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

Should you visit Kamakura or Katoomba?

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

Should I visit Kamakura or Katoomba? 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 ancient, quaint, and charming coastal city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Katoomba

Katoomba is a stunning, peaceful, and serene town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums.

Kamakura and Katoomba: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamakura or Katoomba?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kamakura. Although Kamakura and Katoomba are both popular with visitors, Kamakura has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kamakura is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Katoomba is known for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Kamakura is popular for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. It is also home to the Great Buddha. Katoomba is popular for its natural scenery, beautiful hikes, and its location in the Blue Mountains.

How is Kamakura different from Katoomba?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Katoomba 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 Katoomba?

Kamakura is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Kamakura. This ancient city is filled with historic landmarks such as the Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Hachimangu Shrine, among many others.

Katoomba offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. For many, the town is used as a base for exploring the Blue Mountains. Scenic World is a great way to take in the highlights. It's also fun to check out the local street art.

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

Kamakura is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

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.

Katoomba has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Many of the restaurants work hard to support local farmers and suppliers. You'll find local ingredients and homemade meals. The restaurant scene is growing, but many restaurants are still affiliated with hotels and tourist attractions.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Kamakura offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Katoomba. It's not known for its nightlife scene, but there are some relaxed places where you can enjoy craft beer or see a show. Katoomba is the hub of nightlife in the Blue Mountains.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for Beaches?

Kamakura is a good destination for its beaches. However, Katoomba is not a beach destination.

Kamakura offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Katoomba is not a beach destination.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for its Old Town?

Kamakura is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Katoomba does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Kamakura to see the historical old town. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.

Katoomba does not have a historic old town.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for Hiking?

Katoomba is an unbeatable 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.

People visit Katoomba specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Surrounded by the Blue Mountains, this town offers access to some of the area's best hikes. You'll see waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and lush landscapes.

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 Katoomba?

Both Kamakura and Katoomba are good 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 Katoomba. There are local markets and boutiques where you can pick up local items and handicrafts.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for Families?

Katoomba is an unbeatable 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.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Katoomba is a very family-friendly destination. The surrounding Blue Mountains are filled with activities for the whole family. Scenic World is a highlight with its cable cars and skyway. There are also gardens, hiking trails, and cultural centers. Kids who love trains will enjoy Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum.

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 Katoomba Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kamakura and Katoomba make for a superb 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.

Katoomba makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are world class gardens like the Everglades Gardens, restaurants where you can enjoy high tea with a view, as well as hikes that will take your breath away. For the truly adventurous, there are also helicopter tours.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Katoomba is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Katoomba. There are hostels in the area, as well as camping opportunities. Backpackers will appreciate the scenic beauty and natural setting.

Kamakura is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

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

Both Kamakura and Katoomba offer good 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.

Katoomba has some public transit options. There are public buses through the Blue Mountains but it's easier to explore in depth if you have your own car.

Is Kamakura or Katoomba a more walkable city?

Kamakura and Katoomba both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Katoomba is a somewhat walkable place. The town itself is relatively walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Katoomba or Kamakura?

How long in Kamakura or Katoomba?

It's fun to spend time in either Kamakura or Katoomba. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Katoomba due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kamakura, and 2-4 days is enough time in Katoomba.

Couples should spend more time in Kamakura than Katoomba. 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.

One day in Kamakura or Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba 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 Katoomba, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kamakura or Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kamakura or Katoomba?

Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Kamakura and Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Kamakura are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kamakura for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Kamakura is around the same temperature as Katoomba in the summer. The daily temperature in Kamakura averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. Kamakura usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during summer. Kamakura gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. It's quite rainy in Kamakura. In July, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Katoombain January. Kamakura gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kamakura or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Kamakura during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Kamakura because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In the autumn, Kamakura is around the same temperature as Katoomba. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kamakura in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Katoomba averages at about 18°C (65°F)in April.

In the autumn, Kamakura often gets less sunshine than Katoombain April. Kamakura gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Kamakura. Kamakura usually gets more rain in October than Katoombain April. Kamakura gets 177 mm (7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kamakura or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kamakura and Katoomba. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kamakura this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Kamakura is generally much colder than Katoombain July. Daily temperatures in Kamakura average around 6°C (43°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. Kamakura usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Kamakura gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kamakura usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Kamakura gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kamakura or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kamakura as well as Katoomba. Many travelers come to Kamakura for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Kamakura is cooler than Katoomba in the spring. The daily temperature in Kamakura averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. In the spring, Kamakura often gets less sunshine than Katoombain October. Kamakura gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.

Kamakura receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kamakura usually gets more rain in April than Katoombain October. Kamakura gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Kamakura