Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Kanazawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kanazawa or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kanazawa and Harbin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kanazawa or Harbin?
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Kanazawa Prices
Japan PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanazawa $131Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanazawa is $131, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $66. 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 Kanazawa and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanazawa $66Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanazawa $132Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Kanazawa and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Kanazawa or Harbin? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanazawa $9.66Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanazawa or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Kanazawa 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKanazawa $58Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Japanese Cooking and Sushi-Making Lesson: $101
- traditional Japanese & sushi cooking classes: $103
- Fishing Experience with Gyotaku and Cooking: $422
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $80
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanazawa $10Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa Tedori Gorge White Road and Shirakawa Go: $212
- 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $219
- Amaharashi Coast & Shokawa Cruise from Kanazawa: $211
- Colors of City Tour with Kenrokuen and Kaga Yuzen: $68
- Day Tour from Kanazawa OR Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley: $265
- Discover Kanazawa with a Local: Private & Custom Tour: $90
- Exclusive Kannon in Temple Tour in Kanazawa: $138
- Explore Kanazawa Half Day Private Tour with Local Guide : $103
- Explore Kanazawa with Sushi Making Experience: $207
- From Kanazawa/Toyama: Snow Wall & Mysterious Valley Day Tour: $243
- From Kurobe Gorge & Unazuki Onsen Full-Day Tour: $239
- From Tateyama Mountain Tour with Waterfall & Hike: $270
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Igloos Hot Pot Private Tour: $300
- Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice Festival: $261
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- 2-Day Harbin City Private Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $280
- All-Inclusive Harbin City History and Local Culture Private Day Tour: $300
- Group Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World plus Sun Island Snow Sculpture Festival: $298
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Half-Day Private Old Harbin Street Walking Tour with Meal: $300
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanazawa $13Harbin $7.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Kanazawa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kanazawa:
- Kanazawa Historic Brewery: Fermentation Tour, Tasting, Lunch: $81
Sample the Local Flavors in Harbin
Also in Harbin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Brewery Tour: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanazawa and Harbin, we can see that Kanazawa is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Harbin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Harbin 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa than you might in Harbin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanazawa Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanazawa or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kanazawa. When comparing the sizes of Kanazawa and Harbin, 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 Kanazawa or Harbin?
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.
Should I visit Kanazawa or Harbin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanazawa and Harbin. The summer months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kanazawa is around the same temperature as Harbin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kanazawa in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Harbin averages at about 24°C (75°F).
Harbin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Harbin. Kanazawa gets 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanazawa 26°C (78°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kanazawa as well as Harbin. The shopping scene are the main draw to Kanazawa this time of year.
In October, Kanazawa is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 17°C (62°F), and Harbin fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in October than Harbin. Kanazawa gets 203 mm (8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanazawa 17°C (62°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Kanazawa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kanazawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Harbin can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kanazawa. Kanazawa is much warmer than Harbin in the winter. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. In January, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Harbin. Kanazawa gets 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanazawa 3°C (38°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Kanazawa during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Kanazawa is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kanazawa in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Harbin averages at about 8°C (46°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in April than Harbin. Kanazawa gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanazawa 12°C (54°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Kanazawa
| Kanazawa | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.