A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Tokyo for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Phuket or Tokyo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Tokyo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Phuket

Phuket is a energetic, party-hard, and stunning resort island. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a iconic, eclectic, and cutting edge city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Phuket and Tokyo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Tokyo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Tokyo than Phuket, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Tokyo is more popular for its museums, food, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phuket is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is more touristy than Tokyo and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Tokyo is popular for its ultramodern skyscrapers, neon lights, historic temples, lively karaoke bars, and peaceful parks. It is also home to The Sensō-ji Temple.

How is Phuket different from Tokyo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Tokyo and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Tokyo?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Tokyo are among the most recognizable in the world. This iconic city is filled with recognizable landmarks and world class museums including the Meiji Shrine, the Sensō-ji Temple, and the Tokyo Skytree.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Tokyo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Tokyo is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. With an astonishing number of Michelin star restaurants, this is one of the most interesting and impressive food destinations in the world. Not all restaurants are high end though. You'll find plenty of cheap eateries that offer their own rewarding culinary experience. Must try local dishes include okonomiyaki, ramen, and of course, sushi.

Phuket is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Phuket or Tokyo has a better nightlife scene.

Phuket has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Tokyo is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The professional urgency that you feel during the day morphs into a vibrant, laid back city at night. The neon lights turn on and locals head out to destress. There are karaoke bars, casual pubs, high energy nightclubs, and more. Popular areas for nightlife include Roppongi, Shibuya and Shinjuku.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Music?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Phuket is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Tokyo The music scene features both national and international artists and the music style is as eclectic as the city itself. You'll find many underground venues, vintage record stores, and local bars that have each created their own niche.

Phuket is not a live music destination.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Resorts?

Phuket is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Tokyo is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Phuket is a great choice. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Tokyo is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is great for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Tokyo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Tokyo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Beaches?

Phuket is renowned for the beach. However, Tokyo is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Phuket. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Tokyo is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Tokyo?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Tokyo make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is known for its electronics, anime products, and trendy fashion brands. Many neighborhoods are also shopping districts with malls or markets throughout. Prices can be steep, but products are generally high quality. For some of the city's best shopping, head to Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Families?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Tokyo is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. This is an incredibly kid-friendly city. There's Disneyland, but there are also many other entertainment centers, amusement areas, a zoo, aquarium, and more. Kids will also enjoy experiencing the city's fascinating culture. They can visit temples, museums, and the Tokyo Tower. Another fun local experience is to go to a baseball game.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Couples?

Phuket and Tokyo are both very good to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Phuket frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Tokyo is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. This high tech city offers luxury hotels and spas, award winning restaurants, and unique date night opportunities like karaoke or sushi making classes. The city has many parks and gardens as well as malls, dynamic neighborhoods, and interesting museums.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tokyo is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Phuket is a resort island with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Tokyo. Known for it's high prices, it can be a bit difficult to visit this city on a budget. There are dorm rooms available but they still come with a high price tag. Food is a bit easier as the eateries are diverse with many options on the cheaper side.

Phuket is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. Many backpackers complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Students?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Tokyo is a great destination for students. The city attracts many international students and there are a number of prestigious universities to choose from. Perhaps the biggest challenge is navigating the language difference, but that is all part of the experience when studying abroad.

Phuket is not popular with students.

Is Phuket or Tokyo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Tokyo is top-notch. Trains, subways, and buses make up the complex transportation system and, while it may seem overwhelming at first, the system is actually very clean, efficient, and reliable.

While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Phuket or Tokyo a more walkable city?

Tokyo is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Tokyo on foot is easy. Many neighborhoods are very easy to explore on foot, so it's fun to just wander without a plan, seeing where you end up.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable resort island. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Tokyo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Tokyo or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Tokyo?

Both Phuket and Tokyo have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Tokyo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Tokyo than Phuket. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Tokyo than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Tokyo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Tokyo than Phuket. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Tokyo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tokyo than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Tokyo.

One day in Phuket or Tokyo?

In Phuket, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this activity-filled destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Tokyo is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Tokyo?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Tokyo is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Tokyo?

Phuket is a fun place to experience. In Phuket, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tokyo. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Tokyo?

In Phuket, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this party-hard destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Tokyo is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Tokyo?

Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Tokyo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Tokyo?

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

Should I visit Phuket or Tokyo in the Summer?

Both Tokyo and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Tokyo for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Phuket is around the same temperature as Tokyo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Tokyo averages at about 26°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 137 hours of full sun.

Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Tokyo. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Tokyo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Tokyo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Phuket is generally much warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 129 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Tokyo. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or Tokyo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Tokyo. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year.

Phuket is much warmer than Tokyo in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Tokyo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 175 hours of full sun.

Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Tokyo. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season.

Should I visit Phuket or Tokyo in the Spring?

Both Tokyo and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Tokyo for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Phuket is much warmer than Tokyo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Tokyo averages at about 14°C (58°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives around the same amount of rain as Tokyo. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Typical Weather for Tokyo and Phuket