A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kanazawa vs. Picton for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Kanazawa or Picton?

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 Picton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a well-preserved, historic, and cultural city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Picton

Picton is a picturesque, scenic, and quaint town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and food.

Kanazawa and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kanazawa or Picton?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Picton than Kanazawa, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Picton is better known for its beaches, hiking, and small town charm, while Kanazawa is more popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Kanazawa is well known for its history, preserved architecture, and classically landscaped gardens. Picton is well known for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails. Also, Picton is famous for the Queen Charlotte Track.

How is Kanazawa different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kanazawa or Picton?

Kanazawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Picton 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 Kanazawa. The city is filled with history and you can visit the Kanazawa Castle, the Higashi Chaya Area with preserved Geisha houses, and the Nagamachi Samurai House Area. There are also museums such as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and the D.T. Suzuki Museum.

Picton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

Is the Food Better in Kanazawa or Picton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Kanazawa and Picton offer high quality local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Kanazawa. There's a long history to the city's cuisine and you'll find many diverse dishes that combine traditional ingredients with international fusion. The cuisine uses a lot of seafood, but you'll also find the one pot meal of Hanton Rice, Oden (hot pot), and Jibu-ni (made with duck and vegetables).

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Picton. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Nightlife?

Kanazawa is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Picton is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kanazawa. The town has everything from international style bars to local theaters that let you experience the traditional Japanese culture.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Picton. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Beaches?

Picton is great for its beaches. However, Kanazawa is not a beach destination.

Picton is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

Kanazawa is not a beach destination.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for its Old Town?

Kanazawa is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Picton does not have a historic old town.

Kanazawa offers a nice historic old town area. It's fascinating to visit both the Higashi Chaya Area with preserved Geisha houses and the Nagamachi Samurai House Area which has preserved samurai houses that line two canals. You can enter a few of the houses to see the traditional way of life.

Picton does not have a historic old town.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Hiking?

Picton is great for hiking. However, Kanazawa is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Picton for the hiking trails. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

Kanazawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kanazawa or Picton?

Kanazawa is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Kanazawa. The city has many shopping districts that include department stores, traditional stores, and large markets. This is a great place to do some souvenir shopping.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Picton. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Families?

Picton is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Kanazawa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Picton is a very family-friendly destination. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

Kanazawa is a family-friendly place to visit. Myouryuji Temple is a fun temple for kids where they can play ninja and discover the hidden spaces. When the kids are burned out of history, head to Tedori Fish Land which is a theme park in the area or check out the slides at Kenmin Seaside Park. There's also the Dolls Museum and the beautiful coastline.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Couples?

Picton is great for romance. Also, Kanazawa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

Picton is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

Kanazawa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city has markets, museums, and gardens that are fun to explore as a couple. You can visit the Kanazawa Castle or sample one of the many restaurants around town.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Kanazawa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Picton is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Kanazawa. There are a handful of hostels and affordable accommodation options that backpackers can choose from.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Students?

Kanazawa is a good destination for students. However, Picton is not popular with students.

Kanazawa is a good city to visit for students. It has a good educational environment with high quality educational institutions that appeal to international students.

Picton is not popular with students.

Is Kanazawa or Picton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kanazawa and Picton both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Kanazawa offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are two main buses that tourists use in town. The Kenrokuen Shuttle goes between the Kanazawa Station and Kenrokuen Gardens and the Kanazawa Loop Bus runs from Kanazawa Station via the Teramachi area, the Higashi Chaya District, and Omicho Market.

Picton has a few public transit options. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Kanazawa or Picton a more walkable city?

Kanazawa and Picton are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Kanazawa is very walkable. The city is relatively walkable with some rolling hills. It's possible to walk to Kanazawa Castle from Kanazawa Station in about 35 minutes.

Picton is a very walkable city. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Kanazawa Worth Visiting? and Is Picton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Picton or Kanazawa?

How long in Kanazawa or Picton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kanazawa or Picton to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Picton than Kanazawa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Picton that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton than Kanazawa 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 Picton.

One day in Kanazawa or Picton?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kanazawa. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Picton offers food and shopping. 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 Kanazawa or Picton?

Kanazawa is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Picton 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. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Picton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kanazawa or Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kanazawa. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Picton 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 Kanazawa or Picton?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Kanazawa. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Picton 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kanazawa or Picton?

Kanazawa has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Kanazawa and Picton, 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 Picton?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Picton is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Kanazawa has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Kanazawa or Picton in the Summer?

Both Picton and Kanazawa during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kanazawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Picton for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Kanazawa is generally a little warmer than Pictonin January. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 26°C (78°F), and Picton fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in July than Pictonin January. Kanazawa gets 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kanazawa or Picton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanazawa and Picton. Most visitors come to Kanazawa for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Picton because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

Kanazawa is a little warmer than Picton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Picton fluctuates around 15°C (58°F)in April.

Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Pictonin April. Kanazawa gets 203 mm (8 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kanazawa or Picton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kanazawa as well as Picton. The winter months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

The weather in Kanazawa can be very cold. In the winter, Kanazawa is much colder than Picton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kanazawa in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Picton averages at about 10°C (49°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Picton. Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in January than Pictonin July. Kanazawa gets 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kanazawa or Picton in the Spring?

Both Picton and Kanazawa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Picton for the beaches and the small town charm.

In April, Kanazawa is generally around the same temperature as Pictonin October. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 12°C (54°F), and Picton fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. In April, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Pictonin October. Kanazawa gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Picton and Kanazawa