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

Should you visit Longsheng or Sendai?

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 Sendai. 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 Sendai?

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.

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Sendai or Longsheng?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Longsheng is $78, while the average daily cost in Sendai is $105. 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 Longsheng and Sendai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Longsheng $20
    Sendai $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Longsheng $40
    Sendai $118
Compare Hotels in Longsheng and Sendai

Looking for a hotel in Longsheng or Sendai? 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.

Hotels in Longsheng


Hotels in Sendai


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: Sendai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Longsheng $41
    Sendai $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai

Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Longsheng or Sendai?

Prices for flights to both Sendai and Longsheng 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Longsheng $35
    Sendai $33

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Longsheng $8.38
    Sendai $18

Tours and Activities in Sendai

For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
  • Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Longsheng $7.89
    Sendai $11


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

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



When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Sendai?

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 Longsheng or Sendai in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Sendai. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Sendai in the summer. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Sendai fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Longsheng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Sendai. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Longsheng 30°C (86°F) 
    Sendai 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Sendai in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Sendai. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Sendai because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Longsheng is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Longsheng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Sendai averages at about 15°C (59°F).

It's quite rainy in Sendai. Longsheng usually gets less rain in October than Sendai. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Longsheng 23°C (73°F) 
    Sendai 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Sendai in the Winter?

Both Sendai and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sendai in the winter. In January, Longsheng is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 10°C (49°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

In January, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Sendai. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Longsheng 10°C (49°F) 
    Sendai 2°C (35°F)

Should I visit Longsheng or Sendai in the Spring?

Both Sendai and Longsheng during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Longsheng is much warmer than Sendai in the spring. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Sendai fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. Longsheng usually gets more rain in April than Sendai. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Longsheng 20°C (68°F) 
    Sendai 10°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Sendai and Longsheng

Longsheng Sendai
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 5°C (40°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in) 10°C (51°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in) 15°C (60°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in) 19°C (66°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 21°C (69°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 9°C (49°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 4°C (40°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)