A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Kailash vs. Sapporo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Sapporo?

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

Should I visit Mount Kailash or Sapporo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mount Kailash or Sapporo?

Mount Kailash

The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.

Sapporo

Capital of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city surrounded by mountains and known for its beer, skiing, and annual snow festival with stunning ice sculptures. As host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, the city limits are dotted with ski jumps, hills, and popular ski resorts still in use today.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Sapporo or Mount Kailash?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Mount Kailash Prices
    China Prices
    Sapporo Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mount Kailash $95
    Sapporo $123

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $95, while the average daily cost in Sapporo is $123. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mount Kailash and Sapporo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $29
    Sapporo $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $58
    Sapporo $122
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Sapporo

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Sapporo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Mount Kailash


Hotels in Sapporo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sapporo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Kailash $33
    Sapporo $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sapporo

Also for Sapporo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport: Private One-Way Transfer: $160
  • CTS New Chitose Airport To/From Sappro Private Transfer: $224
  • Private Airport Transfer: Sapporo City→ New Chitose Airport (CTS): $150
  • Private Transfer from Sapporo Airport(CTS) to Muroran Cruise Port: $272
  • Private Transfer from Sapporo City Hotels to Otaru Cruise Port: $112
  • Private Transfer- Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Otaru Port: $166
  • Sapporo City: Private Transfer to/from New Chitose Airport: $132
  • Sapporo to Chitose Airport Private Transfer | Licensed Driver: $275
  • New Chitose Airport (CTS) Private Transfer: $284
  • Shin Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo City: Shared Transfer: $93
  • [Airport Transfer] Smoothly move between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport with a private car! one way: $212

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Sapporo?

Prices for flights to both Sapporo and Mount Kailash change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mount Kailash $45
    Sapporo $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sapporo

For Sapporo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Japanese Cooking Class in Sapporo with Local Host Kanae: $72
  • Japanese Cooking Class in the Heart of Sapporo with Sakura: $72
  • Private Market Tour and Cooking Class with Kanae, a Sapporo Local: $82
  • Izakaya & Street Food Tour (10+ Dishes, Drinks Included): $102
  • Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $17
    Sapporo $16

Tours and Activities in Sapporo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sapporo.

  • JR Tower Observatory Admission Ticket: $4.33
  • Sapporo TV Tower Admission Ticket: $6.76
  • Historical Village of Hokkaido Entry Ticket: $6.76
  • Sapporo Highlights: Golden Route Morning Guided Walking Tour: $30
  • Chopsticks Making Experience in Sapporo: $42
  • Sapporo Highlights: Golden Route Morning Walking Tour: $43
  • Hokkaido Shrine Tour with Rituals, History & Sweets: $43
  • Tour of the Historic Red Brick Government Office: $50
  • [Late Departure] Biei Best 5 Must-Visit Day Tour from Sapporo: $56
  • Popular in SapporoExperience authentic hand-made soba at a real soba shop!: $56
  • Beer Museum Tour with Tasting of Local Brews: $57
  • Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Niseko Day Tour from Sapporo: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.96
    Sapporo $7.67

Sample the Local Flavors in Sapporo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sapporo:

  • Hokkaido Day Tour from Otaru to Yoichi Distillery: $90
  • 1-Day Tour The port city of Otaru & Local Brewery: $178


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Sapporo, we can see that Sapporo is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Kailash would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Kailash 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 Sapporo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sapporo than you might in Mount Kailash.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Sapporo Expensive?.