A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Karachi vs. Nikko for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Karachi or Nikko?

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

Should I visit Karachi or Nikko? 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.

Where Should I go: Karachi or Nikko?

Karachi

Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.

Nikko

Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.

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

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

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

Which is Bigger, Karachi or Nikko?

Karachi has a larger population, and is about 720 times larger than the population of Nikko. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Nikko, 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 Karachi or Nikko?

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 Karachi or Nikko in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Nikko. Also, most visitors come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Karachi is a little warmer than Nikko in the summer. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In the summer, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Karachi gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 136 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nikko. Karachi usually gets less rain in July than Nikko. Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Karachi or Nikko in the Autumn?

Both Nikko and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nikko because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Karachi is much warmer than Nikko. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Karachi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Nikko averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karachi. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Nikko during autumn. Karachi gets 284 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. In October, Karachi usually receives less rain than Nikko. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Karachi or Nikko in the Winter?

Both Nikko and Karachi during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nikko this time of year.

It's quite cold in Nikko in the winter. In January, Karachi is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 19°C (66°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In Nikko, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Karachi. In the winter, Karachi often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Karachi gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 212 hours of full sun.

Karachi usually gets less rain in January than Nikko. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Karachi or Nikko in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Nikko. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nikko for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Karachi is much warmer than Nikko in the spring. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Nikko during spring. Karachi gets 277 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 191 hours of full sun in the spring.

Nikko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Karachi usually receives less rain than Nikko. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nikko and Karachi