A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kamakura vs. Lake Tekapo for Food, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Kamakura or Lake Tekapo?

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

Should I visit Kamakura or Lake Tekapo? 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 charming, laid back, and ancient coastal city. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a basic, small, and remote town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for hiking.

Kamakura and Lake Tekapo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kamakura or Lake Tekapo?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kamakura than Lake Tekapo, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kamakura is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Lake Tekapo is more popular for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Kamakura is more touristy than Lake Tekapo and is known for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. Also, Kamakura is famous for the Great Buddha. Lake Tekapo is well known for its hot springs, remote location, and beautiful night sky.

How is Kamakura different from Lake Tekapo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Kamakura is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Kamakura is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Kamakura is an experience not to be missed. 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.

Lake Tekapo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The town is very small with just a couple of restaurants and fast food joints.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is a great destination for its evening party scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

The people in Kamakura know how to have a good time. 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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Lake Tekapo This is a very small town and there isn't a real nightlife scene. The night sky is incredible though, and you should absolutely do some stargazing.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for Beaches?

Kamakura is a good destination for the beach. However, Lake Tekapo 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.

Lake Tekapo is not a beach destination.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for its Old Town?

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

Kamakura offers a nice historic old town area. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.

Lake Tekapo does not have a historic old town.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for Hiking?

Lake Tekapo 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.

Lake Tekapo is a popular spot for hiking. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

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 Lake Tekapo?

Kamakura is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for shopping.

Many visitors go to Kamakura to go 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 in Lake Tekapo can be found for those interested. There are a couple of shops where you can pick up basic necessities.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for Families?

Lake Tekapo 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.

Lake Tekapo is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to Tekapo Springs, which is particularly fun in the winter months. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and, of course, the hot pools. There are also short hikes in the area like the Mount John Summit Walk. Biking, paddleboarding, and kayaking 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 Lake Tekapo Better for Couples?

Kamakura is a great destination for couples. Also, Lake Tekapo is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

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.

Lake Tekapo is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy the stunning scenery, beautiful hikes, and the romantic hot springs. Stargazing is another popular activity in the area.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Kamakura and Lake Tekapo are notable 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.

Lake Tekapo is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's a small town with a couple of cheap places to stay that backpackers will appreciate.

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

Kamakura is a good destination for its public transit. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Kamakura, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a city bus system, but for the more remote places you'll want to take a taxi.

Public transit is quite limited in Lake Tekapo. Public transportation in the area is very limited. If you don't have a car, you'll want to arrange tours to get out and about.

Is Kamakura or Lake Tekapo a more walkable city?

Kamakura and Lake Tekapo both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

Lake Tekapo is a somewhat walkable place. The town is small enough to get around on foot, and you can hire a tour to get out into the region.

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

Should I spend more time in Lake Tekapo or Kamakura?

How long in Kamakura or Lake Tekapo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kamakura or Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Couples should spend more time in Kamakura than Lake Tekapo. 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the ancient coastal city of Kamakura. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The beautiful town of Lake Tekapo offers . 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 Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the ancient destination of Kamakura. This coastal city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

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

Five days in Kamakura or Lake Tekapo?

The laid back coastal city of Kamakura offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Kamakura. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Lake Tekapo 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, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kamakura and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Kamakura is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kamakura is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

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

Which is Bigger, Kamakura or Lake Tekapo?

Kamakura has a larger population, and is about 500 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Kamakura and Lake Tekapo, 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.