A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Matsue vs. Atami for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Matsue or Atami?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Matsue and Atami can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Matsue

Matsue is a quiet, peaceful, and pretty town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Atami

Atami is a nostalgic, authentic, and overlooked town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Matsue and Atami: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Atami?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Matsue than Atami, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Matsue is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Atami is more popular for its nightlife and beaches. Matsue is more touristy than Atami and is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Also, Matsue is famous for the Matsue Castle. Atami is well known for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches.

How is Matsue different from Atami?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Matsue or Atami?

Matsue is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Atami. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

Is the Food Better in Matsue or Atami? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Matsue is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Matsue has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Nightlife?

Atami is a town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Atami has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Beaches?

Atami is a town with good options for the beache. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Atami. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a town with good options for its old town. However, Atami does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Matsue. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Atami does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Atami?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Atami and Matsue.

Matsue offers some nice shopping areas. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Atami has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Families?

Both Matsue and Atami are notable to visit with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Matsue. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Atami offers lots of family activities. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Couples?

Both Matsue and Atami are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Matsue makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Atami is a good town for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue and Atami are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Matsue is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Atami. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Is Matsue or Atami Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Matsue can get you around easily. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

You'll find some public transit in Atami, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Is Matsue or Atami a more walkable city?

Matsue is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Matsue is a very walkable town. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Atami is a somewhat walkable town. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Atami Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Atami or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Atami?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Matsue or Atami to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Matsue than Atami because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 1-2 days is enough time in Atami.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Matsue than Atami 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 Matsue.

One day in Matsue or Atami?

In Matsue, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this peaceful destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Atami. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Matsue or Atami?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Atami 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.

Five days in Matsue or Atami?

Matsue is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Matsue. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Atami. 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.

A week in Matsue or Atami?

You'll find food and shopping around the serene destination of Matsue. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the nostalgic destination of Atami. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Atami?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Atami, 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 Matsue or Atami?

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 Matsue or Atami in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Atami. The summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

Matsue is around the same temperature as Atami in the summer. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In the summer, Matsue often gets more sunshine than Atami. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Atami. Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue usually gets more rain in July than Atami. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Atami in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Matsue is around the same temperature as Atami. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Matsue in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Atami averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Matsue usually receives more sunshine than Atami during autumn. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Matsue. In October, Matsue usually receives less rain than Atami. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Matsue or Atami in the Winter?

Both Atami and Matsue during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Atami in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. In January, Matsue is generally cooler than Atami. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 4°C (39°F), and Atami fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In the winter, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Atami. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in January than Atami. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Atami in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Atami. Many visitors come to Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Atami for the beaches during these months.

Matsue is around the same temperature as Atami in the spring. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Matsue usually receives more sunshine than Atami during spring. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

Atami receives a lot of rain in the spring. Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Matsue usually receives less rain than Atami. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Atami and Matsue