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

Should you visit Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

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 Lake Tekapo. 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 subdued, under-rated, and multicultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Kobe travel costs.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a remote, basic, and small town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the hiking. See Lake Tekapo travel costs.

Kobe and Lake Tekapo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kobe. Although Kobe and Lake Tekapo are popular destinations, Kobe has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kobe is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Lake Tekapo attracts visitors for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lake Tekapo is more touristy than Kobe and is popular for its hot springs, remote location, and beautiful night sky. Kobe is famous for its world renowned Kobe beef and its hot spring resorts. It is also well known for Kobe Harborland.

How is Kobe different from Lake Tekapo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?

Kobe is a good destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kobe. 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.

Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Kobe is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Kobe is an experience not to be missed. 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).

Lake Tekapo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The town is very small with just a couple of restaurants and fast food joints.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo Better for Nightlife?

Kobe is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

Kobe has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Lake Tekapo This is a very small town and there isn't a real nightlife scene. The night sky is incredible though, and you should absolutely do some stargazing.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo Better for Hiking?

Lake Tekapo is great for hiking. However, Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Lake Tekapo for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

Kobe is a great destination for its shopping areas. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Kobe. 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.

Shopping in Lake Tekapo can be found for those interested. There are a couple of shops where you can pick up basic necessities.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo More Beautiful?

Lake Tekapo is great for its scenery and beauty. However, Kobe is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. You really want to get out of town and explore the area's stunning natural beauty.

Kobe is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo Better for Families?

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

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lake Tekapo. Kids will enjoy a visit to Tekapo Springs, which is particularly fun in the winter months. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and, of course, the hot pools. There are also short hikes in the area like the Mount John Summit Walk. Biking, paddleboarding, and kayaking are also popular 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 Lake Tekapo Better for Couples?

Kobe and Lake Tekapo both nice destinations for a couple.

Kobe is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Lake Tekapo is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy the stunning scenery, beautiful hikes, and the romantic hot springs. Stargazing is another popular activity in the area.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Kobe and Lake Tekapo are nice places to visit.

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Lake Tekapo. It's a small town with a couple of cheap places to stay that backpackers will appreciate.

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

Kobe is a good destination for its public transit. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Kobe, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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 Lake Tekapo. Public transportation in the area is very limited. If you don't have a car, you'll want to arrange tours to get out and about.

Is Kobe or Lake Tekapo a more walkable city?

Kobe and Lake Tekapo are nice 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.

Lake Tekapo is somewhat walkable. The town is small enough to get around on foot, and you can hire a tour to get out into the region.

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

Should I spend more time in Lake Tekapo or Kobe?

How long in Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kobe or Lake Tekapo to fill your time. In our opinion, Kobe has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kobe than Lake Tekapo. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the quaint city of Kobe. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the destination of Lake Tekapo. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the multicultural destination of Kobe. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Lake Tekapo is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Lake Tekapo?

The quaint city of Kobe offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

You'll find around the basic destination of Lake Tekapo. 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 Lake Tekapo?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Kobe. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The basic town of Lake Tekapo offers . 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 Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kobe or Lake Tekapo?

Kobe has a larger population, and is about 4630 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Kobe and Lake Tekapo, 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.