A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mashiko vs. Cromwell for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Mashiko or Cromwell?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mashiko or Cromwell, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Mashiko

Mashiko is a rural, quaint, and charming town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the museums, food, and hiking. See Mashiko travel costs.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a outdoorsy, historical, and cultural town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, skiing, and nightlife. See Cromwell travel costs.

Mashiko and Cromwell: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cromwell. Although Mashiko and Cromwell are both popular with visitors, Cromwell has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cromwell is more popular for its skiing, nightlife, and hiking, while Mashiko is known for its shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Mashiko is more touristy than Cromwell and is known for its local sake, rural farms, and longstanding tradition in pottery making. Cromwell is popular for its fruit farms, orchards, and vineyards. It is also home to the big fruit.

How is Mashiko different from Cromwell?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cromwell and Mashiko. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Skiing?

Cromwell is a nice place to visit for skiing. However, Mashiko is not a skiing destination.

Head to Cromwell for some great skiing and other winter activities. The town isn't far from several ski fields, so it attracts winter sports enthusiasts when the weather gets cold.

Mashiko is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mashiko or Cromwell?

You'll find a number of good museums and attractions in both Cromwell and Mashiko.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Mashiko. There are a couple of museums around town that are focused on the local activities such as pottery. You can check out the Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Entsuji Temple.

Cromwell is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting historical activities around town like Goldfields Mining Centre.

Is the Food Better in Mashiko or Cromwell? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Mashiko and Cromwell both to be good destinations.

Mashiko is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around town that serve udon, soba, and other Japanese favorites that use local ingredients.

Cromwell offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are charming cafes and bakeries where you can grab a light meal or snack. There are also quaint restaurants and wineries with nice meals available.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Nightlife?

Cromwell is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Mashiko is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Cromwell has a few options to choose from. There are a few breweries and a number of wineries around town where you can have a relaxing night out.

Most people don't head to Mashiko specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are a couple of bars and pubs around town, but not a huge nightlife scene.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Hiking?

Cromwell is a great town for hiking. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Cromwell for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful walks in the area that take you through diverse landscapes and to impressive views.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Mashiko. There are three mountains in the area with hiking trails that let you experience the Japanese countryside and natural beauty. These mountains are Mt. Amamakisan, Mt.Mitsudoyasan, and Mt. Takadateyama.

Is the Shopping Better in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Mashiko is a great town for its shopping opportunities. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping areas.

Mashiko is well-known for its shopping. Local pottery is the main purchase in town, and there are many shops and local vendors who sell locally made pottery.

Many visitors go to Cromwell to go shopping. There's a farmers market in town as well as several local vendors and cute shops.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Families?

Mashiko and Cromwell are both high quality destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Mashiko. Pottery is the claim to fame in this small town, and kids will thoroughly enjoy taking a children's pottery class. Its the perfect way to immerse them in the local culture in a fun and hands-on way. Farm life, and fruit picking are also popular here.

Cromwell is a very family-friendly place to visit. The lakefront setting means that there are water activities during the warmer months. There are also ski fields nearby for the winter months. Biking and walking are also popular in the area.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Couples?

Mashiko and Cromwell are both high quality to visit as a couple.

Mashiko is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a charming town with local farms, pottery, and sake. Many couples enjoy spending a few days soaking up the local atmosphere and enjoying the simple pleasures.

Cromwell is a very popular place to visit for couples. Cycling, walking, kayaking, and skiing all make this a romantic a charming town to visit as a couple. There are also wineries in the area with beautiful vineyards.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cromwell is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Mashiko is not known for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Cromwell. There are a handful of great hostels in the area and plenty of things to keep backpackers entertained.

Mashiko is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers don't venture to this community, but its seeped in quaint culture and small town atmosphere.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mashiko is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Cromwell is not known for its public transit.

While Mashiko offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local trains that stop by the strawberry picking farms. There are also local buses in the area.

Public transit is generally limited in Cromwell. Public transit around town is limited to a couple of buses.

Is Mashiko or Cromwell a more walkable city?

Mashiko is a great town for its high level of walkability. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Mashiko is a very walkable town. Many people choose to walk around town and the pottery area is about a 20 minute walk from Mashiko Station.

Cromwell is a somewhat walkable town. Parts of the town are walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Mashiko Worth Visiting? and Is Cromwell Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cromwell or Mashiko?

How long in Mashiko or Cromwell?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Mashiko or Cromwell to fill your time. In our opinion, Cromwell has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Cromwell than Mashiko. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cromwell than Mashiko 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 Cromwell.

One day in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Mashiko is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Cromwell, you'll find shopping and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Mashiko is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Mashiko, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Cromwell, you'll find museums and skiing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cromwell has to offer.

Five days in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Mashiko is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Cromwell is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Mashiko or Cromwell?

Mashiko is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cromwell. Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Cromwell. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

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