A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hualien vs. Atami for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hualien or Atami?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hualien or Atami, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Hualien or Atami?

Hualien

If you're looking for hustle and bustle, head to Taipei. If you're looking for fresh air and the prettiest town by the sea, Hualien is the place to be. With many national parks to explore, cliffs and mountains to climb and beaches to get some rest and relaxation, there's plenty to do, especially for nature lovers and those who crave peace and quiet, away from the bigger cities in Taiwan.

Atami

Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Taipei, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Atami or Hualien?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hualien is $105, while the average daily cost in Atami is $86. 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 Hualien and Atami in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hualien $56
    Atami $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hualien $112
    Atami $86
Compare Hotels in Hualien and Atami

Looking for a hotel in Hualien or Atami? 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.

Hotels in Hualien


Hotels in Atami


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: Atami Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hualien $27
    Atami $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hualien

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hualien:

  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $103
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Port to Taipei Taoyuan Airport: $93
  • Private Transfer from Hualien Cruise Port to Taipei city hotels: $93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atami

Also for Atami, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Haneda Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $557
  • Narita Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $650

Is it cheaper to fly into Hualien or Atami?

Prices for flights to both Atami and Hualien 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hualien $30
    Atami $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hualien

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hualien.

  • Aboriginal Cooking Class in Hualien: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hualien $20
    Atami $7.68

Tours and Activities in Hualien

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hualien are as follows:

  • Full Day Tour in Taroko National Park from Hualien: $199
  • Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $139
  • Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City: $115
  • Hualien Changhong Bridge SUP Day tour: $85
  • One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien: $117
  • Qixingtan Fish Fishing Chihsingtan Classic Fishing Tour: $23
  • Shuimutin Exclusive SUP Day tour(Hualien to Taitung): $89
  • Taroko, Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Chartered Tour from Hualien: $156
  • Wild ATV Self-driving Experience: $42

Tours and Activities in Atami

For Atami, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Explore Atami's Culinary Culture" Walking Tour: $44
  • Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour: $104
  • ACAO BEACH: Tent Sauna experience at private resort: $114
  • Exclusive Geisha Experience: $114
  • Ninja, Samurai, Odawara Castle Experience: $131
  • Hakone one day tour: $157

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hualien $14
    Atami $5.45


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

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


Which is Bigger, Hualien or Atami?

Hualien has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Hualien and Atami, 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.