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

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yakushima?

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 Yakushima. 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 Yakushima?

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.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

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

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

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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In July, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally around the same temperature as Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 29°C (85°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In July, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Yakushima and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in October than Yakushima. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Yakushima.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is much colder than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Yakushima.

In April, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally around the same temperature as Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 17°C (62°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)