A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Matsue vs. Canberra for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Matsue or Canberra?

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 Canberra 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 pretty, serene, and historic town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Canberra

Canberra is a cultural, diverse, and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Matsue and Canberra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Canberra?

You'll generally find more things to do in Canberra than Matsue. Canberra is bigger than Matsue, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Canberra is better known for its nightlife, hiking, and big city activities, while Matsue is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Matsue is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Canberra is well known for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. Also, Canberra is famous for the Australian War Memorial.

How is Matsue different from Canberra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Matsue and Canberra.

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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Canberra. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Matsue and Canberra can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Matsue. 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.

Canberra has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Nightlife?

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

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

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 Canberra Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a popular place for its old town. However, Canberra 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.

Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a city with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Canberra. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Canberra?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Canberra 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.

Canberra has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Families?

Canberra is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Canberra is a very kid-friendly city. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. 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.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Couples?

Both Matsue and Canberra 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.

Canberra is a good town for couples to visit. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Matsue or Canberra Better for Students?

Canberra is a great destination for students. However, Matsue is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Canberra. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Matsue is not popular with students.

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

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Matsue has some very good public transit options. 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 Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Matsue or Canberra a more walkable city?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Canberra 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.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable town. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

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

Should I spend more time in Canberra or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Canberra?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Matsue and Canberra. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Matsue than Canberra. 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 Canberra 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 Canberra?

The beautiful town of Matsue offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Canberra. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Matsue or Canberra?

Matsue 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 Matsue, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Canberra 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 Canberra?

Matsue 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.

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

Matsue 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Canberra. This city 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 Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Matsue and Canberra, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Matsue is in Asia and Canberra 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 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Canberra?

Canberra has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Canberra, 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 Canberra?

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

Should I visit Matsue or Canberra in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Canberra. Many travelers come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Canberra in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Matsue is a little warmer than Canberra in the summer. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Canberra fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue usually gets more rain in July than Canberrain January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Canberra in the Autumn?

Both Canberra and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Matsue in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Matsue is around the same temperature as Canberra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Matsue in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Canberra averages at about 17°C (63°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Canberra. It's quite rainy in Matsue. In October, Matsue usually receives more rain than Canberrain April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Matsue or Canberra in the Winter?

Both Canberra and Matsue during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Canberra because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Matsue can be very cold during winter. In January, Matsue is generally much colder than Canberrain July. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 4°C (39°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in January than Canberrain July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Canberra in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Canberra. The spring months attract visitors to Matsue because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.

Matsue is cooler than Canberra in the spring. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Canberra fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in October.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Matsue usually receives more rain than Canberrain October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Canberra and Matsue