A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nikko vs. Whitsundays for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nikko or Whitsundays?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nikko and Whitsundays can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Nikko or Whitsundays?

Nikko

Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nikko and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Nikko much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nikko is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nikko would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nikko 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Nikko.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nikko Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Nikko or Whitsundays?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Whitsundays is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Nikko has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Nikko or Whitsundays in the Summer?

Both Whitsundays and Nikko are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Nikko is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Nikko averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Nikko usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Nikko gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Nikko. In July, Nikko usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Nikko gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nikko or Whitsundays in the Autumn?

Both Whitsundays and Nikko during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Nikko in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Nikko is cooler than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nikko in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.

In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Nikko gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.

Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. Nikko usually gets less rain in October than Whitsundaysin April. Nikko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nikko or Whitsundays in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nikko and Whitsundays. Most visitors come to Nikko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Nikko can be very cold during winter. In January, Nikko is generally much colder than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Nikko average around 3°C (37°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Nikko, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nikko usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Whitsundays during winter. Nikko gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Nikko usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin July. Nikko gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nikko or Whitsundays in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nikko as well as Whitsundays. The spring months attract visitors to Nikko because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Nikko is much colder than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Nikko averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the spring, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Nikko gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.

Nikko receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nikko usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Nikko gets 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Nikko