A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koyasan vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koyasan or Benxi?

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 Benxi. 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.

Where Should I go: Koyasan or Benxi?

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koyasan and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Koyasan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Benxi Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Benxi?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Koyasan or Benxi in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Benxi. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Koyasan is around the same temperature as Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during summer. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.

Benxi 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 Benxi. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koyasan or Benxi in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Benxi. The autumn months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Koyasan is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koyasan in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. In the autumn, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun.

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koyasan usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Benxi in the Winter?

Both Benxi and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In January, Koyasan is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 6°C (42°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during winter. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koyasan or Benxi in the Spring?

Both Benxi and Koyasan during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Koyasan is a little warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. Koyasan usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Koyasan