A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kamakura vs. Canberra for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Kamakura or Canberra?

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

Should I visit Kamakura or Canberra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kamakura

Kamakura is a quaint, charming, and laid back coastal city. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Canberra

Canberra is a under-rated, cultural, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums.

Kamakura and Canberra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamakura or Canberra?

Both Canberra and Kamakura have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Kamakura is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Canberra attracts visitors for its big city activities. Kamakura is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. Canberra is famous for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves.

How is Kamakura different from Canberra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kamakura or Canberra?

Both Kamakura and Canberra have high quality landmarks and museums for visitors.

Kamakura offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. This ancient city is filled with historic landmarks such as the Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Hachimangu Shrine, among many others.

Many visitors head to Canberra specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Is the Food Better in Kamakura or Canberra? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Kamakura and Canberra can be an enjoyable experience.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Kamakura makes for a great culinary experience. Dining is part of the fun in this beautiful town. There are many great restaurants where you can sample luxury dishes, but there are also street food stalls with egg pancakes or noodle dishes.

Canberra has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Kamakura has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a diverse mix of bars and music venues. The nightlife scene is particularly active during the summer months when visitors head to the beach, but throughout the year you'll find tachinomiya standing bars, international style pubs, and jazz clubs where locals like to hang out.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Beaches?

Kamakura is a popular place for the beache. However, Canberra is not a beach destination.

Kamakura is a good option for a beach vacation. Many locals from Tokyo or Yokohama head here during July and August to cool off at the beach, relax in the sun, and go surfing. The beaches can get crowded, but they're long and sandy and can make for a nice escape.

Canberra is not a beach destination.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for its Old Town?

Kamakura is a popular place for its old town. However, Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Kamakura. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.

Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Kamakura and Canberra both have nice trails.

Kamakura is a good destination for hiking. Just outside of town there are many hiking trails that crisscross through the wooded hills and connect the many temples. Many of the trails are relatively short and take just an hour or two to complete.

Many people include a hike when visiting Canberra. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kamakura or Canberra?

Both Kamakura and Canberra are nice shopping destinations.

Kamakura is a great destination for shopping. While the city itself is ancient, you can head to Kamakura Komachi-dori Street to find trendy boutiques and modern shopping. This is a popular place to pick up a souvenir or check out the current fashions.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Canberra. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Families?

Canberra is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Canberra is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Kamakura is a family-friendly coastal city. It's a town that's filled with history and character, which isn't every kids cup of tea. If you're traveling with young kids you might want to head to beach for a bit. There are also ice cream and donut shops that you can use as well to break up the sightseeing.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Couples?

Kamakura is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Kamakura makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many couples enjoy visiting this quaint town as a day trip from Tokyo. There are impressive temples as well as restaurants and gardens.

Canberra is a good coastal city for couples to visit. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kamakura is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Kamakura. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo, but there are also some affordable hostels that make it an easy place to spend the night.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Students?

Canberra is a well-known place for students. However, Kamakura is not popular with students.

Canberra is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Kamakura is not popular with students.

Is Kamakura or Canberra Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Kamakura and Canberra offer nice public transit options.

Kamakura has a few public transit options. There's a city bus system, but for the more remote places you'll want to take a taxi.

Canberra has some public transit options. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Kamakura or Canberra a more walkable city?

Kamakura and Canberra both are nice when exploring on foot.

Kamakura is somewhat walkable. It's a small city, and most of the sights can be reached on foot.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

For even more information, also check out Is Kamakura Worth Visiting? and Is Canberra Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Canberra or Kamakura?

How long in Kamakura or Canberra?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kamakura and Canberra. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Canberra than in Kamakura. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kamakura, and 2-3 days is enough time in Canberra.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kamakura than Canberra 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 Kamakura.

One day in Kamakura or Canberra?

The coastal city of Kamakura offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Canberra offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kamakura or Canberra?

Kamakura is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kamakura, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Canberra is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Canberra, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kamakura or Canberra?

Kamakura is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Canberra is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Kamakura or Canberra?

Kamakura is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal city offers something for everyone.

Canberra is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Canberra, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Kamakura much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kamakura is in Asia and Canberra 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 Kamakura would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamakura 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra than you might in Kamakura.

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

Which is Bigger, Kamakura or Canberra?

Canberra has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Kamakura. When comparing the sizes of Kamakura and Canberra, 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 Kamakura or Canberra?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Kamakura has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Kamakura or Canberra in the Summer?

Both Canberra and Kamakura during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Kamakura because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.

In the summer, Kamakura is a little warmer than Canberra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kamakura in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Canberra averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Kamakura. Kamakura usually gets more rain in July than Canberrain January. Kamakura gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamakura or Canberra in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamakura and Canberra. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kamakura this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

In October, Kamakura is generally around the same temperature as Canberrain April. Daily temperatures in Kamakura average around 18°C (64°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kamakura gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Canberrain April. Kamakura gets 177 mm (7 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kamakura or Canberra in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kamakura as well as Canberra. Many travelers come to Kamakura for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Canberra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Kamakura is much colder than Canberra in the winter. The daily temperature in Kamakura averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Canberra fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.

Kamakura usually gets more rain in January than Canberrain July. Kamakura gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamakura or Canberra in the Spring?

Both Canberra and Kamakura are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kamakura in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Canberra for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Canberra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kamakura in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Canberra averages at about 15°C (60°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Kamakura. In April, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Canberrain October. Kamakura gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Canberra and Kamakura