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

Should you visit Pai or Nikko?

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 Nikko. 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 Nikko?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Nikko, we can see that Nikko 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 Nikko would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nikko 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 Nikko Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Nikko?

Nikko 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 Nikko in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Nikko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Nikko because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Pai is a little warmer than Nikko in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nikko during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 136 hours of full sun in the summer.

Nikko receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Nikko. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Nikko in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Nikko. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nikko this time of year.

In the autumn, Pai is much warmer than Nikko. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Nikko averages at about 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 167 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nikko. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Nikko. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Nikko in the Winter?

Both Nikko and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Nikko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Nikko. In January, Pai is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite sunny in Nikko. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Nikko during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 212 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Nikko. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Nikko in the Spring?

Both Nikko and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Nikko in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is much warmer than Nikko in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 191 hours of full sun.

Nikko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Nikko. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nikko and Pai