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

Should you visit Ise or Taupo?

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 Taupo 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 overlooked, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Ise travel costs.

Taupo

Taupo is a stunning, otherworldly, and striking town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Taupo is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the skiing, nightlife, and food. See Taupo travel costs.

Ise and Taupo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ise or Taupo?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Taupo than Ise, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Taupo is better known for its skiing, nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Ise is more popular for its museums and attractions and beaches. Taupo is more touristy than Ise and is known for its thermal hot springs, dramatic landscapes, and world class hikes. Also, Taupo is famous for the Craters of the Moon reserve. Ise is well known for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.

How is Ise different from Taupo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Ise or Taupo Better for Skiing?

Taupo is a must-visit destination for winter skiing. However, Ise is not a skiing destination.

Visitors will find world class skiing in Taupo. Nearby Mount Ruapehu offers access to the longest running ski season in both Australia and New Zealand. From June until October you can enjoy the largest commercial ski areas around. There are options for everyone from young beginners to experts. The two main ski resorts in the area are Whakapapa Ski Area and Tūroa Ski Area.

Ise is not a skiing destination.

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

Ise is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Taupo is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

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 to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Taupo. Stunning natural beauty and adventure-filled activities are what Taupo is all about, but you won't find much in the form of museums.

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

Both Ise and Taupo offer a number of excellent 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).

Taupo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is filled with local restaurants that make use of local ingredients such as fresh caught trout, local produce, and wild game. The town also has many farmers markets and a strong cafe culture.

Is Ise or Taupo Better for Nightlife?

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

Taupo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It's a small resort town that is active during the day and night. There are low key activities in the evening like soaking in the thermal hot pools or grabbing a drink at a bar.

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 Taupo Better for Beaches?

Ise is a popular place for the beach. However, Taupo is not a beach destination.

Ise is a good option for a beach vacation. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Taupo is not a beach destination.

Is Ise or Taupo Better for Hiking?

Taupo is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Ise is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Taupo. The area is filled with beautiful hikes that take you through the natural beauty. During the fall season you can enjoy the fall foliage and during the summer months the wildlife and waterfront setting is at a peak.

Ise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ise or Taupo?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Taupo and Ise.

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

Taupo has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The lakefront town has a nice, pedestrian-friendly stretch with boutique shops, fashion outlets, and souvenir vendors.

Is Ise or Taupo More Beautiful?

Taupo is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Ise is not a destination known for its beauty.

Taupo is a beautiful place to visit, too. Set against the lake, there is stunning natural beauty in the area and many breathtaking views.

Ise is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Ise or Taupo Better for Families?

Taupo is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Taupo is an extremely popular town to visit for families. Set on the edge of Lake Taupo, there are many family-friendly activities in the area like swimming, boating, and hiking. There are also thermal hot springs and in the winter months skiing. Families who enjoy outdoor adventures will find no shortage of options year round.

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 Taupo Better for Couples?

Taupo is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Taupo is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Honeymooners and couples who enjoy romantic scenery, beautiful sunsets, and outdoor adventure will fall in love with this area. You can soak in thermal hot springs and picnic next to beautiful waterfalls. There are also breathtaking hikes and great water activities.

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 Taupo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Taupo is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Taupo. There's plenty of backpacker and hostel accommodation in the area. There are also free outdoor activities and adrenaline-filled adventures that backpackers will enjoy.

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 Taupo 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 Taupo.

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 Taupo offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local bus service, the Taupo Connector, that travels around the town center. If you want to get outside of town, you'll need to have a car.

Is Ise or Taupo a more walkable city?

Ise and Taupo both are notable 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.

Taupo is a somewhat walkable city. The town is fairly compact, but if you want to efficiently get around and experience everything that the area has to offer, you'll want to have a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Taupo or Ise?

How long in Ise or Taupo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ise and Taupo. In our opinion, Taupo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Taupo than Ise. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ise, and 2-3 days is enough time in Taupo.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Taupo 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 Taupo.

One day in Ise or Taupo?

In Ise, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this authentic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

With skiing and nightlife around the otherworldly destination of Taupo, there's plenty to do. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Ise or Taupo?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ise. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Many people visit Taupo for a weekend. With nightlife and food around the stunning town of Taupo, there's plenty to do. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. 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 Taupo?

Ise is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Ise. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

The destination of Taupo offers food and shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the skiing. 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 Taupo?

You'll find food and shopping around the overlooked destination of Ise. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Taupo, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.

When comparing the travel costs between Ise and Taupo, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ise is in Asia and Taupo is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Ise or Taupo?

Ise has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Ise and Taupo, 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.