A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nagano vs. Manchester for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Nagano or Manchester?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nagano and Manchester 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.

Nagano

Nagano is a traditional, alpine, and scenic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the nightlife, live music, and food.

Nagano and Manchester: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nagano or Manchester?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nagano. Although Nagano and Manchester are popular destinations, Nagano has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nagano is very popular for its skiing, resorts, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Manchester attracts visitors for its music, shopping, and big city activities. Nagano is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its historic temples, beautiful mountain setting, and being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. It is also well known for Zenko-ji Temple. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club.

How is Nagano different from Manchester?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Skiing?

Nagano is great for skiing. However, Manchester is not a skiing destination.

Nagano offers world-class skiing that is fun for everyone. The city hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and many of the skiing events were held at ski resorts in the area. In the Nagano Prefecture you'll find several ski resorts with some of the most popular being the Hakuba ski areas, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko Kogen.

Manchester is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nagano or Manchester?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Nagano and Manchester.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Nagano. The area is filled with history and there are many places to explore. Matsumoto Castle, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Zenko-ji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine are just some of the highlights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Manchester. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Is the Food Better in Nagano or Manchester? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Nagano and Manchester.

Nagano has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find many of Japan's culinary favorites here like ramen, udon, sushi, and sashimi. There are also regional dishes and some comfort food like Tonkatsu and Oyaki Dumplings.

Dining out in Manchester is an experience not to be missed. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find superb options in both Nagano and Manchester.

The nightlife in Nagano has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is varied, from local and intimate venues, to wild and crazy clubs. You'll find all styles and activities such that whatever you're looking for, the city likely won't disappoint.

Manchester offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Music?

Manchester is a great city for its live music scene. However, Nagano is not a live music destination.

Manchester has a thriving music scene. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Nagano is not a live music destination.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Resorts?

Nagano is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Manchester is not a resort destination.

Nagano has a handful of resorts to choose from. You'll find wonderful mountain resorts throughout the entire prefecture.

Manchester is not a resort destination.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for its Old Town?

Nagano is very good for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Nagano is a good destination for visiting its old town. Throughout the prefecture there is a lot of history and charming towns. If you're willing to get out of Nagano City, you can enjoy an area filled with tradition and culture. In particular, Tsumago-juku was the first preserved old town in Japan.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Hiking?

Nagano is great for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Nagano for the hiking trails. The surrounding area is filled with stunning scenery, natural beauty, and beautiful hikes. You'll find shrines and temples, historic villages, nice views, and peaceful walks throughout the region. One of the most unique walks is along the highest road in Japan, the Norikura Echo Line. The route is at 8,800 feet and is lined with ten meter high snow walls. It's open from from late April to the end of June every year.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagano or Manchester?

Manchester is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Manchester is well-known for its shopping. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Many visitors go to Nagano to go shopping. There are a number of shopping streets that are fun to explore including the historic street of Naka-mise. This street is lined with tea shops, cafes, traditional stores, and more. While there aren't a huge number of shopping centers around town, Midori Nagano is one of the biggest.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Families?

Both Nagano and Manchester are superb to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Nagano is very family-friendly. Chibikko Ninja Village is a great place for kids with climbing walls, indoor playgrounds, and more. There are also a number of sports facilities around town, and you can keep the sport theme going with a visit to the Nagano Olympic Museum. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Nagano Chausuyama Zoo and for little kids, the Nagano City Joyama Zoo is nice.

Manchester is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Couples?

Manchester is a great city for its romantic activities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Manchester is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

Nagano is a good city for couples to visit. The city has a lot of history and beauty, making it a romantic destination for couples. There are also outdoor activities as well as a number of sports that you can enjoy.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Nagano and Manchester are nice places to visit.

Nagano is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are several good hostels in the area, as well as some great activities for young travelers, backpackers, and sports enthusiasts.

Plenty of backpackers visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Students?

Manchester is a great city for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Manchester. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Nagano is a good city to visit for students. It's relative affordability combined with its close proximity to Tokyo and laid back populations make this a nice place to study.

Is Nagano or Manchester Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Manchester is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

The public transit in Manchester can get you around easily. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Nagano has a few public transit options. The main station in town is Nagano Station. There's a bus and train system through the area, including buses that run to Zenkoji Temple. There's also a bus that goes to the Togakushi area and takes about an hour. However, renting a car will give you more freedom and efficiency. .

Is Nagano or Manchester a more walkable city?

Nagano and Manchester are nice when it comes to walkability.

Nagano is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable and there are hiking trails around the Togakushi area, where you'll find many shrines and other attractions.

Manchester is a somewhat walkable city. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Nagano Worth Visiting? and Is Manchester Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Manchester or Nagano?

How long in Nagano or Manchester?

It's fun to spend time in either Nagano or Manchester. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Manchester due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Nagano, and 2-4 days is enough time in Manchester.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Manchester than Nagano 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 Manchester.

One day in Nagano or Manchester?

With nightlife and food around the scenic city of Nagano, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Nagano, one day is sufficent for most.

Manchester is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Nagano or Manchester?

With food and shopping around the destination of Nagano, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Manchester 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 Nagano or Manchester?

Nagano, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. 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 Nagano or Manchester?

Nagano is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the dynamic big city of Manchester. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Nagano or Manchester?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Nagano and Manchester, 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 Nagano or Manchester?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Nagano or Manchester in the Summer?

Both Manchester and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nagano in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Nagano is generally much warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 25°C (77°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Nagano usually receives less sunshine than Manchester during summer. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Nagano. In July, Nagano usually receives more rain than Manchester. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nagano or Manchester in the Autumn?

Both Manchester and Nagano during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nagano for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Nagano is a little warmer than Manchester in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Manchester fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Nagano often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 97 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually gets more rain in October than Manchester. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagano or Manchester in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and Manchester. The winter months attract visitors to Nagano because of the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester this time of year.

It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. The weather in Nagano can be very cold. In the winter, Nagano is much colder than Manchester. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nagano in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Manchester averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In Nagano, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during winter. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

Nagano gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Nagano usually receives more rain than Manchester. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nagano or Manchester in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nagano as well as Manchester. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Nagano this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Manchester for the activities around the city.

In April, Nagano is generally a little warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 11°C (52°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Nagano often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 144 hours of full sun.

Nagano usually gets more rain in April than Manchester. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Manchester and Nagano