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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Yakushima?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Yakushima, 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 Yakushima?

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?

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Yakushima Expensive?.

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

Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?

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

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yakushima in the Autumn?

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

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

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Yakushima. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yakushima in the Winter?

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

In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yakushima in the Spring?

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

Koh Samet is much warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Samet