Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Ise?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ise or Harbin?
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 Harbin 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.
Where Should I go: Ise or Harbin?
Ise
A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIse $89Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Ise is $89, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $54. 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 Ise and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIse $42Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIse $84Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Ise and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Ise or Harbin? 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.
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: Ise Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ise $43Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station : $25
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $40
- Harbin City Car Transfer Service with Driver: $168
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $168
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Ise or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Ise 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
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Food Meals for one dayIse $24Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Food Tour Including Harbin Beer1900: $157
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ise $5.83Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Ise
Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ise Grand Shrine Private Guided Tour: $88
- Island Adventure Sea Kayak Tour(Ise-Shima): $39
- Shirataki Takigyo Waterfall Meditation Experience in Toba: $29
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Private Harbin Ice Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park Night Tour with Zhongyang Pedestrian Street: $104
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Tour of the Largest Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise: $136
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $150
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing : $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIse $4.52Harbin $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ise and Harbin, we can see that Ise is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Harbin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Harbin 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 Ise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ise than you might in Harbin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ise Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ise or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Ise and Harbin, 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.
When is the best time to visit Ise or Harbin?
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 Ise or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ise as well as Harbin. Many visitors come to Ise in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Ise is around the same temperature as Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Ise averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Ise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ise usually gets more rain in July than Harbin. Ise gets 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIse 26°C (79°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Ise or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Ise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ise for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Ise is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ise in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
It's quite rainy in Ise. In October, Ise usually receives more rain than Harbin. Ise gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIse 17°C (63°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Ise or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Ise during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Ise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Harbin in the winter. The weather in Ise can be very cold. In January, Ise is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Ise average around 5°C (40°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Ise usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Ise gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIse 5°C (40°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Ise or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ise and Harbin. The beaches are the main draw to Ise this time of year.
Ise is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Ise averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ise usually receives more rain than Harbin. Ise gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIse 13°C (56°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Ise
| Ise | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.