A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jakarta vs. Mashiko for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Jakarta or Mashiko?

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 Jakarta and Mashiko. 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.

Jakarta

Jakarta is a sprawling, friendly, and diverse city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Jakarta travel costs.

Mashiko

Mashiko is a rural, quaint, and charming town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include museums, food, and hiking. See Mashiko travel costs.

Jakarta and Mashiko: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or Mashiko?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Jakarta than Mashiko, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Jakarta is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Mashiko is more popular for its hiking, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Mashiko is more touristy than Jakarta and is known for its local sake, rural farms, and longstanding tradition in pottery making. Jakarta is well known for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. Also, Jakarta is famous for Istiqlal Mosque.

How is Jakarta different from Mashiko?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Jakarta or Mashiko?

Jakarta is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Jakarta can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a huge number of museums around town like the National Museum, Museum Layang-Layang, and Museum MACAN. There's also Merdeka Square, which is one of the world's biggest public squares and Istiqlal Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Mashiko is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a couple of museums around town that are focused on the local activities such as pottery. You can check out the Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Entsuji Temple.

Is the Food Better in Jakarta or Mashiko? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Jakarta is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Jakarta has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are so many different cultures represented in Indonesian cuisine, and you'll find them all in Jakarta. The food stalls, restaurants, and casual eateries all have their own flavor and style, which makes dining in this mega-city a true adventure.

Mashiko offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around town that serve udon, soba, and other Japanese favorites that use local ingredients.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Nightlife?

Jakarta is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Mashiko is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Jakarta has a few options to choose from. It's a huge city, so there's a very active nightlife scene, but it's mostly focused on locals and not tourists like you'll find elsewhere in Indonesia. For the best nightlife district, head to Kemang, which has many bars and clubs.

Most people don't head to Mashiko specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are a couple of bars and pubs around town, but not a huge nightlife scene.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Hiking?

Mashiko is a good destination for hiking. However, Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Mashiko offers some nice hiking trails. There are three mountains in the area with hiking trails that let you experience the Japanese countryside and natural beauty. These mountains are Mt. Amamakisan, Mt.Mitsudoyasan, and Mt. Takadateyama.

Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or Mashiko?

If you're looking to go shopping, Jakarta and Mashiko both offer plenty of great spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Jakarta. The city is filled with high end luxury malls where you can buy the latest fashions and many international brands. Around town you'll also find everything from local handicrafts to chic boutiques and grand international chains.

Mashiko is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Local pottery is the main purchase in town, and there are many shops and local vendors who sell locally made pottery.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Families?

Mashiko is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Mashiko is a very family-friendly destination. Pottery is the claim to fame in this small town, and kids will thoroughly enjoy taking a children's pottery class. Its the perfect way to immerse them in the local culture in a fun and hands-on way. Farm life, and fruit picking are also popular here.

Jakarta is a family-friendly place to visit. Most visitors skip out on this huge city, and it's definitely not the first place that comes to mind when you think about family-friendly destinations, but there's actually a very fascinating culture that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There's the Kota area, which has colonial architecture. There's also a puppet museum and several history museums. But for most kids, the highlight is a visit to the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol area, which has amusement parks and even SeaWorld.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Couples?

Mashiko is a great town for romance. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

Mashiko is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a charming town with local farms, pottery, and sake. Many couples enjoy spending a few days soaking up the local atmosphere and enjoying the simple pleasures.

Jakarta makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most travelers looking for a romantic destination will head to the many famous honeymoon spots in Indonesia. But for those who make their way to Jakarta, there is sure to be a lot of adventure and culture. The city has many great museums as well as nature parks and amusement parks.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Jakarta is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Mashiko is not known for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Jakarta. Visitors often have strong feelings about this city, whether they love it or hate it. For those backpackers who spend some time here, they're sure to be treated to a look at true Indonesian culture, which is hard to find in the more touristy areas.

Mashiko is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers don't venture to this community, but its seeped in quaint culture and small town atmosphere.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mashiko is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Jakarta is not known for its public transit.

While Mashiko offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local trains that stop by the strawberry picking farms. There are also local buses in the area.

Public transit is generally limited in Jakarta. Public transportation has improved a lot recently. There's a commuter line as well as buses. The system can be a bit overwhelming and slow though, so tourists often avoid it.

Is Jakarta or Mashiko a more walkable city?

Mashiko is a great town for its walkability. However, Jakarta is not known for its high level of walkability.

Mashiko is very walkable. Many people choose to walk around town and the pottery area is about a 20 minute walk from Mashiko Station.

Jakarta is generally not very walkable. Central Jakarta is more walkable than most of the city but, in general, the city has a lot of traffic and isn't the best for exploring on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Jakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Mashiko Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mashiko or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or Mashiko?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Jakarta than Mashiko 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 Jakarta.

One day in Jakarta or Mashiko?

Because Jakarta is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Mashiko is a small town with plenty to do. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Jakarta or Mashiko?

Because Jakarta is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Jakarta has to offer.

Mashiko might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Mashiko has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or Mashiko?

Jakarta is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Mashiko is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Jakarta or Mashiko?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Jakarta. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Jakarta. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mashiko. Since Mashiko is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Mashiko, we can see that Mashiko 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Mashiko?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 330 times larger than the population of Mashiko. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Mashiko, 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.