A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Yamaguchi for Food, Attractions, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Yamaguchi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Hat Yai

Hat Yai is a cultural, lively, and festive city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is a serene, tranquil, and scenic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and hiking.

Hat Yai and Yamaguchi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hat Yai than Yamaguchi. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Hat Yai is very popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Yamaguchi attracts visitors for its museums & sights, hiking, and impressive beauty. Yamaguchi is more touristy than Hat Yai and is popular for its temples, serene setting, and traditional ways. Hat Yai is famous for its local markets, its traditional restaurants, and its colorful temples. It is also well known for Wat Hat Yai Nai.

How is Hat Yai different from Yamaguchi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Yamaguchi and Hat Yai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Yamaguchi is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Hat Yai is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Yamaguchi. There are many historic shrines and temples in the area, as well as the Kintai Bridge.

Hat Yai is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The city has many temples to explore such as Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol and Wat Hat Yai Nai.

Is the Food Better in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hat Yai is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Yamaguchi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Hat Yai is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Eating is really what you do in this city. There is amazing street food, impressive floating restaurants, and authentic cuisine that locals and visitors alike enjoy. The dishes include lots of seafood and some Chinese influences.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Yamaguchi makes for a great culinary experience. The city has a long-running farming and fishing industry, so you can be assured fresh ingredients at every meal. Dishes are still deeply rooted in the area's culinary traditions, and perhaps the most famous local delicacy is the Fugu fish, otherwise known as blowfish. It's become famous among westerners as the fish can be poisonous if not prepared correctly.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Nightlife?

Hat Yai is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Yamaguchi is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Hat Yai. It's a big city, so there are plenty of clubs and bars where you can party late into the night.

Yamaguchi is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are some pubs and local bars, but most of the area is peaceful and tranquil, especially at night.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Hiking?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Hat Yai is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Yamaguchi. There are hiking and walking trails throughout the prefecture so that you can energy the natural setting.

Hat Yai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Hat Yai is a very popular place for its shopping areas. However, Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Hat Yai. It's a large commercial hub in southern Thailand and many visitors come specifically for the shopping. There are many markets in town and places to buy everything from local products to trendy clothes.

Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Families?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Yamaguchi is a family-friendly place to visit. The city offers beautiful temples and a glimpse into Japanese culture that kids and adults alike will enjoy. There are also beautiful gardens and nearby natural scenery.

Hat Yai is not always a place people visit with their families. There are some play places for the kids and kid-friendly meals are available in many places. There are also some animal farms and parks near town where kids and adults can enjoy a natural setting.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Couples?

Yamaguchi is notable for couples. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for romance.

Yamaguchi is a very popular place to visit for couples. With its historic temples, natural beauty, and nice green space, this is a lovely city to explore as a couple.

Hat Yai is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Most people pass through the city on their way to other places, but if you chose to linger you'll enjoy amazing food and some interesting activities around town.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for backpackers. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Yamaguchi is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels and budget-friendly accommodation options in the area.

Hat Yai is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are hostels in the city, as well as cheap hotels, but the backpacker vibe isn't the same as what you get in other Thai cities. If you want more authenticity, then this is your place.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Yamaguchi has a few public transit options. There are buses through the city and prefecture.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hat Yai. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by tuk tuk or motorbike taxi.

Is Hat Yai or Yamaguchi a more walkable city?

Yamaguchi is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Hat Yai is a mediocre city for its walkability.

Yamaguchi is a somewhat walkable town. There are a number of walking trails in the area.

Hat Yai is generally not a very walkable city. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Hat Yai Worth Visiting? and Is Yamaguchi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Yamaguchi or Hat Yai?

How long in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hat Yai than Yamaguchi because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Hat Yai, and 1-2 days is enough time in Yamaguchi.

Families should spend more time in Yamaguchi than Hat Yai. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Yamaguchi, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Yamaguchi than Hat Yai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Yamaguchi that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yamaguchi than Hat Yai if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Yamaguchi.

One day in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Hat Yai. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hat Yai has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

In Yamaguchi, you'll find food and museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Hat Yai. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

In Yamaguchi, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Yamaguchi has to offer.

Five days in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the festive city of Hat Yai. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Yamaguchi is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Hat Yai is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Yamaguchi. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Yamaguchi. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Yamaguchi. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai and Yamaguchi, 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 Hat Yai or Yamaguchi?

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

Should I visit Hat Yai or Yamaguchi in the Summer?

Both Yamaguchi and Hat Yai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Yamaguchi because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Yamaguchi in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Yamaguchi fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Yamaguchi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in July than Yamaguchi. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Yamaguchi receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Yamaguchi in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Yamaguchi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Yamaguchi this time of year.

In the autumn, Hat Yai is a little warmer than Yamaguchi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Yamaguchi averages at about 19°C (65°F).

Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Yamaguchi. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Yamaguchi receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Yamaguchi in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Yamaguchi. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Yamaguchi for the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Hat Yai is generally much warmer than Yamaguchi. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Yamaguchi fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in January than Yamaguchi. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Yamaguchi receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Yamaguchi in the Spring?

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

Hat Yai is much warmer than Yamaguchi in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Yamaguchi fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yamaguchi. In April, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Yamaguchi. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Yamaguchi receives 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Hat Yai is January to April. The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December.

Typical Weather for Yamaguchi and Hat Yai