Should you visit Nara or Chichibu-Tama-Kai?
Should I visit Nara or Chichibu-Tama-Kai? 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.
Nara
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
Chichibu-Tama-Kai
Located at the intersection of the Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano, and Tokyo Prefectures, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park is a national park in Japan webbed with hiking trails and many ancient shrines. Mount Mitake, Mount Mitsumine, and Mount Mito are just three of the eight peaks that tower above the park at over 2000 meters, while rivers sources flowing below include the Arakawa River, Shinano River, Tama River, and Fuefuki River (Fuji River).
Which city is cheaper, Chichibu-Tama-Kai or Nara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $96, while the average daily cost in Chichibu-Tama-Kai is $77. 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 Nara and Chichibu-Tama-Kai in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $58. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Nara the cost is $116 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $76 for a double occupancy room in Chichibu-Tama-Kai If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Nara food costs typically run travelers around $31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Chichibu-Tama-Kai food costs typically run travelers around $27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nara $31
Chichibu-Tama-Kai $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
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Lunch or Dinner with Maiko Experience in Kyoto :
$14
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Instagrammable Cooking Class (Miso-balls):
$23
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Yokohama Lunch, Tea, and Dinner Cruise with Royalwings:
$25
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Online character lunch box cooking class:
$27
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Japanese Rolled Sushi cooking in Tokyo:
$27
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Tokyo West Side Walking and Street Food Tour:
$34
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Hakodate's Famous Ikameshi Cooking Class:
$36
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Cooking Japanese rice in traditional oven at Shikano-fune, Kamado:
$38
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Instagrammable Cooking Class (Casual):
$41
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Okinawa Home Cooking Experience:
$45
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Moby Dick Dinner Cruise in Naha:
$53
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Instagrammable Cooking Class (Special):
$59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chichibu-Tama-Kai
For Chichibu-Tama-Kai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
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
The average price of local transportation around Nara is $6.88 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.
To get around in Chichibu-Tama-Kai, the average visitor spends $22 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
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Private Kansai International Airport (KIX) Transfers for Osaka (Same Day Booking):
$338
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Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo (Same Day Booking):
$323
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Private Kansai International Airport Transfers (KIX) for Kyoto:
$246
-
Private Airport Transfer between New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hokkaido Major Cities:
$209
-
Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo (For Urgent Flight):
$203
-
Private New Chitose Airport Transfers (CTS) for Sapporo, Hoshino Resorts, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, or Surrounding Areas:
$177
-
Private Nagoya Airport (NGO) Transfers for Downtown Nagoya and Surrounding Cities:
$164
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Private Kansai International Airport Transfers (KIX) for Osaka, Nara, & Kobe:
$154
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Private Transfers Between Yoyogi National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$153
-
Private Transfers Between the New National Stadium (Olympic Stadium) and Tokyo City or Airports:
$152
-
Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa:
$150
-
Private Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfers for Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, or Nara:
$150
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chichibu-Tama-Kai
Also for Chichibu-Tama-Kai, 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
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Nara Kimono and Deer Experience Day Trip from Kyoto (with One Way Transfer):
$10
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Ferry Roundtrip Transfers from Ishigaki Island by Anei Kanko :
$11
-
Ferry Transfers between Naha and Kume, Tonaki by Kume Shosen :
$11
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Shared Round-Trip Transfers for Chichibugahama Beach:
$23
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Private Transfers Between Tokyo International Forum and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
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Private Transfers Between Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and Tokyo City or Airports:
$32
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Private Transfers Between Yokohama Port (Osanbashi Terminal) and Tokyo City or Shin Yokohama City:
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Osaka and Port of Kobe (One Way):
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Kyoto and Port of Kobe (One Way):
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Port of Kobe and Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto (One Way):
$32
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Private City Transfers Between Tokyo and Kamakura/Shin-Yokohama (One Way):
$32
Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Chichibu-Tama-Kai?
Prices for flights to both Chichibu-Tama-Kai and Nara 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
Nara's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $8.85 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.
In Chichibu-Tama-Kai, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $7.96 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Nara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
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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
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Hakone Kowaki-en Yunessun Hot Spring Theme Park One Day Ticket :
$21
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Hakone Segway Tours:
$82
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Izu Teddy Bear Museum Admission Ticket:
$13
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Japanese Culture Experience at Kanda Myoujin Shrine EDOCCO Cha-ya in Tokyo:
$27
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Kanda Myoujin Rakugo Show Ticket in Tokyo:
$7.29
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Kanda Myoujin Shrine Experience Ticket in Tokyo:
$45
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Kouri Ocean Tower Observation Deck Ticket in Okinawa:
$6.99
Tours and Activities in Chichibu-Tama-Kai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chichibu-Tama-Kai.
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Beppu Tower Admission Ticket:
$3.65
-
Uzu no Michi and Onaruto Bridge Hall Edy Ticket:
$3.75
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Yunomoto Onsen Experience in Hokkaido :
$4.09
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[5% OFF] Akame 48 Watefalls / Ninja Training Experience Discount Ticket in Mie:
$4.35
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Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko Experience:
$4.39
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Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 Day, Umeda Pick Up):
$4.55
-
Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch Ticket:
$4.55
-
Roman no Mori Kyowakoku Ticket in Chiba:
$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
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Museum of Aeronautical Science Admission Ticket :
$5.09
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Nara per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Chichibu-Tama-Kai, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.26.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nara
Also in Nara, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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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 Chichibu-Tama-Kai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chichibu-Tama-Kai:
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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 Nara and Chichibu-Tama-Kai, we can see that Nara is more expensive. And not only is Chichibu-Tama-Kai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chichibu-Tama-Kai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chichibu-Tama-Kai 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara than you might in Chichibu-Tama-Kai.
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