A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Nagano vs. Matsue for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Nagano or Matsue?

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 Matsue 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 historic, traditional, and alpine city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and skiing.

Matsue

Matsue is a quiet, peaceful, and pretty town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Nagano and Matsue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nagano or Matsue?

You'll generally find more things to do in Nagano than Matsue. Nagano is bigger than Matsue, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Nagano is well known for its historic temples, beautiful mountain setting, and being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Also, Nagano is famous for Zenko-ji Temple. Matsue is well known for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere.

How is Nagano different from Matsue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for Skiing?

Nagano is a great destination for winter skiing. However, Matsue is not a skiing destination.

People head to Nagano specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. 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.

Matsue is not a skiing destination.

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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 Matsue is an experience not to be missed. 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.

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Nagano know how to have a good time. 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.

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 Nagano or Matsue Better for Resorts?

Nagano is a city with good options for its resorts. However, Matsue is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Nagano makes a nice vacation spot. You'll find wonderful mountain resorts throughout the entire prefecture.

Matsue is not a resort destination.

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for its Old Town?

Both Nagano and Matsue have notable historic old towns worth visiting.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Nagano. 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.

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.

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for Hiking?

Nagano is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Nagano. 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.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagano or Matsue?

If you're looking to go shopping, Nagano and Matsue both offer plenty of notable spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Nagano. 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.

Many visitors go to Matsue to go shopping. 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 Nagano or Matsue Better for Families?

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

Nagano is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

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 Nagano or Matsue Better for Couples?

Both Nagano and Matsue are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Nagano makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Matsue is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Nagano and Matsue are notable 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 Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Is Nagano or Matsue Better for Students?

Nagano is a city with good options for students. However, Matsue is not popular with students.

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

Matsue is not popular with students.

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

Matsue is a great town 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 Matsue can get you around 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.

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 Matsue a more walkable city?

Matsue is a great town for its high level of walkability. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Matsue or Nagano?

How long in Nagano or Matsue?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nagano and Matsue. In our opinion, Nagano has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Nagano than Matsue. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Nagano, and 2-3 days is enough time in Matsue.

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

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

One day in Nagano or Matsue?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Nagano. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A weekend in Nagano or Matsue?

Nagano 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.

Matsue 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 Matsue?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nagano. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

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

Travelers enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the alpine destination of Nagano. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quiet destination of Matsue. This town 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

Which is Bigger, Nagano or Matsue?

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

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Nagano or Matsue in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nagano as well as Matsue. The summer months attract visitors to Nagano because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

Nagano is around the same temperature as Matsue in the summer. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In the summer, Nagano often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Nagano receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nagano usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagano or Matsue in the Autumn?

Both Matsue and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nagano this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Nagano is around the same temperature as Matsue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nagano in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Matsue averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Nagano usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue during autumn. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Nagano. In October, Nagano usually receives more rain than Matsue. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nagano or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue and Nagano during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nagano for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Matsue can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Nagano. In January, Nagano is generally much colder than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 2°C (36°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

It's quite sunny in Nagano. In the winter, Nagano often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually gets more rain in January than Matsue. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagano or Matsue in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and Matsue. Many visitors come to Nagano in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the natural beauty during these months.

Nagano is cooler than Matsue in the spring. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Nagano usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue during spring. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Nagano usually receives less rain than Matsue. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Nagano