A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hongcun vs. Dewa Sanzan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Dewa Sanzan 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.

Where Should I go: Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan?

Hongcun

When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.

The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Hongcun during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Dewa Sanzan for the hiking during these months.

In July, Hongcun is generally a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 29°C (85°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

Dewa Sanzan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. Hongcun usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Dewa Sanzan. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Dewa Sanzan. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the hiking trails.

Hongcun is a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Dewa Sanzan. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Dewa Sanzan. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Dewa Sanzan this time of year.

It's quite cold in Dewa Sanzan in the winter. The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. In the winter, Hongcun is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hongcun in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about -1°C (30°F).

It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Hongcun usually gets less rain in January than Dewa Sanzan. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hongcun or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Hongcun is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 17°C (62°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Hongcun