Which place is cheaper, Ise or Kamakura?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kamakura or Ise? 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 is a charming, laid back, and ancient coastal city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Ise is a off-the-beaten-path, overlooked, and authentic city. It's also known for food, beaches, and shopping.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Kamakura than Ise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Kamakura is more touristy than Ise and is known for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. It is also well known for the Great Buddha. Ise is famous for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ise and Kamakura. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Kamakura is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
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 Ise. 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.
Dining out at restaurants in both Kamakura and Ise 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.
Ise has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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).
Kamakura is well known for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.
Kamakura is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.
Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.
For a relaxing beach holiday, both Kamakura and Ise are nice choices.
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.
Many people head to Ise to enjoy the beach. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.
Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for its old town. However, Ise does not have a historic old town.
Many people head to Kamakura to see the old town. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.
Ise does not have a historic old town.
Kamakura is a coastal city with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Ise is not a hiking destination.
Plenty of visitors go hiking around 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.
Ise is not a hiking destination.
Both Kamakura and Ise 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 Ise. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kamakura or Ise.
Kamakura is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.
Ise is a family-friendly coastal city. 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.
Kamakura is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Kamakura frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Many couples enjoy visiting this quaint town as a day trip from Tokyo. There are impressive temples as well as restaurants and gardens.
Ise is a good coastal 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.
Both Kamakura and Ise 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.
Ise is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.
Both Kamakura and Ise 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.
Ise has some public transit options. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.
Kamakura and Ise 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.
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.
For even more information, also check out Is Kamakura Worth Visiting? and Is Ise Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kamakura and Ise. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ise than in Kamakura. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kamakura, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ise.
Families should spend more time in Kamakura than Ise. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kamakura, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Kamakura than Ise. 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 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 Kamakura.
With nightlife and food around the charming destination of Kamakura, there's plenty to do. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
The city of Ise 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.
Many people visit Kamakura for a weekend. With food and shopping around the ancient coastal city of Kamakura, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.
Ise 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 Ise, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
The destination of Kamakura offers shopping and museums. It offers something for everyone. 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.
Ise 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.
Kamakura, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. 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.
Ise 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 Cultural Tours in Japan, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Japan.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kamakura is $104, while the average daily cost in Ise is $89. 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 Kamakura and Ise in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kamakura or Ise? 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.
Prices for flights to both Ise and Kamakura 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.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kamakura are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Ise, we can see that Kamakura is more expensive. And not only is Ise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ise 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 Ise.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kamakura Expensive? and Is Ise Expensive?.
Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Kamakura and Ise, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamakura and Ise. Many visitors come to Kamakura in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Ise. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kamakura in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Ise averages at about 26°C (79°F).
Kamakura usually receives less sunshine than Ise during summer. Kamakura gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
Ise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kamakura gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kamakura usually receives less rain than Ise. Kamakura gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Kamakura as well as Ise. Most visitors come to Kamakura for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ise because of the shopping scene.
In October, Kamakura is generally around the same temperature as Ise. Daily temperatures in Kamakura average around 18°C (64°F), and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Kamakura often gets less sunshine than Ise. Kamakura gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ise. Kamakura receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kamakura usually gets more rain in October than Ise. Kamakura gets 177 mm (7 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Ise and Kamakura are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Kamakura because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ise this time of year.
It's quite cold in Ise in the winter. Kamakura is a little warmer than Ise in the winter. The daily temperature in Kamakura averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).
Kamakura usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ise during winter. Kamakura gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Ise. Kamakura gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Ise and Kamakura during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches are the main draw to Kamakura this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ise for the beaches.
In the spring, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Ise. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kamakura in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Ise averages at about 13°C (56°F).
In the spring, Kamakura often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ise. Kamakura gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.
Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kamakura. Kamakura usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ise. Kamakura gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kamakura | Ise | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
May | 19°C (65°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 177 mm (7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
Nov | 13°C (56°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |