A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kanazawa vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kanazawa or Whitsundays?

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

Where Should I go: Kanazawa or Whitsundays?

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.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Kanazawa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kanazawa is $103, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kanazawa $64
    Whitsundays $69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kanazawa $128
    Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Kanazawa and Whitsundays

Looking for a hotel in Kanazawa or Whitsundays? 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.

Hotels in Kanazawa


Hotels in Whitsundays


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kanazawa $9.32
    Whitsundays $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa

Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
  • Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays

Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Kanazawa or Whitsundays?

Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kanazawa $32
    Whitsundays $30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa

For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
  • Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
  • Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays

For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kanazawa $9.74
    Whitsundays $25

Tours and Activities in Kanazawa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.

  • “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
  • 1 Day Tour from Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen: $223
  • 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $165
  • 4 Hour Unique Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Sakura Private Experience: $218
  • Afternoon Round Trip Tour from Kanazawa: $87
  • E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of KANAZAWA Main & KENROKUEN: $82
  • E-Bike Cycling with Guided Tour of Kanazawa Main and Ninja Temple: $78
  • Full-Day Tour from Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha: $148
  • Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
  • Hidden Gems Of Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $102
  • Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour): $266
  • Kanazawa Custom Full Day Tour: $207

Tours and Activities in Whitsundays

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.

  • Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
  • Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
  • From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
  • Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kanazawa $12
    Whitsundays $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanazawa and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Kanazawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kanazawa is in Asia and Whitsundays 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 Kanazawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanazawa 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Kanazawa.

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



When is the best time to visit Kanazawa or Whitsundays?

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

Both Whitsundays and Kanazawa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kanazawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Kanazawa is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Kanazawa usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Kanazawa gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. In July, Kanazawa usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Kanazawa gets 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Kanazawa 26°C (78°F) 
    Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Kanazawa or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

Both Whitsundays and Kanazawa during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Kanazawa is cooler than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kanazawa in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Kanazawa often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Kanazawa gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.

Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in October than Whitsundaysin April. Kanazawa gets 203 mm (8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Kanazawa 17°C (62°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Kanazawa or Whitsundays in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanazawa and Whitsundays. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kanazawa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Kanazawa in the winter. In January, Kanazawa is generally much colder than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 3°C (38°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Kanazawa usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Kanazawa gets 67 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin July. Kanazawa gets 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Kanazawa 3°C (38°F) 
    Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Kanazawa or Whitsundays in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kanazawa as well as Whitsundays.

Kanazawa is much colder than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the spring, Kanazawa often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Kanazawa gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.

Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Kanazawa gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Kanazawa 12°C (54°F) 
    Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Kanazawa

Kanazawa Whitsundays
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 294 mm (11.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 192 mm (7.6 in) 26°C (78°F) 377 mm (14.8 in)
Mar 6°C (43°F) 156 mm (6.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Apr 12°C (54°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 17°C (63°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 21°C (70°F) 202 mm (8 in) 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 26°C (78°F) 251 mm (9.9 in) 16°C (62°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 18°C (65°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 248 mm (9.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 203 mm (8 in) 23°C (73°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nov 11°C (52°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 6°C (43°F) 306 mm (12 in) 26°C (78°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)


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