A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) vs. Atami for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Atami. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami?

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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami in the Summer?

Both Atami and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally a little warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 29°C (85°F), and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in July than Atami. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Atami. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is around the same temperature as Atami in the autumn. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Atami fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Atami receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Atami. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Atami. Also, many travelers come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the winter. In the winter, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Atami. Typically, the winter temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Atami averages at about 5°C (42°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in January than Atami. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Atami in the Spring?

Both Atami and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Atami in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally a little warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 17°C (62°F), and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives around the same amount of rain as Atami. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Atami and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)