Which place is cheaper, Matsue or Nara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Nara vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Nara or Matsue?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nara or Matsue? 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.
Where Should I go: Nara or Matsue?
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNara $95Matsue $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Nara is $95, while the average daily cost in Matsue is $71. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nara and Matsue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNara $57Matsue $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNara $114Matsue $56
Compare Hotels in Nara and Matsue
Looking for a hotel in Nara or Matsue? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nara Hotel Prices and Matsue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nara $6.75Matsue $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Nara or Matsue?
Prices for flights to both Matsue 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
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Food Meals for one dayNara $31Matsue $30
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nara $8.68Matsue $9.65
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 Matsue
Here are a few actual costs in Matsue for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Customized Tour with Izumo Taisha Shrine: $88
- Adachi Museum Private Customized Guided Tour from Matsue: $396
- The best of Matsue walking tour: $496
- Romantic Tour In Matsue: $496
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNara $12Matsue $7.50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nara and Matsue, we can see that Nara 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 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 Matsue.
When is the best time to visit Nara or Matsue?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Nara or Matsue in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nara and Matsue.
Nara is around the same temperature as Matsue in the summer. The temperature in Nara is usually 27°C (80°F) in July, and Matsue stays around 25°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Matsue during summer. Nara gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nara usually receives less rain than Matsue. Nara gets 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNara 27°C (80°F)Matsue 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Nara or Matsue in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nara as well as Matsue.
In the autumn, Nara is around the same temperature as Matsue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nara in October are around 17°C (63°F), and Matsue is about 17°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Nara often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Nara gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Matsue. Nara receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nara usually gets less rain in October than Matsue. Nara gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNara 17°C (63°F)Matsue 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Nara or Matsue in the Winter?
Both Matsue and Nara are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. The weather in Nara can be very cold. In January, Nara is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Temperatures in Nara average around 4°C (40°F), and Matsue stays around 4°C (39°F).
Nara usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during winter. Nara gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In January, Nara usually receives less rain than Matsue. Nara gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNara 4°C (40°F)Matsue 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Nara or Matsue in the Spring?
Both Matsue and Nara during the spring are popular places to visit.
Nara is around the same temperature as Matsue in the spring. The temperature in Nara is usually 14°C (57°F) in April, and Matsue stays around 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Nara often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Nara gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun.
Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. Nara usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Matsue. Nara gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNara 14°C (57°F)Matsue 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Matsue and Nara
| Nara | Matsue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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