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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Mashiko?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Mashiko, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Mashiko?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

Mashiko

Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Mashiko?

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

Should I visit Koh Samet or Mashiko in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Mashiko. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year.

In the summer, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Mashiko. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samet in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Mashiko averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In the summer, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 130 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Mashiko. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in July than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Mashiko in the Autumn?

Both Mashiko and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Mashiko for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Mashiko. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 27°C (81°F), and Mashiko fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Mashiko during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mashiko. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Mashiko in the Winter?

Both Mashiko and Koh Samet during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Mashiko in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mashiko can get quite cold in the winter. Koh Samet is much warmer than Mashiko in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Mashiko fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mashiko receives 181 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Mashiko in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Mashiko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mashiko for the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Koh Samet is much warmer than Mashiko. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samet in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Mashiko averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Mashiko during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Mashiko receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.

Mashiko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Mashiko. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Mashiko receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mashiko and Koh Samet