A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Longsheng vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Longsheng or Matsue?

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 Longsheng and Matsue. 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: Longsheng or Matsue?

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Longsheng and Matsue, we can see that Longsheng is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Longsheng would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Longsheng than you might in Matsue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Longsheng Expensive? and Is Matsue Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Matsue?

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 Longsheng or Matsue in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Matsue. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Matsue in the summer. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Longsheng receives a lot of rain in the summer. Longsheng usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Matsue in the Autumn?

Both Matsue and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

In the autumn, Longsheng is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Longsheng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Matsue averages at about 17°C (62°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In October, Longsheng usually receives less rain than Matsue. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Longsheng or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue and Longsheng during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. In January, Longsheng is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 10°C (49°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Longsheng usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Matsue in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Matsue. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty.

Longsheng is much warmer than Matsue in the spring. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the spring. Longsheng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Matsue. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Longsheng