A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mashiko vs. Picton for Food, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Mashiko or Picton?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mashiko or Picton, 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 quaint, charming, and traditional town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping. See Mashiko travel costs.

Picton

Picton is a picturesque, scenic, and quaint town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and beaches. See Picton travel costs.

Mashiko and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mashiko or Picton?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Picton. Although Mashiko and Picton are popular destinations, Picton has more sights and attractions for tourists. Picton is very popular for its food, beaches, and hiking, while Mashiko attracts visitors for its shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Mashiko is famous for its local sake, rural farms, and longstanding tradition in pottery making. Picton is famous for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails. It is also well known for the Queen Charlotte Track.

How is Mashiko different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Picton 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.

Picton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

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

Picton is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Picton has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

Mashiko offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around town that serve udon, soba, and other Japanese favorites that use local ingredients.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find reasonable options in both Mashiko and Picton.

Mashiko doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of bars and pubs around town, but not a huge nightlife scene.

Most people don't head to Picton specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Beaches?

Picton is a great town for the beach. However, Mashiko is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Picton. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

Mashiko is not a beach destination.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Hiking?

Picton 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 Picton for the hiking trails. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

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 Picton?

Mashiko is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Mashiko. Local pottery is the main purchase in town, and there are many shops and local vendors who sell locally made pottery.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Picton. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Families?

Mashiko and Picton are both great 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.

Picton is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Couples?

Mashiko and Picton are both great 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.

Picton is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

Is Mashiko or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Mashiko is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Picton. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

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 Picton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mashiko and Picton both offer nice public transit to get you around.

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.

Picton has a few public transit options. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Mashiko or Picton a more walkable city?

Mashiko and Picton are great when it comes to walkability.

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

Picton is very walkable. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Picton or Mashiko?

How long in Mashiko or Picton?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Picton than Mashiko. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Picton that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton 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 Picton.

One day in Mashiko or Picton?

Mashiko might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Picton, you'll find museums and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 Picton?

Mashiko is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

In Picton, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Picton has to offer.

Five days in Mashiko or Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mashiko. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Picton is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the 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 Picton?

Mashiko is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Picton. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Picton. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.

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

Which is Bigger, Mashiko or Picton?

Mashiko has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Mashiko and Picton, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Mashiko or Picton?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Picton is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Mashiko has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Mashiko or Picton in the Summer?

Both Picton and Mashiko during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mashiko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Picton in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Mashiko is a little warmer than Picton in the summer. The daily temperature in Mashiko averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Picton fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mashiko. Mashiko usually gets more rain in July than Pictonin January. Mashiko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mashiko or Picton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mashiko and Picton. Many visitors come to Mashiko in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Picton for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In the autumn, Mashiko is around the same temperature as Picton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mashiko in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Picton averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.

Mashiko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mashiko usually receives more rain than Pictonin April. Mashiko gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mashiko or Picton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mashiko as well as Picton. Most visitors come to Mashiko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Picton because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mashiko can be very cold during winter. In January, Mashiko is generally much colder than Pictonin July. Daily temperatures in Mashiko average around 3°C (38°F), and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

It's quite rainy in Picton. Mashiko usually gets less rain in January than Pictonin July. Mashiko gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mashiko or Picton in the Spring?

Both Picton and Mashiko are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches and the small town charm are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

Mashiko is around the same temperature as Picton in the spring. The daily temperature in Mashiko averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Picton fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Mashiko. In April, Mashiko usually receives more rain than Pictonin October. Mashiko gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Picton and Mashiko