Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Kanazawa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kanazawa or Yakushima?
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 Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kanazawa or Yakushima?
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.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanazawa $103Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanazawa is $103, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $116. 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 Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanazawa $64Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanazawa $128Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Kanazawa and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Kanazawa or Yakushima? 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 and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanazawa $9.32Yakushima $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $253
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $315
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanazawa or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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 $32Yakushima $28
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: $58
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $71
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanazawa $9.74Yakushima $20
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Monochrome Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Moon Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Color Plan: $19
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $26
- Kenrokuen Tea Ceremony Experience: $31
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $37
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $55
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $57
- [Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour: $67
- [One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour: $78
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanazawa $12Yakushima $6.38
When comparing the travel costs between Kanazawa and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanazawa Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kanazawa or Yakushima?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Kanazawa or Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Kanazawa during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kanazawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Kanazawa is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kanazawa in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima 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 July than Yakushima. Kanazawa gets 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanazawa 26°C (78°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanazawa and Yakushima. The autumn months attract visitors to Kanazawa because of the shopping scene.
In October, Kanazawa is generally cooler than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Kanazawa average around 17°C (62°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kanazawa usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Kanazawa gets 203 mm (8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanazawa 17°C (62°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kanazawa as well as Yakushima. 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. Kanazawa is much colder than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Kanazawa averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kanazawa usually gets more rain in January than Yakushima. Kanazawa gets 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanazawa 3°C (38°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Kanazawa or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima and Kanazawa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Kanazawa is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kanazawa in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. In April, Kanazawa usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Kanazawa gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanazawa 12°C (54°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Kanazawa
| Kanazawa | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 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.