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

Should you visit Pai or Yaeyama Islands?

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 Yaeyama Islands. 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 Yaeyama Islands?

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.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Yaeyama Islands. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

Pai is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Pai is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Pai is generally a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Also, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun in the spring.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, May to June is the rainy season in Yaeyama Islands.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Pai