A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ise vs. Arrowtown for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Ise or Arrowtown?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ise and Arrowtown 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.

Ise

Ise is a off-the-beaten-path, overlooked, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a quaint, quirky, and historic town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and skiing.

Ise and Arrowtown: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ise or Arrowtown?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Arrowtown. Although Ise and Arrowtown are popular destinations, Arrowtown has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arrowtown is very popular for its skiing, nightlife, historical sights, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Ise attracts visitors for its beaches. Arrowtown is more touristy than Ise and is popular for its gold rush history, impressive ski slopes, and famous hikes. It is also well known for the Chinese Settlement. Ise is famous for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.

How is Ise different from Arrowtown?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Arrowtown and Ise. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Skiing?

Arrowtown is well known for winter skiing. However, Ise is not a skiing destination.

People head to Arrowtown specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. In the area you'll find amazing skiing that ranges from professional level to family-friendly.

Ise is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ise or Arrowtown?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Ise and Arrowtown.

Ise offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Arrowtown. The town feels likes a living museum with its historic sights. There's also the Lakes District Museum in town that you can visit.

Is the Food Better in Ise or Arrowtown? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Ise and Arrowtown offer a number of superb restaurants to choose from.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Ise. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

Arrowtown has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. For such a small town, there's a surprising number of great restaurants with award winning chefs. You'll find quaint cafes, traditional eateries, and casual restaurants where you can sample the local dishes.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Nightlife?

Arrowtown is a town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Arrowtown has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For such a small town, there's a surprisingly bustling nightlife scene with casual pubs and waterfront bars.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Beaches?

Ise is very good for its beaches. However, Arrowtown is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Ise to enjoy the beach. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Arrowtown is not a beach destination.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for its Old Town?

Arrowtown is well known for its old town. However, Ise does not have a historic old town.

Arrowtown is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. This is a quirky and charming historic mining town that has many cottages and historic buildings. Many places have been restored to maintain their original character.

Ise does not have a historic old town.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Hiking?

Arrowtown is a must-visit destination for its hiking experiences. However, Ise is not a hiking destination.

Around Arrowtown visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Many people use this town as a jumping off point for some of the world's most iconic hikes. You can explore Lord of the Rings country or do one of fifteen different listed walks in the area.

Ise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ise or Arrowtown?

Arrowtown is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Arrowtown is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shopping is an experience in town. Head to Buckingham Street, which is the main street in town. You can wander through a wild west setting with local vendors and quirky galleries.

Ise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Families?

Arrowtown is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Arrowtown is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will enjoy the old world charm as much as adults. There's gold panning, bike trails, and even a historic Chinese village. During the winter there are snow sports and during the summer there are outdoor activities that take advantage of the nice weather.

Ise offers lots of family activities. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Couples?

Arrowtown is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Arrowtown frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The charming atmosphere and beautiful walks make this a great weekend destination for couples. You can take a stroll on the Arrow River Walkway or grab a meal at a quaint cafe followed by ice cream at a classic ice cream parlor.

Ise is a good city for couples to visit. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arrowtown is well known for backpackers. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Arrowtown is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town and backpackers love the frequent festivals and activities that the town hosts.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ise. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

Is Ise or Arrowtown Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Ise and Arrowtown.

You'll find some public transit in Ise, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

While Arrowtown offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses throughout the region.

Is Ise or Arrowtown a more walkable city?

Ise and Arrowtown both are nice when exploring on foot.

Ise is a somewhat walkable place. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

Arrowtown is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Ise Worth Visiting? and Is Arrowtown Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arrowtown or Ise?

How long in Ise or Arrowtown?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Ise or Arrowtown to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Ise than Arrowtown because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ise, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arrowtown.

Families should spend more time in Arrowtown than Ise. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Arrowtown, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Arrowtown than Ise. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arrowtown that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arrowtown than Ise if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Arrowtown.

One day in Ise or Arrowtown?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ise. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ise has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Arrowtown is a small town with plenty to do. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Ise or Arrowtown?

You'll find museums and food around the off-the-beaten-path destination of Ise. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many people visit Arrowtown for a weekend. Arrowtown might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Ise or Arrowtown?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the off-the-beaten-path city of Ise. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Because Arrowtown is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Ise or Arrowtown?

Ise is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Arrowtown, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ise and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Ise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ise is in Asia and Arrowtown is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ise 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 Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Ise.

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

Which is Bigger, Ise or Arrowtown?

Ise has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Ise and Arrowtown, 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.