Should you visit Haifa or Sendai?

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 Sendai. 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 Sendai?

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.

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Haifa or Sendai?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Haifa. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Sendai, 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 Sendai?

Sendai 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 Sendai in the Summer?

Both Sendai and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Haifa is a little warmer than Sendai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Haifa in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Sendai averages at about 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during summer. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sendai. In July, Haifa usually receives less rain than Sendai. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Haifa or Sendai in the Autumn?

Both Sendai and Haifa during the autumn 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 autumn months attract visitors to Sendai because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Haifa is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the autumn, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.

Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in October than Sendai. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Haifa or Sendai in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Sendai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sendai in the winter. Haifa is much warmer than Sendai in the winter. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during winter. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

Haifa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Haifa usually receives more rain than Sendai. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Haifa or Sendai in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Sendai. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Haifa is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Sendai averages at about 10°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Haifa this time of the year. In the spring, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun.

Haifa usually gets less rain in April than Sendai. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sendai and Haifa