A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kobe vs. Kaikoura for Families, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Kobe or Kaikoura?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kobe and Kaikoura. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Kobe

Kobe is a multicultural, quaint, and subdued city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Kobe travel costs.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a nature-oriented, biologically diverse, and unique town. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and hiking. See Kaikoura travel costs.

Kobe and Kaikoura: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kobe or Kaikoura?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kobe. Although Kobe and Kaikoura are both popular with visitors, Kobe has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kobe is more popular for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities, while Kaikoura is known for its beaches and hiking. Kaikoura is more touristy than Kobe and is popular for its local Sperm Whale population, abundance of marine life, and local crayfish (lobster) recipes. Kobe is popular for its world renowned Kobe beef and its hot spring resorts. It is also home to Kobe Harborland.

How is Kobe different from Kaikoura?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kobe or Kaikoura?

Kobe is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Kaikoura is not a good town for its museums and history.

Kobe offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the view from the top of the Kobe Port Tower and visit the high energy area of Kobe Harborland. The Disaster Reduction Museum and the nearby Human Renovation Museum are both fascinating to visit as well. Also check out the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art and Rokko Island.

While most people don't head to Kaikoura specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There aren't many museums in the area, but it's worth learning more about the region's history with a visit to Kaikoura Museum.

Is the Food Better in Kobe or Kaikoura? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Kobe and Kaikoura can be difficult as they are each superb in their own way.

Kobe has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Most people immediately think of Kobe beef when they think of this city, but there are also many other specialties around town. You'll find good sushi as well as akashiyaki, which are octopus dumplings. The city long served as a major port for Japan, so there is a strong Chinese influence over the cuisine. In particular, you should try the chuka ryori (a Chinese dumpling).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Kaikoura makes for a great culinary experience. Seafood lovers will be in heaven in this town! There are many local, freshly caught favorites such as cod, mussels, and crayfish (which is actually lobster). You'll find plenty of casual eateries, including an authentic American diner.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Kobe and Kaikoura.

If you're looking for night time activities Kobe has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is a bit subdued, but that doesn't mean you won't find local bars, karaoke, and live music venues where you can hang out. Many visitors enjoy having a chill night out with a drink in a laid back setting.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kaikoura. This is a small town so the nightlife scene is limited, but there are a few restaurants with bars around town.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Beaches?

Kaikoura is great for the beach. However, Kobe is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Kaikoura for it's beautiful beaches. There are many black pebble beaches in the area, which are great for wildlife spotting, but not so good for swimming. Gooch's Beach is one of the most popular, and it's sandier than many of the other beaches. South Bay is another popular area to visit.

Kobe is not a beach destination.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Hiking?

Kaikoura is great for hiking. However, Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Kaikoura for the hiking trails. There are many coastal walks in the area that will take you through a variety of landscapes. This is also a great way to see the many diverse types of wildlife throughout the peninsula.

Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kobe or Kaikoura?

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

Kobe is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. It's fun and convenient to shop here, as the best shopping districts are easy to access from the train stations. Sannomiya is a hub of transportation and shopping in the city, but also check out Kobe Harborland for its diverse stores and high energy.

Kaikoura has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are local shops where you can pick up some interesting products that are unique to the area.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Families?

Kaikoura is an amazing town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Kobe is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Kaikoura is very family-friendly. Kids who love animals will appreciate all of the wildlife in the area. This is one of the best places in the country to see dolphins, whales, and seals. There are world class whale watching trips as well as opportunities to swim with the dolphins and get close to the seals. There is also kayaking, a coastal train, and even sheep shearing. Minigolf is also a fun activity in the area.

Kobe is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly attractions around Kobe Harborland including a ferris wheel, Anpanman Museum, and the Kobe Maritime Museum. Kids will also enjoy running around Meriken Park or Mount Rokko. Kids who like animals will enjoy a visit to Kobe Animal Kingdom.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Couples?

Kaikoura is great for couples. Also, Kobe is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Kaikoura is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The town is all about wildlife, so if whale watching trips, dolphin spotting, and experiencing amazing local wildlife is your thing, then this is your spot! There are also beautiful coastal sights with a dramatic mountain backdrop.

Kobe is a nice destination for couples. There's a romantic view from the top of the Kobe Port Tower. There are also many parks and a waterfront promenade where you can take a stroll. If you enjoy hiking, you can take the Maya View Line Kikuseidai, which is particularly nice in the evening.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Kaikoura. There are a decent number of hostels in the area and plenty of fun activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Kobe. Although many tourists and backpackers don't put Kobe on their itinerary, there are still a handful of hostels around the city.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kobe is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kaikoura is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Kobe has a few public transit options. While there is a subway system, it's not particularly useful to tourists. There is a bus service that operates a line that targets tourists.

Public transit is quite limited in Kaikoura. The town is very small and there is no real public transit in the area.

Is Kobe or Kaikoura a more walkable city?

Kobe and Kaikoura are good when it comes to walkability.

Kobe is a somewhat walkable city. It's relatively easy to walk around many parts of the city, although some areas are quite hilly. You can walk from Shin-Kobe Bullet Train Station to the water in about half an hour.

Kaikoura is somewhat walkable. There are many coastal walks in the area, which is a great way to soak up the beauty and see the wildlife. The town itself is small and most of the accommodation is along Beach Road, so it's relatively easy to reach places on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Kobe Worth Visiting? and Is Kaikoura Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kaikoura or Kobe?

How long in Kobe or Kaikoura?

It's fun to spend time in either Kobe or Kaikoura. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Kaikoura due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kobe, and 2-4 days is enough time in Kaikoura.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kaikoura than Kobe 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 Kaikoura.

One day in Kobe or Kaikoura?

The city of Kobe offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kaikoura. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Kobe or Kaikoura?

Kobe is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kobe, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Kaikoura is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Kobe or Kaikoura?

Kobe 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the unique destination of Kaikoura. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kobe or Kaikoura?

Kobe is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The nature-oriented town of Kaikoura offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kobe or Kaikoura?

Kobe has a larger population, and is about 2230 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Kobe and Kaikoura, 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.