Should you visit Nagoya or Yakushima?
Should I visit Nagoya 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.
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!
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 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 Yakushima is $129. 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 Yakushima 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.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $65. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Yakushima the cost is $130 on average.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Yakushima cost around $31 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
Nagoya $30
Yakushima $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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Lovelin's Cooking tour and City tour:
$59
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Market Tour and Authentic Nagoya Cuisine Cooking Class With a Local in Her Home:
$92
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Nagoya Home Cooking Class: Nagoya Soul Food "Misokatsu":
$93
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Japanese Food tour in Nagoya:
$123
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Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour:
$130
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Customizable Private Food Tour in Nagoya:
$166
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 Yakushima is $55 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:
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Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Nagoya Station:
$25
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Japan Railway Station Shared Arrival Transfer : Nagoya Station to Nagoya City:
$25
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Nagoya ⇔ Takayama ‐ Gujo Hachiman Bus Transfer:
$33
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Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Chubu Airport:
$101
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Round Trip Chubu Centrair Airport (NGO) Transfer to Nagoya City Center:
$202
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Nagoya Airport 1-Way Charter Transfer:
$239
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Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport:
$267
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Private Departure Airport Transfer: Nagoya to Chubu Airport:
$377
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Nagoya Airport Grand Limousine 1-Way Transfer:
$395
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagoya or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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 $9.34 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Yakushima's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $23 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:
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Shodo Experience in Nagoya:
$54
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Batam Female Tour Guide:
$58
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Nagoya Street Food Walking Tour of Osu:
$59
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Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) Experience near Nagoya:
$61
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Kimono Photo Shoot Experience in Nagoya:
$66
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Making Soba Experience:
$70
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Private Morning Yanagibashi Fish Market and Sushi Tour in Nagoya:
$81
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Private Tour - See the biggest shopping street in Nagoya, gourmet and more!:
$84
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UNESCO Tour to Shiragawago & Takayama - from Nagoya:
$84
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Nagoya / Aichi Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide:
$103
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From Gujo Hachiman & Shirakawago 1-Day Tour with Lunch:
$106
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Private Tour - Visit Atsuta Jingu and Japan's largest castle, Nagoyajo!:
$108
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Nagoya spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $7.10 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 Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
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Guided tour to Japanese Brewery "Kirin Beer" in Nagoya (3hours):
$91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagoya and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Nagoya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nagoya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagoya 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 Nagoya.
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