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

Should you visit Kamakura or Cromwell?

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

Should I visit Kamakura or Cromwell? 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 laid back, ancient, and quaint coastal city. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a historical, cultural, and outdoorsy town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for skiing, nightlife, and food.

Kamakura and Cromwell: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamakura or Cromwell?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kamakura. Although Kamakura and Cromwell are popular destinations, Kamakura has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kamakura is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Cromwell attracts visitors for its skiing, hiking, and small town charm. Kamakura is more touristy than Cromwell and is popular for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. It is also well known for the Great Buddha. Cromwell is famous for its fruit farms, orchards, and vineyards.

How is Kamakura different from Cromwell?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Skiing?

Cromwell is a popular place for snow skiing. However, Kamakura is not a skiing destination.

Cromwell is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. The town isn't far from several ski fields, so it attracts winter sports enthusiasts when the weather gets cold.

Kamakura is not a skiing destination.

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

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Kamakura. This ancient city is filled with historic landmarks such as the Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Hachimangu Shrine, among many others.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Cromwell. There are some interesting historical activities around town like Goldfields Mining Centre.

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

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

Kamakura has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Cromwell area. There are charming cafes and bakeries where you can grab a light meal or snack. There are also quaint restaurants and wineries with nice meals available.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is a great coastal city for nightlife and partying. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Kamakura has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Cromwell. There are a few breweries and a number of wineries around town where you can have a relaxing night out.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Beaches?

Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for the beache. However, Cromwell is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Kamakura. 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.

Cromwell is not a beach destination.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for its Old Town?

Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for its old town. However, Cromwell 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.

Cromwell does not have a historic old town.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Hiking?

Cromwell is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its hiking trails.

Cromwell is a popular spot for hiking. There are many beautiful walks in the area that take you through diverse landscapes and to impressive views.

Many people include a hike when visiting Kamakura. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Kamakura or Cromwell?

Both Kamakura and Cromwell 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 Cromwell. There's a farmers market in town as well as several local vendors and cute shops.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Families?

Cromwell 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.

Cromwell is a very family-friendly place to visit. The lakefront setting means that there are water activities during the warmer months. There are also ski fields nearby for the winter months. Biking and walking are also popular in the area.

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 Cromwell Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kamakura and Cromwell make for a excellent place to visit.

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

Cromwell makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Cycling, walking, kayaking, and skiing all make this a romantic a charming town to visit as a couple. There are also wineries in the area with beautiful vineyards.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Kamakura and Cromwell are nice destinations 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.

Cromwell is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a handful of great hostels in the area and plenty of things to keep backpackers entertained.

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

Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Cromwell is not known for its public transit.

While Kamakura offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a city bus system, but for the more remote places you'll want to take a taxi.

Public transit is generally limited in Cromwell. Public transit around town is limited to a couple of buses.

Is Kamakura or Cromwell a more walkable city?

Kamakura and Cromwell 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.

Cromwell is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Cromwell or Kamakura?

How long in Kamakura or Cromwell?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kamakura or Cromwell to fill your time. In our opinion, Kamakura has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kamakura than Cromwell. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Kamakura than Cromwell. 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 Cromwell 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 Cromwell?

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 town of Cromwell offers museums and skiing. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kamakura or Cromwell?

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.

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

Five days in Kamakura or Cromwell?

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.

Cromwell 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 Cromwell?

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.

Cromwell is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

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