A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Dewa Sanzan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Dewa Sanzan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pai or Dewa Sanzan?

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Dewa Sanzan, we can see that Pai 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.

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan?

Dewa Sanzan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Dewa Sanzan in the summer for the hiking.

In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 23°C (74°F).

Pai usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Dewa Sanzan. It's quite rainy in Pai. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Pai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dewa Sanzan for the hiking trails during these months.

In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Pai. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun.

Dewa Sanzan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Dewa Sanzan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Dewa Sanzan can be very cold. Pai is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around -1°C (30°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Pai as well as Dewa Sanzan. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 9°C (47°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 188 hours of full sun.

Pai usually gets less rain in April than Dewa Sanzan. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Pai