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

Should you visit Kobe or Picton?

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 Picton. 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. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Picton

Picton is a picturesque, scenic, and quaint town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Kobe and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kobe or Picton?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kobe. Although Kobe and Picton are popular destinations, Kobe has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kobe is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Picton attracts visitors for its beaches, hiking, and small town charm. Picton is more touristy than Kobe and is popular for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails. 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 Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Picton and Kobe.

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.

Picton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Kobe and Picton can be difficult as they are each excellent 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, Picton makes for a great culinary experience. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

Is Kobe or Picton Better for Nightlife?

Kobe is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Picton is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kobe. 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Picton. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Is Kobe or Picton Better for Beaches?

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

Many people visit Picton for it's beautiful beaches. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

Kobe is not a beach destination.

Is Kobe or Picton Better for Hiking?

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

Many visitors go to Picton for the hiking trails. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kobe or Picton?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Picton. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Is Kobe or Picton Better for Families?

Picton 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 Picton. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

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 Picton Better for Couples?

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

Picton is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

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 Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton 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 Picton. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

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 Picton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kobe and Picton both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Kobe offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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.

Picton has a few public transit options. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Kobe or Picton a more walkable city?

Picton is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Kobe is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Picton is a very walkable destination. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

Kobe is somewhat walkable. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Picton or Kobe?

How long in Kobe or Picton?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton 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 Picton.

One day in Kobe or Picton?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kobe. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Picton. 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 Picton?

Kobe is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Picton 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 Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kobe. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the picturesque destination of Picton. 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 Picton?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Kobe. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The quaint town of Picton offers museums and food. 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 from Auckland, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kobe and Picton, we can see that Kobe is more expensive. And not only is Picton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kobe is in Asia and Picton 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 Picton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Picton 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 Picton.

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

Which is Bigger, Kobe or Picton?

Kobe has a larger population, and is about 510 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Kobe and Picton, 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 Kobe or Picton?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Picton is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Kobe has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Kobe or Picton in the Summer?

Both Picton and Kobe during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Kobe because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

Kobe is much warmer than Picton in the summer. The daily temperature in Kobe averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Picton fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Kobe. Kobe usually gets more rain in July than Pictonin January. Kobe gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kobe or Picton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kobe and Picton. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kobe this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Picton for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Kobe is a little warmer than Picton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kobe in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Picton averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.

Kobe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kobe usually receives more rain than Pictonin April. Kobe gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kobe or Picton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kobe as well as Picton. Many travelers come to Kobe for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Picton in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Kobe is generally much colder than Pictonin July. Daily temperatures in Kobe average around 5°C (42°F), and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

It's quite rainy in Picton. Kobe usually gets less rain in January than Pictonin July. Kobe gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kobe or Picton in the Spring?

Both Picton and Kobe are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kobe in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Picton for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

Kobe is a little warmer than Picton in the spring. The daily temperature in Kobe averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Picton fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Kobe. In April, Kobe usually receives more rain than Pictonin October. Kobe gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Picton and Kobe