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

Should you visit Pai or Matsue?

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 Matsue. 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 Matsue?

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.

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.

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 Matsue, 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 Matsue Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Matsue?

Matsue 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 Matsue in the Summer?

Both Matsue 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Matsue averages at about 25°C (78°F).

In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Pai gets 146 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 Pai. Pai usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Matsue in the Autumn?

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

In October, Pai is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Matsue 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 Matsue. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Matsue in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. Pai is much warmer than Matsue in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°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 Matsue. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue 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 Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Matsue averages at about 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during spring. Pai gets 275 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. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Matsue. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Pai