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

Should you visit Pai or Ise?

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 Ise. 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 Ise?

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.

Ise

A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.

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

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

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Ise?

Ise 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 Ise in the Summer?

Both Ise and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Ise. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Ise averages at about 26°C (79°F).

In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Ise. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.

Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ise. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Ise in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Ise this time of year.

In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Ise during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Ise. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Ise in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Ise. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ise. Pai is much warmer than Ise in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Ise. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun.

Pai usually gets less rain in January than Ise. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Ise in the Spring?

Both Ise and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Ise in the spring for the beaches.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Ise averages at about 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Ise during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Ise. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ise and Pai