Should you visit Nagano or Koyasan?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Nagano and Koyasan can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Nagano
Nagano city and its surrounding prefecture of Japan is a temple region built around Zenkoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple that overlooks the city. Nagano was also home to the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, with some facilities still existing around town. And then there is the forested mountain Togakushi area to the northwest, which is another draw of Nagano, known for its shrines and status as the home of the Togakure Ninja School.
Koyasan
Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.
Which city is cheaper, Koyasan or Nagano?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagano is $100, while the average daily cost in Koyasan is $87. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nagano and Koyasan in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $136 for a double occupancy room in Nagano If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $88 for a double occupancy room in Koyasan.
Food
Food in Nagano costs travelers about $25 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Koyasan for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nagano $25
Koyasan $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagano
For Nagano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Lunch or Dinner with Maiko Experience in Kyoto :
$14
-
Instagrammable Cooking Class (Miso-balls):
$23
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Yokohama Lunch, Tea, and Dinner Cruise with Royalwings:
$25
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Online character lunch box cooking class:
$27
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Japanese Rolled Sushi cooking in Tokyo:
$27
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Tokyo West Side Walking and Street Food Tour:
$34
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Hakodate's Famous Ikameshi Cooking Class:
$36
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Instagrammable Cooking Class (Casual):
$41
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Okinawa Home Cooking Experience:
$45
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Moby Dick Dinner Cruise in Naha:
$53
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Instagrammable Cooking Class (Special):
$59
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Morning Wagyu Kaiseki Cooking Course:
$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koyasan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koyasan.
-
Lunch or Dinner with Maiko Experience in Kyoto :
$14
-
Instagrammable Cooking Class (Miso-balls):
$23
-
Yokohama Lunch, Tea, and Dinner Cruise with Royalwings:
$25
-
Online character lunch box cooking class:
$27
-
Japanese Rolled Sushi cooking in Tokyo:
$27
-
Tokyo West Side Walking and Street Food Tour:
$34
-
Hakodate's Famous Ikameshi Cooking Class:
$36
-
Instagrammable Cooking Class (Casual):
$41
-
Okinawa Home Cooking Experience:
$45
-
Moby Dick Dinner Cruise in Naha:
$53
-
Instagrammable Cooking Class (Special):
$59
-
Morning Wagyu Kaiseki Cooking Course:
$60
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Nagano than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $11 on transportation in Nagano on average per day.
The average price of local transportation around Koyasan is $37 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagano
Also for Nagano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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1 Day Fuji Q Liner Pass with Two Way Transfer from Tokyo:
$76
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Ferry Roundtrip Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Anei Kanko :
$11
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Ferry Transfers between Naha and Kume, Tonaki by Kume Shosen :
$11
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Mount Fuji Climbing Tour with Accommodation & Transfer from Shinjuku/Tokyo/Yokohama/Nishi Funabashi:
$121
-
Nara Kimono and Deer Experience Day Trip from Kyoto (with One Way Transfer):
$10
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Private Airport Transfer between New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hokkaido Major Cities:
$209
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Private Airport Transfer between Tokyo 23 Wards/Tokyo Disneyland and Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport:
$125
-
Private Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) Transfer for Nagoya, Legoland, and Central Japan:
$146
-
Private City Transfers Between Kyoto and Port of Kobe (One Way):
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Osaka and Port of Kobe (One Way):
$32
-
Private City Transfers Between Port of Kobe and Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto (One Way):
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Tokyo and Kamakura/Shin-Yokohama (One Way):
$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koyasan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koyasan:
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Private Kansai International Airport (KIX) Transfers for Osaka (Same Day Booking):
$338
-
Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo (Same Day Booking):
$323
-
Private Kansai International Airport Transfers (KIX) for Kyoto:
$246
-
Private Airport Transfer between New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hokkaido Major Cities:
$209
-
Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo (For Urgent Flight):
$203
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Private New Chitose Airport Transfers (CTS) for Sapporo, Hoshino Resorts, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, or Surrounding Areas:
$177
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Private Nagoya Airport (NGO) Transfers for Downtown Nagoya and Surrounding Cities:
$164
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Private Kansai International Airport Transfers (KIX) for Osaka, Nara, & Kobe:
$154
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Private Transfers Between Yoyogi National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$153
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Private Transfers Between the New National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$152
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Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa:
$150
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Private Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfers for Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, or Nara:
$150
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagano or Koyasan?
Prices for flights to both Koyasan and Nagano 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Nagano, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $9.10 per day, per person.
Koyasan's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Nagano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nagano.
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Beppu Tower Admission Ticket:
$3.65
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Uzu no Michi and Onaruto Bridge Hall Edy Ticket:
$3.75
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Yunomoto Onsen Experience in Hokkaido :
$4.09
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[5% OFF] Akame 48 Watefalls / Ninja Training Experience Discount Ticket in Mie:
$4.35
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Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko Experience:
$4.39
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Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch Ticket:
$4.55
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Roman no Mori Kyowakoku Ticket in Chiba:
$4.55
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Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 Day, Umeda Pick Up):
$4.55
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Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Ticket:
$4.85
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Hida Kanayama Onsen Yutarikan Hot Spring Experience in Gifu:
$4.99
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Yunokuni no Mori Ticket in Komatsu:
$4.99
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Museum of Aeronautical Science Admission Ticket :
$5.09
Tours and Activities in Koyasan
Here are a few actual costs in Koyasan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Art Aquarium Museum Ticket in Tokyo:
$21
-
Beppu Tower Admission Ticket:
$3.65
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Chiba Mother Farm Ticket Tokyo:
$12
-
Hakodate-Onuma Segway Tours:
$82
-
Hakone Kamakura 3-Day Ticket Pass:
$63
-
Hakone Kowaki-en Yunessun Hot Spring Theme Park One Day Ticket :
$21
-
Hakone Segway Tours:
$82
-
Izu Teddy Bear Museum Admission Ticket:
$13
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Japanese Culture Experience at Kanda Myoujin Shrine EDOCCO Cha-ya in Tokyo:
$27
-
Kanda Myoujin Rakugo Show Ticket in Tokyo:
$7.29
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Kanda Myoujin Shrine Experience Ticket in Tokyo:
$45
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Kouri Ocean Tower Observation Deck Ticket in Okinawa:
$6.99
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Koyasan may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.46 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagano
Also in Nagano, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Hiroshima Sake Brewery Guided Tour in "Saijo", one of the three largest Japanese Sake spot:
$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Koyasan
Also in Koyasan, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Hiroshima Sake Brewery Guided Tour in "Saijo", one of the three largest Japanese Sake spot:
$12
When comparing the travel costs between Nagano and Koyasan, we can see that Nagano is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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