Which city is cheaper, Matsue or Nagasaki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Nagasaki vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Nagasaki or Matsue?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue? 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: Nagasaki or Matsue?
Nagasaki
Set in a natural harbor on the northwest coast of Japan, Nagasaki is a Japanese city synonymous with a key moment during WWII after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in 1945. While the event is memorialized at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the city in no way is defined by the event. Today it exists as a culturally and religiously diverse port town with a certain charm amongst the terraces of surrounding hills.
Matsue
Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNagasaki $101Matsue $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagasaki is $101, while the average daily cost in Matsue is $74. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nagasaki and Matsue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNagasaki $53Matsue $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNagasaki $106Matsue $58
Compare Hotels in Nagasaki and Matsue
Looking for a hotel in Nagasaki or Matsue? 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.
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: Nagasaki Hotel Prices and Matsue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nagasaki $20Matsue $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagasaki
Also for Nagasaki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Nagasaki Airport to/from Nagasaki City: Shared Transfer: $56
- Nagasaki City to Nagasaki International Airport Private Departure Transfer: $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagasaki or Matsue?
Prices for flights to both Matsue and Nagasaki 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
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Food Meals for one dayNagasaki $31Matsue $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Street Food Tour Of Nagasaki: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nagasaki $26Matsue $9.95
Tours and Activities in Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Nagasaki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Gunkanjima Digital Museum Attraction Ticket: $15
- Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $36
- Taste Local Life: Nagasaki's Historical Street Walking Tour: $95
- Nagasaki's Hidden Gems: Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $103
- Private Tour with Local Guide: $105
- Nagasaki Half-Day Sightseeing Tour with 1-day Tram Ticket: $108
- Nagasaki Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $118
- Nagasaki Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $138
- Must-See Nagasaki With A Local: Private & Personalized Walking Experience: $177
- Nagasaki Custom Full Day Tour: $236
Tours and Activities in Matsue
Here are a few actual costs in Matsue for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adachi Museum Private Customized Guided Tour from Matsue: $396
- Private Customized Tour with Izumo Taisha Shrine: $88
- Romantic Tour In Matsue: $496
- The best of Matsue walking tour: $496
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNagasaki $12Matsue $7.74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagasaki and Matsue, we can see that Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagasaki than you might in Matsue.
When is the best time to visit Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki or Matsue in the Summer?
Both Matsue and Nagasaki during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Nagasaki is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Temperatures in Nagasaki average around 27°C (81°F), and Matsue stays around 25°C (78°F).
In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Nagasaki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue. Nagasaki gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 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 Nagasaki. Nagasaki usually gets more rain in July than Matsue. Nagasaki gets 334 mm (13.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNagasaki 27°C (81°F)Matsue 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagasaki and Matsue.
Nagasaki is a little warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The temperature in Nagasaki is usually 20°C (67°F) in October, and Matsue stays around 17°C (62°F).
Nagasaki usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during autumn. Nagasaki gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nagasaki gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nagasaki usually receives less rain than Matsue. Nagasaki gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNagasaki 20°C (67°F)Matsue 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nagasaki as well as Matsue.
It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. In the winter, Nagasaki is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nagasaki in January are around 7°C (44°F), and Matsue is about 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Nagasaki often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Nagasaki gets 112 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Matsue. Nagasaki usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Nagasaki gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNagasaki 7°C (44°F)Matsue 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue in the Spring?
Both Matsue and Nagasaki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Nagasaki is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Temperatures in Nagasaki average around 16°C (60°F), and Matsue stays around 13°C (55°F).
Nagasaki usually receives less sunshine than Matsue during spring. Nagasaki gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Nagasaki. In April, Nagasaki usually receives more rain than Matsue. Nagasaki gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNagasaki 16°C (60°F)Matsue 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Matsue and Nagasaki
| Nagasaki | Matsue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (44°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (45°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 334 mm (13.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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