Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Koyasan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Koyasan or Harbin?
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 Harbin. 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 Harbin?
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.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Koyasan Prices
Japan PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoyasan $95Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Koyasan is $95, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $66. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koyasan and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoyasan $41Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoyasan $82Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Koyasan and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Koyasan or Harbin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koyasan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koyasan $34Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Koyasan or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Koyasan change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKoyasan $34Harbin $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $80
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koyasan $14Harbin $53
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Ice and Snow World Ticket Booking: $51
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Harbin Summer Indoor Ice and Snow World Tour: $136
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
- Private Half Day Tour Harbin ConfucianTemple and Temple of Bliss (Jile Si): $157
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Private Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoyasan $5.07Harbin $7.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Harbin
Also in Harbin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Brewery Tour: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koyasan and Harbin, we can see that Koyasan is more expensive. And not only is Harbin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Harbin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Harbin 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 Koyasan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koyasan than you might in Harbin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koyasan Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Harbin?
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 Harbin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Harbin. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
Koyasan is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite rainy in Harbin. Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Harbin. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoyasan 27°C (81°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Harbin in the Autumn?
Both Harbin and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the autumn for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Koyasan is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koyasan in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In October, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoyasan 19°C (65°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Harbin in the Winter?
Both Harbin and Koyasan during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the museums and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Harbin can be very cold. In January, Koyasan is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 6°C (42°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Koyasan usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoyasan 6°C (42°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Koyasan or Harbin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Harbin. The spring months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.
Koyasan is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Harbin. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoyasan 15°C (59°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Koyasan
| Koyasan | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 208 mm (8.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.