Should you visit Nagoya or Matsue?
Should I visit Nagoya or Matsue? 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.
Nagoya
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!
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.
Which city is cheaper, Matsue or Nagoya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagoya is $98, while the average daily cost in Matsue is $73. 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 Nagoya and Matsue in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $102 in Nagoya For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Matsue is $58. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
While meal prices in Nagoya can vary, the average travelers spends about $30 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Nagoya should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Nagoya is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
In Matsue travelers spend around $31 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nagoya $30
Matsue $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya
For Nagoya, 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
-
Yokohama Lunch, Tea, and Dinner Cruise with Royalwings:
$25
-
Japanese Rolled Sushi cooking in Tokyo:
$27
-
Online character lunch box cooking class:
$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
-
Lovelin's Cooking tour and City tour:
$59
-
Instagrammable Cooking Class (Special):
$59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Matsue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Matsue.
-
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
Nagoya'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 $12 per person, per day on transportation in Nagoya.
The average price of local transportation around Matsue is $22 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 Nagoya
Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
1 Day Fuji Q Liner Pass with Two Way Transfer from Tokyo:
$76
-
Ferry Roundtrip Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Anei Kanko :
$11
-
Ferry Transfers between Naha and Kume, Tonaki by Kume Shosen :
$11
-
Japan Railway Station Shared Arrival Transfer : Nagoya Station to Nagoya City:
$25
-
Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Nagoya Station:
$25
-
Mount Fuji Climbing Tour with Accommodation & Transfer from Shinjuku/Tokyo/Yokohama/Nishi Funabashi:
$121
-
Nagoya Airport 1-Way Charter Transfer:
$239
-
Nagoya Airport Grand Limousine 1-Way Transfer:
$395
-
Nagoya ⇔ Takayama ‐ Gujo Hachiman Bus Transfer:
$33
-
Nara Kimono and Deer Experience Day Trip from Kyoto (with One Way Transfer):
$10
-
Private Airport Transfer between New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hokkaido Major Cities:
$209
-
Private Airport Transfer between Tokyo 23 Wards/Tokyo Disneyland and Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport:
$125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Matsue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Matsue:
-
[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 Nagoya or Matsue?
Prices for flights to both Matsue and Nagoya 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 Nagoya can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Matsue's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $9.83 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 Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
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
-
Yunokuni no Mori Ticket in Komatsu:
$4.99
-
Hida Kanayama Onsen Yutarikan Hot Spring Experience in Gifu:
$4.99
-
Museum of Aeronautical Science Admission Ticket :
$5.09
Tours and Activities in Matsue
Here are a few actual costs in Matsue for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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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 Nagoya spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Matsue may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.64 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
-
Hiroshima Sake Brewery Guided Tour in "Saijo", one of the three largest Japanese Sake spot:
$12
-
Guided tour to Japanese Brewery "Kirin Beer" in Nagoya (3hours):
$91
Sample the Local Flavors in Matsue
Also in Matsue, 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 Nagoya and Matsue, we can see that Nagoya 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 Nagoya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagoya than you might in Matsue.
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