Which city is cheaper, Matsue or Osaka?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Osaka vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Osaka or Matsue?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Osaka or Matsue, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Osaka or Matsue?
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
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 dayOsaka $80Matsue $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Osaka is $80, while the average daily cost in Matsue is $61. 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 Osaka and Matsue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOsaka $40Matsue $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOsaka $80Matsue $48
Compare Hotels in Osaka and Matsue
Looking for a hotel in Osaka 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: Osaka Hotel Prices and Matsue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Osaka $14Matsue $19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $105
- Departure Private Transfer from Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX by Minivan: $124
- Departure Private Transfer from Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX by Sedan Car: $119
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car: $218
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Van: $269
- Japan Private Airport Transfer from Osaka City to Kansai Airport(KIX): $168
- Japan Railway Station Shared Arrival Transfer : Shin Osaka Station to Osaka City: $25
- Japan Railway Station Shared Departure Transfer : Osaka to Shin Osaka Station: $25
- KIX Airport Transfers (to or from OSAKA) by Land Rover Discovery Sport 2018: $323
- KIX Airport Transfers (to or from OSAKA) by Minivan Toyota HIACE 2019: $398
- KIX Airport Transfers (to or from OSAKA) by Toyota ALPHARD 2019: $398
- Kansai Airport to/from Osaka City: Private Transfer Service: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Osaka or Matsue?
Prices for flights to both Matsue and Osaka 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 dayOsaka $23Matsue $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour Around Dotonburi Canal: $9.84
- Takoyaki Cooking Class: $13
- Deep Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba, Osaka: $30
- Deep Food Tour ＆ Bar Hopping in Temma, Osaka: $30
- (Online)Popular Japanese pancake and miso soup cooking: $31
- 2-Hour Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour: $36
- Local Secrets Food Tour in Osaka: $37
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $40
- Walkabout Food Tour in Osaka: $43
- Okonomiyaki Cooking, The Heart of Osaka: $57
- Lunch Box Bento Set Cooking: $74
- Home Cooking Class: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Osaka $17Matsue $8.32
Typical Entertainment prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$35
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 【Special Sale】Virtual Osaka Dotonbori & Ebisu Bridge Walking Tour: $6.89
- Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise: $9.84
- Osaka Bay : Sightseeing Cruise: $14
- General Admission ticket to ABENO HARUKAS in Osaka: $15
- Osaka virtual tour: $15
- Skip the Line: Kids Plaza Osaka Admission Ticket: $17
- HARUKAS 300 Observatory E-Ticket: $20
- Livestream Virtual Tour of Osaka Castle Park: $22
- LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Osaka Admission Tickets: $23
- Real Kimono experience and Tsumami Kanzashi Workshop: $24
- Livestream Virtual Tour of Osaka's Minami Area: $28
- Osaka Bus and Boat Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour with Subway Pass: $30
Tours and Activities in Matsue
Here are a few actual costs in Matsue for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adachi Museum Private Customized Guided Tour from Matsue: $396
- Private Customized Tour with Izumo Taisha Shrine: $88
- Romantic Tour In Matsue: $496
- The best of Matsue walking tour: $496
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOsaka $11Matsue $6.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $20
- Private Tour - Fashionable Pub Crawl at Osaka, Enjoy the Japanese Alcohol!: $98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Osaka and Matsue, we can see that Osaka 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka than you might in Matsue.
When is the best time to visit Osaka or Matsue?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Osaka or Matsue in the Summer?
Both Matsue and Osaka during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Osaka is generally around the same temperature as Matsue. Temperatures in Osaka average around 28°C (82°F), and Matsue stays around 25°C (78°F).
In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Osaka often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Osaka gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 201 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 Osaka. Osaka usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Osaka gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOsaka 28°C (82°F)Matsue 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Matsue in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Osaka and Matsue.
Osaka is a little warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The temperature in Osaka is usually 19°C (66°F) in October, and Matsue stays around 17°C (62°F).
Osaka usually receives less sunshine than Matsue during autumn. Osaka gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Osaka gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Osaka usually receives less rain than Matsue. Osaka gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOsaka 19°C (66°F)Matsue 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Matsue in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Osaka as well as Matsue.
Matsue can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Osaka is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Osaka in January are around 6°C (42°F), and Matsue is about 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Osaka often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Osaka gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Matsue. Osaka usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Osaka gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOsaka 6°C (42°F)Matsue 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Matsue in the Spring?
Both Matsue and Osaka are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Osaka is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Temperatures in Osaka average around 15°C (59°F), and Matsue stays around 13°C (55°F).
Osaka usually receives less sunshine than Matsue during spring. Osaka gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Osaka. In April, Osaka usually receives more rain than Matsue. Osaka gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOsaka 15°C (59°F)Matsue 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Matsue and Osaka
| Osaka | Matsue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (43°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (74°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (47°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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