Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Hongcun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hongcun or Kanazawa?
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 Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHongcun $52Kanazawa $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $52, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $103. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hongcun and Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHongcun $23Kanazawa $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHongcun $46Kanazawa $128
Compare Hotels in Hongcun and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Hongcun or Kanazawa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hongcun $12Kanazawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
Is it cheaper to fly into Hongcun or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa and Hongcun change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHongcun $19Kanazawa $32
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.83
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hongcun $17Kanazawa $9.74
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Monochrome Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Moon Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Color Plan: $19
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $25
- Kenrokuen Tea Ceremony Experience: $30
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $37
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $55
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
- [Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour: $66
- [One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour: $76
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHongcun $14Kanazawa $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hongcun and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Kanazawa?
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 Kanazawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Kanazawa. Additionally, most visitors come to Kanazawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Hongcun is a little warmer than Kanazawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hongcun in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Kanazawa averages at about 26°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hongcun usually gets less rain in July than Kanazawa. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHongcun 29°C (85°F)Kanazawa 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Kanazawa in the Autumn?
Both Kanazawa and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the shopping scene.
In October, Hongcun is generally a little warmer than Kanazawa. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 19°C (65°F), and Kanazawa fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. In October, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 203 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHongcun 19°C (65°F)Kanazawa 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Kanazawa in the Winter?
Both Kanazawa and Hongcun during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kanazawa this time of year.
It's quite cold in Kanazawa in the winter. The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. Hongcun is a little warmer than Kanazawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hongcun usually gets less rain in January than Kanazawa. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHongcun 4°C (40°F)Kanazawa 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Hongcun or Kanazawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Kanazawa.
In the spring, Hongcun is a little warmer than Kanazawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hongcun in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Kanazawa averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Kanazawa. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHongcun 17°C (62°F)Kanazawa 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Kanazawa and Hongcun
| Hongcun | Kanazawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.