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

Should you visit Koyasan or Whitsundays?

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 Whitsundays. 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 Whitsundays?

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.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Whitsundays?

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

Both Whitsundays and Koyasan during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.

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

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.

Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. Koyasan usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Whitsundays. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin April. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koyasan or Whitsundays in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Whitsundays. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the winter, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.

Koyasan usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Whitsundays in the Spring?

Both Whitsundays and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

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

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In April, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Koyasan