A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Nara vs. Ise for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Nara or Ise?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Nara or Ise? 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.

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.

Ise

A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.

Which city is cheaper, Ise or Nara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $78, while the average daily cost in Ise is $80. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nara and Ise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nara $47
    Ise $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nara $94
    Ise $76

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nara $5.55
    Ise $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Ise?

Prices for flights to both Ise 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nara $25
    Ise $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.

  • Cooking Japanese rice in traditional oven at Shikano-fune, Kamado: $38

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nara $7.14
    Ise $5.25

Tours and Activities in Nara

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:

  • [Virtual Tour] Enjoy Japanese Ancient City (Nara) with Friendly Deer: $12
  • All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour!: $30
  • Japanese Calligraphy Experience in Nara: $35
  • Nara Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $36
  • Nara Craft Tours - local Craft beers tour experience in Nara City: $40
  • Heijo Palace Walking Tour (Half Day): $43
  • Sushi Making Experience Umemori Sushi School Nara/Kyoto/Osaka: $45
  • Big Buddha, Bambi and Backstreets Cultural Tour: $59
  • Nara Todai-ji Lazy Bird Tour: $64
  • Nara Lazy Bird Tour: $80
  • Half-Day UNESCO Heritage & Local Culture Walking Tour: $88
  • Discover Traditional Nara Walking Tour (Half day): $91

Tours and Activities in Ise

Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Ise Grand Shrine Private Guided Tour: $88
  • Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $98
  • Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $123
  • Private Tour - Wonder at the Spirituality of Shinto's Sacred Sites in Ise: $133

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nara $10
    Ise $4.07

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Nara and Ise, we can see that Ise is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Related Articles for Ise
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Nara vs. Ise Travel Comparison

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