A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) vs. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

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 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. 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 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

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.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Spanning the Japanese prefectures of Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a natural area with beautiful scenery as well as a number of popular tourist spots. Some of its highlights include Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands, offering a geographic range of natural hot springs, coastlines, mountainous areas, lakes, and more than 1,000 volcanic islands.

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 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, we can see that Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park 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 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park 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 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

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 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Additionally, many travelers come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a little warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the summer. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in July than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Autumn?

Both Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is around the same temperature as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Winter?

Both Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally cooler than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 4°C (40°F), and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in January than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park because of the natural beauty.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a little warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives around the same amount of rain as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)