A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koyasan vs. Melbourne for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Koyasan or Melbourne?

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 Melbourne. 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. Koyasan is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food. See Koyasan travel costs.

Melbourne

Melbourne is a cultural, progressive, and livable city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the food, beaches, and shopping. See Melbourne travel costs.

Koyasan and Melbourne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koyasan or Melbourne?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Melbourne than Koyasan, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Melbourne is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Koyasan is more popular for its historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Koyasan is more touristy than Melbourne and is popular for its temple complex, spiritual history, and being the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Melbourne is well known for its art and cultural scene, its sports history, and its friendly and welcoming population. Also, Melbourne is famous for the Royal Botanic Gardens.

How is Koyasan different from Melbourne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the superb sights and museums in both Koyasan and Melbourne.

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).

Melbourne offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the city's sights center around the art and cultural scene. There's the the National Gallery of Victoria and the Performing Arts Centre Melbourne. There's also Federation Square. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the National Sports Museum and for great views, check out Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower.

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

Melbourne is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Melbourne. There's an eclectic mix of international restaurants that offer everything from Szechuan dishes to Spanish tapas. You'll find bistros and bars that have a fun and relaxed vibe and locals and tourists alike enjoy dining out.

Koyasan is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Melbourne know how to have a good time. There are bars and clubs that have a laid back and relaxed atmosphere as well as more party focused nightclubs that stay open late into the night. Whether you're interested in dancing and listening to live music, or chatting with friends at a local brewery, there really is something for everyone.

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 Melbourne Better for Beaches?

Melbourne is a great destination for the beach. However, Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Melbourne for it's beautiful beaches. There are laid back beaches near town that attract locals and tourists alike. You can enjoy coastal trails and great natural beauty. St Kilda Beach and Elwood Beach are among the most popular beaches near the city. Brighton Beach is known for its colorful bathing boxes and Williamstown Beach is very family-friendly.

Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Koyasan. The town center is filled with spiritual temples and many people prefer to do a temple stay for a night.

Melbourne does not have a historic old town.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for Hiking?

Koyasan is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Melbourne is not a hiking destination.

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.

Melbourne is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Koyasan or Melbourne?

Melbourne is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Melbourne is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has tons of retail options that range from trendy fashion boutiques to outdoor markets. There are local venders that highlight the city's art and cultural scene, but there are also suburban malls with all of the major brands.

Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne More Beautiful?

Koyasan is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Melbourne is not a destination known for its beauty.

Koyasan is a beautiful place to visit, too. The town is quaint and filled with history and spirituality.

Melbourne is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for Families?

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

Melbourne is a very kid-friendly city. The city has kids museums like the Museum of Play and Art or the Polly Woodside Tall Ship and Museum. There's also the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and the Scienceworks Museums. If you like quirky, check out the ArtVo 3D Immersive Art Gallery. There's also Legoland, which has a lot for younger children.

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 Melbourne Better for Couples?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Melbourne 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.

Melbourne is a good town for couples to visit. It's a very livable city with romantic viewpoints like SkyHigh Mount Dandenong. There are also nice gardens to explore such as the Carlton Gardens and the Rippon Lea House and Gardens. Or you could go for a ride on the Melbourne Star or dine at one of the many great restaurants.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koyasan and Melbourne 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 Melbourne. Many backpackers breeze through the city, but there is a great music and art scene as well as a number of good restaurants. You'll also find a couple of good hostels in town.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne Better for Students?

Melbourne is a world-class destination for students. However, Koyasan is not popular with students.

Melbourne is a very popular place to visit for students. Many students think this is among the best student cities in Australia. There's a great creative culture with a good music and art scene. The population is diverse and the restaurants a great.

Koyasan is not popular with students.

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

Melbourne is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Melbourne has some very good public transit options. The public transit system is among the best in Australia. There are public buses, trains, and trams (also called trolleys or streetcars).

While Koyasan offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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.

Is Koyasan or Melbourne a more walkable city?

Koyasan and Melbourne both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Melbourne is a very walkable destination. The city center is very walkable with a compact and grid-like layout.

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

Should I spend more time in Melbourne or Koyasan?

How long in Koyasan or Melbourne?

In either Koyasan or Melbourne, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Melbourne than Koyasan because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Koyasan, and 2-5 days is enough time in Melbourne.

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

Couples should spend more time in Koyasan than Melbourne. 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne.

One day in Koyasan or Melbourne?

Even though Koyasan is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Koyasan has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Because Melbourne is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This city 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 Melbourne?

Koyasan is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Because Melbourne is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Melbourne has to offer.

Five days in Koyasan or Melbourne?

Koyasan is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Melbourne is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Melbourne has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Koyasan or Melbourne?

Koyasan is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Melbourne. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Melbourne. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koyasan and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Melbourne?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Melbourne. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Koyasan is a little warmer than Melbourne in the summer. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. In the summer, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Melbourne in the Autumn?

Both Melbourne and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Koyasan is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koyasan in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Melbourne averages at about 15°C (60°F)in April.

Koyasan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Melbourne during autumn. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In October, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koyasan or Melbourne in the Winter?

Both Melbourne and Koyasan during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Koyasan is generally much colder than Melbournein July. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 6°C (42°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Koyasan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Melbournein July. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.

Koyasan usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Melbournein July. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Melbourne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Melbourne. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Koyasan