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

Should you visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands?

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 Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands?

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.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hongcun and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Hongcun is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hongcun in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 29°C (85°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In July, Hongcun usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yaeyama Islands. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Hongcun during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Hongcun is generally cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 19°C (65°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hongcun usually gets less rain in October than Yaeyama Islands. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Yaeyama Islands. Furthermore, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Hongcun can get quite cold in the winter. Hongcun is much colder than Yaeyama Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Hongcun or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Yaeyama Islands. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Hongcun is cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hongcun in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 23°C (74°F).

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hongcun usually gets more rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Hongcun