Should you visit Nagasaki or Yakushima?
Should I visit Nagasaki or Yakushima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
Which city is cheaper, Yakushima or Nagasaki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagasaki is $97, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $126. 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 Nagasaki and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $102 in Nagasaki For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $64. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Yakushima the cost is $128 on average.
Food
The average traveler spends about $30 per day in Nagasaki 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.
On average, meal and food prices in Yakushima cost around $30 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $12.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nagasaki $30
Yakushima $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, 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
-
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yakushima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yakushima.
-
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
Nagasaki's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $19 per person, per day on transportation in Nagasaki.
The average price of local transportation around Yakushima is $53 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 Nagasaki
Also for Nagasaki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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[5%OFF] Ferry Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Yaeyama Kanko Ferry:
$6.09
-
Nara Kimono and Deer Experience Day Trip from Kyoto (with One Way Transfer):
$10
-
Ferry Roundtrip Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Anei Kanko :
$11
-
Ferry Transfers between Naha and Kume, Tonaki by Kume Shosen :
$11
-
Shared Round-Trip Transfers for Chichibugahama Beach:
$23
-
Private Transfers Between Kokugikan Arena and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Tokyo International Forum and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Equestrian Park and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Nippon Budokan and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Ariake Arena and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Yokohama Port (Osanbashi Terminal) and Tokyo City or Shin Yokohama City:
$32
-
Private City Transfers Between Osaka and Port of Kobe (One Way):
$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yakushima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yakushima:
-
[5%OFF] Ferry Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Yaeyama Kanko Ferry:
$6.09
-
Shared Round-Trip Transfers for Chichibugahama Beach:
$23
-
Shared Night Bus Transfers from Osaka to Tokyo:
$62
-
Shared Night Bus Transfers from Kyoto to Tokyo:
$62
-
Private Transfers Between the New National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$152
-
Private Transfers Between Yoyogi National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$153
-
Private Transfers Between Yokohama Port (Osanbashi Terminal) and Tokyo City or Shin Yokohama City:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Tokyo Stadium and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Tokyo International Forum and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Nippon Budokan and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
-
Private Transfers Between Musashino Forest Sports Plaza and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagasaki or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Nagasaki can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $25 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Yakushima's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $22 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 Nagasaki
For Nagasaki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Beppu Tower Admission Ticket:
$3.65
-
Uzu no Michi and Onaruto Bridge Hall Edy Ticket:
$3.75
-
Yunomoto Onsen Experience in Hokkaido :
$4.09
-
[5% OFF] Akame 48 Watefalls / Ninja Training Experience Discount Ticket in Mie:
$4.35
-
Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko Experience:
$4.39
-
Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch Ticket:
$4.55
-
Roman no Mori Kyowakoku Ticket in Chiba:
$4.55
-
Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 Day, Umeda Pick Up):
$4.55
-
Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Ticket:
$4.85
-
Hida Kanayama Onsen Yutarikan Hot Spring Experience in Gifu:
$4.99
-
Yunokuni no Mori Ticket in Komatsu:
$4.99
-
Museum of Aeronautical Science Admission Ticket :
$5.09
Tours and Activities in Yakushima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:
-
Art Aquarium Museum Ticket in Tokyo:
$21
-
Beppu Tower Admission Ticket:
$3.65
-
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
-
Japanese Culture Experience at Kanda Myoujin Shrine EDOCCO Cha-ya in Tokyo:
$27
-
Kanda Myoujin Rakugo Show Ticket in Tokyo:
$7.29
-
Kanda Myoujin Shrine Experience Ticket in Tokyo:
$45
-
Kouri Ocean Tower Observation Deck Ticket in Okinawa:
$6.99
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Nagasaki spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $6.93 on alcoholic beverages in Yakushima per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagasaki
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagasaki:
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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 Yakushima
Also in Yakushima, 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagasaki and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Nagasaki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nagasaki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagasaki 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 Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima than you might in Nagasaki.
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