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

Should you visit Mashiko or Te Anau?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mashiko or Te Anau, 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 charming, traditional, and rural town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a stunning, pristine, and breathtaking town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the food and hiking.

Mashiko and Te Anau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mashiko or Te Anau?

Both Te Anau and Mashiko have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Mashiko is more popular for its museums, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Te Anau is known for its food, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Mashiko is popular for its local sake, rural farms, and longstanding tradition in pottery making. Te Anau is popular for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

How is Mashiko different from Te Anau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Te Anau 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 Te Anau?

Mashiko is a town with good options for its museums and history. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Mashiko offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Te Anau offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The town is about the surrounding outdoor activities but you will find the Te Anau Vintage Machinery Museum and the Te Anau Trout Observatory in town.

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

Te Anau 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.

Te Anau has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town makes a great spot to refuel after all of your hiking and outdoor adventures. There are plenty of cafes and food trucks around town where you can enjoy local dishes and a friendly atmosphere.

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 Te Anau Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find decent options in both Mashiko and Te Anau.

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 Te Anau specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. This is a small town that's focused on outdoor activities, but it does receive a number of tourists, so you'll find a few bars around town where you can hang out.

Is Mashiko or Te Anau Better for Hiking?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for hiking. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for the nearby hiking options.

Known for its hiking, Te Anau draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The town serves as basecamp for Fiordland National Park so there are many amazing hikes and walks in the area. Many of the hikes begin at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and range in length and the required skill level.

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 Te Anau?

Mashiko is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options 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.

Te Anau has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are shops where you can pick up any outdoor supplies and food items that you may need.

Is Mashiko or Te Anau Better for Families?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

Te Anau is an amazing family-friendly town to visit. The town's proximity to the Milford Sound make it a nice base for families who enjoy spending time outdoors. Kayaking or exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves are favorite activities in the area. There's also the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and many hikes nearby.

Mashiko is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Mashiko or Te Anau Better for Couples?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Mashiko is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Te Anau has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The stunning scenery in the area, combined with small town charm, make this is a top couple's destination and a wonderful honeymoon spot. Couples who appreciate nature and outdoor adventure will fall in love with this amazing area.

Mashiko is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Mashiko or Te Anau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Te Anau. For such a small town, there are a decent number of hostels and budget accommodation options in the area. The town makes a good base for exploring the region's stunning scenery.

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 Te Anau 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, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Mashiko has some public transit options. There are local trains that stop by the strawberry picking farms. There are also local buses in the area.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Te Anau. Public transit in the area is limited and most visitors have their own car or join one of the many tours in the area.

Is Mashiko or Te Anau a more walkable city?

Mashiko is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options 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.

Te Anau is generally not very walkable. Exploring the area requires a vehicle and, while there are many hikes in the area, it's not easy to walk to many places. There are tours available for those that don't have a vehicle.

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

Should I spend more time in Te Anau or Mashiko?

How long in Mashiko or Te Anau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mashiko and Te Anau. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Te Anau than in Mashiko. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Mashiko, and 1-3 days is enough time in Te Anau.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Te Anau 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 Te Anau.

One day in Mashiko or Te Anau?

Mashiko is a small town with plenty to do. 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.

In Te Anau, you'll find food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. 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 Te Anau?

Mashiko might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Mashiko has to offer.

In Te Anau, you'll find food. 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. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Te Anau has to offer.

Five days in Mashiko or Te Anau?

Mashiko is a great place to explore. 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.

Te Anau 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 Te Anau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mashiko. Since Mashiko is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Te Anau. Many people enjoy the food when visiting Te Anau. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. 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, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.

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

Which is Bigger, Mashiko or Te Anau?

Mashiko has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Mashiko and Te Anau, 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.