A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lanta vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Yakushima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Koh Lanta or Yakushima?

Koh Lanta

Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.

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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lanta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lanta and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round.

Koh Lanta is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Lanta gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Lanta as well as Yakushima. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Koh Lanta is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Lanta in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Lanta receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Koh Lanta gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Koh Lanta are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year.

In January, Koh Lanta is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 27°C (80°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In January, Koh Lanta usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Lanta gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Yakushima in the Spring?

Both Yakushima and Koh Lanta during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Koh Lanta is much warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Koh Lanta gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. January to April is the dry season in Koh Lanta. June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Lanta