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

Should you visit Matsue or Newcastle?

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 Newcastle 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Newcastle

Newcastle is a vibrant, high energy, and trendy city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Matsue and Newcastle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Newcastle?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Newcastle than Matsue, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Newcastle is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, hiking, shopping, and big city activities, while Matsue is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Matsue is more touristy than Newcastle and is known for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Newcastle is popular for its bustling harbor, sandy beaches, and coastal walks. It is also home to the Bathers Way.

How is Matsue different from Newcastle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Newcastle. There are some interesting sights around town such as Nobbys Lighthouse. There's also the popular Ocean Baths. These pools offer a nice break from the surf. You can also check out the sights along the Newcastle Memorial Walk. For a history lesson, head to Fort Scratchley.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Matsue and Newcastle 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.

Newcastle has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a moderately sized city, so you'll find a good mix of restaurants. Head to the beachfront if you want fine dining and good seafood. There are also some good breweries and cafes, as well as brunch places and international flavors around town.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for Nightlife?

Newcastle is a great destination for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

The people in Newcastle know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city, and the best nightlife can be found in the Honeysuckle Precinct. This is where you'll find the largest number of bars and pubs. Hunter Street is also a cool hangout area where you'll find the hidden gems where the locals hang out. Civic Theatre is the place to see a show.

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 Newcastle Better for Beaches?

Newcastle is a great destination for the beache. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Newcastle attract visitors from all over. There are a number of beaches in and near the city. Nobbys Beach is the most popular and you'll find families, surfers, and locals hanging out here. Newcastle Beach is also popular with its many restaurants and cafes.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Newcastle does not have a historic old town.

Matsue offers a nice historic old town area. 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.

Newcastle does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for Hiking?

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

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Newcastle. There are many places to enjoy a stroll or hike near town. The most famous walk is the Bathers Way Walk, which runs along the coastline and offers spectacular views. It's particularly nice during the winter whale watching season.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Newcastle?

Newcastle is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Newcastle is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. It's gained popularity for its trendy fashions and chic style. You'll find great shopping around town that highlight both local and international brands.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for Families?

Both Matsue and Newcastle are good 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.

Newcastle offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the long sandy beaches, but there's also a working harbor that you can explore. You can also visit the Newcastle Museum or try one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for Couples?

Both Matsue and Newcastle are good 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.

Newcastle is a good town for couples to visit. The city has some great restaurants as well as many coastal walks and a vibrant nightlife scene that couples enjoy.

Is Matsue or Newcastle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue and Newcastle are good 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 Newcastle. While it's not Australia's most popular backpacker destination, there are some hostels and a good nightlife scene that are worth checking out.

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

Matsue is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Matsue can get you to most places 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.

Newcastle has some public transit options. There's both a light rail system and a bus system.

Is Matsue or Newcastle a more walkable city?

Matsue is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

Matsue is a very walkable destination. 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.

Newcastle is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Newcastle or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Newcastle?

It's fun to spend time in either Matsue or Newcastle. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Newcastle due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 2-4 days is enough time in Newcastle.

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

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

One day in Matsue or Newcastle?

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Matsue. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Newcastle. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Matsue or Newcastle?

You'll find museums and food around the pretty destination of Matsue. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Newcastle 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 Newcastle?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the peaceful town of Matsue. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Newcastle. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Newcastle?

Matsue is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal destination of Newcastle. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.

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

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Newcastle?

Newcastle has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Newcastle, 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 Newcastle?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Newcastle 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 Newcastle in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Newcastle. Many travelers come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Newcastle in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Matsue is a little warmer than Newcastle. Typically, the summer temperatures in Matsue in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Newcastle averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Newcastle this time of the year. In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Newcastle during summer. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Newcastle receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.

Newcastle receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Matsue usually receives more rain than Newcastlein January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Matsue or Newcastle in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Newcastle. Many visitors come to Matsue in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Newcastle for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Matsue is generally cooler than Newcastlein April. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 17°C (62°F), and Newcastle fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In the autumn, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Newcastlein April. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Newcastle receives 199 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Newcastle. Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Matsue usually gets more rain in October than Newcastlein April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Newcastle in the Winter?

Both Newcastle and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Newcastle because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Matsue can be very cold during winter. Matsue is much colder than Newcastle in the winter. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Newcastle fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Newcastle. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Newcastle during winter. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Newcastle receives 206 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. In January, Matsue usually receives more rain than Newcastlein July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Matsue or Newcastle in the Spring?

Both Newcastle and Matsue during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Matsue because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Newcastle this time of year.

In the spring, Matsue is cooler than Newcastle. Typically, the spring temperatures in Matsue in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Newcastle averages at about 18°C (64°F)in October.

In Newcastle, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Newcastlein October. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Newcastle receives 237 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in April than Newcastlein October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Newcastle and Matsue