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

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Should you visit Nara or Kamakura?

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

Should I visit Nara or Kamakura? 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.

Kamakura

An old city center of medieval Japan, Kamakura sits today on the seaside just south of Tokyo. Due to its early beginnings, the city is dotted with Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. It has become a prominent resort town drawing visitors with its many historic landmarks as well as nearby beaches.

Which city is cheaper, Kamakura 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 Kamakura is $93. 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 Kamakura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nara $47
    Kamakura $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nara $94
    Kamakura $134

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nara $5.55
    Kamakura $13

Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Kamakura?

Prices for flights to both Kamakura 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
    Kamakura $18

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kamakura

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

  • Kamakura Japanese Soba Noodles Cooking Class with a Master: $70
  • Cooking and Japanese Garden Party in an Authentic Traditional House: $107

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nara $7.14
    Kamakura $5.04

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 Kamakura

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

  • Exciting Kamakura - Online Tour: $7.87
  • Kamakura Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $25
  • Kamakura Kotoku-in and Hasedera Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide: $38
  • Kamakura Private Custom Tour Led by Local Students: $42
  • Homemade Sushi and Supermarket Tour in Kamakura: $59
  • Kimono Dress Experience in Kamakura with Door to Door Pick Up from hotel: $74
  • Kamakura Old Capital Walking Tour with the Great Buddha: $97
  • Private Tour - First time in Kamakura? Enjoy a Tour of All Must-sees!: $98
  • Daibutsu Hiking Trail Tour with Local Guide: $109
  • Samurai Photo Tours: A Fun Day Out Discovering Kamakura: $113
  • Private Tour - Introducing all the Famous Spots in Kamakura and Enoshima!: $113
  • Kamakura Zen Art, Zen Philosophy, and Zazen Experience at Zen Temple: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nara $10
    Kamakura $12

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nara and Kamakura, we can see that Kamakura is more expensive. And not only is Nara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nara 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 Kamakura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kamakura than you might in Nara.

Related Articles for Kamakura
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Nara vs. Kamakura Travel Comparison

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