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

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.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a interesting, authentic, and welcoming city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Matsue

Matsue is a pretty, serene, and historic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Nagasaki and Matsue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nagasaki or Matsue?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nagasaki than Matsue, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Nagasaki is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Matsue is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Nagasaki is popular for its history, hot spring spas, and local cuisine. It is also home to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Matsue is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere.

How is Nagasaki different from Matsue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Matsue and Nagasaki.

Nagasaki offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Nagasaki Peace Park is a moving tribute to those lost during the atomic bomb attack. Other sights around town include the Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown, Kofukuji Temple, and Huis Ten Bosch.

Many visitors head to Matsue specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Nagasaki or Matsue? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Nagasaki and Matsue both to be excellent destinations.

Nagasaki has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city has a cosmopolitan cuisine which has been influenced by China and several Western cuisines. Popular local dishes include Chanpon (a noodle dish), Sara Udon (meat, vegetables, and noodles), and Kakuni Manju (pork belly on a dough bun).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Matsue makes for a great culinary experience. 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 Nagasaki or Matsue Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Nagasaki know how to have a good time. The best areas for nightlife are the Doza-machi and Shianbashi districts. Shinanbashi is filled with narrow alleys and its easy to get lost.

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 Nagasaki or Matsue Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Nagasaki does not have a historic old town.

Matsue has an old town worth visiting. 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.

Nagasaki does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagasaki or Matsue?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Nagasaki and Matsue.

Nagasaki has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Head to the waterfront for the best shopping opportunities. You'll find everything from malls to souvenir shops around town. You'll also find traditional market streets which are known as shōtengai.

Matsue is a great destination for 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 Nagasaki or Matsue Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Nagasaki or Matsue.

Nagasaki is a family-friendly city. Check out Agiruno Oka Park, which has a small farm and other recreational activities. There are also several kid-friendly museums like the Nagasaki City Science Museum and the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium. There are also many parks and playgrounds as well as the Nagasaki Seaside Park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Matsue. 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 Nagasaki or Matsue Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Nagasaki and Matsue make for a good place to visit.

Nagasaki is a good city for couples to visit. There's a unique cuisine with good restaurants. There are also many parks where couples can take a stroll, as well as relaxing hot springs nearby.

Matsue is a nice destination for couples. 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 Nagasaki or Matsue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nagasaki and Matsue are both good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Nagasaki. There are a number of hostels in the city, but you really should make reservations in advance as they tend to fill up.

Matsue is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

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

Visitors will find excellent public transit in both Nagasaki and Matsue.

The public transit in Nagasaki can get you to most places easily. The city has four tram lines as well as city buses.

Visitors to Matsue can move around easily with public transportation. 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.

Is Nagasaki or Matsue a more walkable city?

Matsue is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Nagasaki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Matsue is a very walkable destination. 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.

Nagasaki is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city can be explored by foot. The downtown is about a kilometer from Nagasaki Station and the Peace Park is several kilometers in the other direction from the station.

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

Should I spend more time in Matsue or Nagasaki?

How long in Nagasaki or Matsue?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nagasaki and Matsue. In our opinion, Matsue has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Matsue than Nagasaki. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Matsue than Nagasaki 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 Matsue.

One day in Nagasaki or Matsue?

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

The beautiful town of Matsue offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Nagasaki or Matsue?

Nagasaki 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Matsue, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Nagasaki or Matsue?

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

Matsue is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Nagasaki or Matsue?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Nagasaki. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Matsue is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

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.

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

Which is Bigger, Nagasaki or Matsue?

Nagasaki has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Nagasaki 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 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. Many visitors come to Nagasaki in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Nagasaki is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Daily temperatures in Nagasaki average around 27°C (81°F), and Matsue fluctuates 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.

Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagasaki and Matsue. Most visitors come to Nagasaki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Matsue because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Nagasaki is a little warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nagasaki averages around 20°C (67°F) in October, and Matsue fluctuates 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.

Should I visit Nagasaki or Matsue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nagasaki as well as Matsue. The winter months attract visitors to Nagasaki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

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 average around 7°C (44°F), and Matsue averages at 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.

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. The activities around the city are the main draw to Nagasaki this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the natural beauty.

In April, Nagasaki is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Nagasaki average around 16°C (60°F), and Matsue fluctuates 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.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Nagasaki