A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koyasan vs. Airlie Beach for Hiking, Couples, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

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 Koyasan and Airlie Beach. 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.

Koyasan

Koyasan is a spiritual, traditional, and peaceful town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Koyasan is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food, hiking, and museums. See Koyasan travel costs.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a laid back, slow-paced, and idyllic town. The famous beauty of Airlie Beach is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Airlie Beach travel costs.

Koyasan and Airlie Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Airlie Beach. Although Koyasan and Airlie Beach are popular destinations, Airlie Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Airlie Beach is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Koyasan attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and small town charm. Koyasan is famous for its temple complex, spiritual history, and being the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Airlie Beach is famous for its tours and transportation that visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. It is also well known for the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

How is Koyasan different from Airlie Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Airlie Beach and Koyasan. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Koyasan is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Airlie Beach is not a good town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Koyasan. This spiritual destination is filled with temples. Some of the most notable are Okunoin Temple, Torodo Hall, Kongobuji Temple, Danjo Garan, and Daimon (the Great Gate).

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Airlie Beach. Oceanfront beauty is what this town is all about, so you won't find much is the form of museums and manmade landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Koyasan or Airlie Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Koyasan and Airlie Beach both to be nice destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Koyasan. There are cafes in town that serve simple udon noodle dishes and other local options. If you do a temple stay, it will likely include a meal, which is usually vegetarian and prepared by Buddhist monks. A typical menu includes miso soup, soba, pickled vegetables, tofu, tempura vegetables, rice, tea, and melon. Breakfast is similar but smaller in size.

Airlie Beach is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Nightlife?

Airlie Beach is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Koyasan is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Airlie Beach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town has a number of nightlife venues that include DJ hosted parties, beachfront cocktail lounges, and mellow local bars.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Koyasan This spiritual town is not a place for nightlife, but it is fascinating to take a night tour of the area.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Resorts?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for its resorts. However, Koyasan is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Airlie Beach for its luxury resorts. There's everything from posh resorts and luxury hotels to family-friendly campgrounds. There are also hostels that cater to the budget crowd.

Koyasan is not a resort destination.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Koyasan is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Airlie Beach. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.

Koyasan is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Beaches?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for the beach. However, Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Airlie Beach offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.

Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for its Old Town?

Koyasan is a well-known place for its historic old town. However, Airlie Beach does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Koyasan. The town center is filled with spiritual temples and many people prefer to do a temple stay for a night.

Airlie Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Hiking?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for its hiking experiences. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

Airlie Beach is well-known for its hiking and trekking. You'll find many incredible hiking trails in the area. Conway National Park is a great place to hike through the rainforest and Conway State Forest is another nice spot.

Koyasan is a good destination for hiking. Most people arrive by cable car, but this area has been a long running pilgrim destination and you'll find many historic pilgrimage trails that are still in the area. The Koyasan Choishi Michi trail is one of the most well known.

Is the Shopping Better in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Airlie Beach is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Airlie Beach offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the town's main street for your typical souvenir shops and holiday stores.

Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach More Beautiful?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Airlie Beach is one of the main draws. Serving as a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, this town is surrounded by some of the world's most idyllic landscapes.

Koyasan offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The town is quaint and filled with history and spirituality.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Families?

Airlie Beach is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Airlie Beach is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will enjoy playing in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, visiting the markets, or hanging out at the local beaches or playgrounds. If you're hoping to swim in the ocean, be very aware of the season and the conditions.

Koyasan offers lots of family activities. It's filled with history, so its best to recognize your kid's limits when it comes to that sort of thing. If you're planning to do a temple stay, then consider how your child might handle the situation and make sure you reach out to let them know you have a child before reserving.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Couples?

Airlie Beach is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Airlie Beach is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples often use this as a gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. The dining scene is good and there are countless outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. There are also many different resorts in the area.

Koyasan is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. A temple stay in Koyasan is a truly unique experience that immerses you in the culture and lifestyle of the area. It's a truly one-of-a-kind experience for couples who like to do things outside of the box.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Airlie Beach is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Airlie Beach is a great town to visit for backpackers. If you're hoping to visit the Whitsunday Islands, then is a good place to base yourself as a backpacker. It has a decent selection of hostels and there are a number of restaurants and other dining options.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Koyasan. It's not your typical backpacker destination and most visitors prefer to experience a temple stay while in the area. If that's not your style, there is a hostel nearby.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Koyasan and Airlie Beach.

You'll find some public transit in Koyasan, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. To get to town you'll take a cable car and then a bus (or taxi, but you can't walk). Once you're in town, almost everything is in the town center and doesn't require transit.

While Airlie Beach offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.

Is Koyasan or Airlie Beach a more walkable city?

Koyasan and Airlie Beach both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Koyasan is a very walkable town. Once you reach the town its relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.

Airlie Beach is a very walkable destination. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Koyasan Worth Visiting? and Is Airlie Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Airlie Beach or Koyasan?

How long in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Both Koyasan and Airlie Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Airlie Beach than in Koyasan. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Koyasan, and 4-7 days is enough time in Airlie Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Koyasan 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 Airlie Beach.

One day in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Koyasan is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this town.

In Airlie Beach, you'll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Koyasan is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Airlie Beach, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Koyasan is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Airlie Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Airlie Beach has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

Koyasan is a popular place to visit. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Airlie Beach. In Airlie Beach, you'll find shopping and nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach?

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

Should I visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Airlie Beach. The summer months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.

In July, Koyasan is generally around the same temperature as Airlie Beachin January. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Airlie Beach. The hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Koyasan is cooler than Airlie Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the autumn, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koyasan usually gets less rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

Both Airlie Beach and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In the winter, Koyasan is much colder than Airlie Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koyasan in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koyasan or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

Both Airlie Beach and Koyasan during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Koyasan is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin October. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 15°C (59°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. Koyasan usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Koyasan