A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Koyasan vs. Atami for Attractions, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Koyasan or Atami?

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 Atami. 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 traditional, peaceful, and serene town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food.

Atami

Atami is a nostalgic, authentic, and overlooked town. And you can't forget about the food, beaches, and shopping.

Koyasan and Atami: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koyasan or Atami?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Koyasan than Atami, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Koyasan is better known for its museums, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Atami is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and shopping. Koyasan is more touristy than Atami and is popular for its temple complex, spiritual history, and being the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Also, Koyasan is famous for Kongobu-ji Head Temple. Atami is well known for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Koyasan different from Atami?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Koyasan is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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 for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Atami. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

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

Foodies will find both Koyasan and Atami both to be notable 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.

Atami is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for Nightlife?

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

Atami has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

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 Atami Better for Beaches?

Atami is a good destination for the beache. However, Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Atami offers a nice beach destination. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for its Old Town?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its old town. However, Atami does not have a historic old town.

Koyasan is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The town center is filled with spiritual temples and many people prefer to do a temple stay for a night.

Atami does not have a historic old town.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for Hiking?

Koyasan is a town with good options for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Koyasan. 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.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Koyasan or Atami?

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

Atami offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for Families?

Both Koyasan and Atami are notable family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Koyasan. 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.

Atami offers lots of family activities. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for Couples?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Koyasan makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

Atami is a good town for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Koyasan or Atami Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koyasan and Atami are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Atami. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Is Koyasan or Atami 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 Atami.

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 Atami offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Is Koyasan or Atami a more walkable city?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

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

Atami is a somewhat walkable town. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Atami or Koyasan?

How long in Koyasan or Atami?

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

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

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

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

One day in Koyasan or Atami?

Even though Koyasan is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Atami, you'll find nightlife and food. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Koyasan or Atami?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Koyasan. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Atami, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atami has to offer.

Five days in Koyasan or Atami?

Koyasan is a fun place to experience. Koyasan is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Atami is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Koyasan or Atami?

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. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atami. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atami. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Koyasan and Atami, we can see that Atami 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 Koyasan Expensive? and Is Atami Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Atami?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Koyasan or Atami in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Atami. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Koyasan is around the same temperature as Atami in the summer. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In the summer, Koyasan often gets more sunshine than Atami. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Atami. Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan usually gets less rain in July than Atami. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Atami in the Autumn?

Both Atami and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

In the autumn, Koyasan is around the same temperature as Atami. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koyasan in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Atami averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Koyasan usually receives more sunshine than Atami during autumn. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In October, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Atami. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koyasan or Atami in the Winter?

Both Atami and Koyasan during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Koyasan is generally around the same temperature as Atami. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 6°C (42°F), and Atami fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In the winter, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Atami. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun.

Koyasan usually gets less rain in January than Atami. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Atami in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Atami. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Atami in the spring for the beaches.

Koyasan is around the same temperature as Atami in the spring. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Koyasan usually receives more sunshine than Atami during spring. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

Atami receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Atami. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Atami and Koyasan