A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pondicherry vs. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pondicherry or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pondicherry and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Pondicherry or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

Pondicherry

Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Spanning the Japanese prefectures of Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a natural area with beautiful scenery as well as a number of popular tourist spots. Some of its highlights include Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands, offering a geographic range of natural hot springs, coastlines, mountainous areas, lakes, and more than 1,000 volcanic islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park or Pondicherry?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pondicherry is $33, while the average daily cost in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is $88. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Pondicherry and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pondicherry $16
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pondicherry $32
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $104
Compare Hotels in Pondicherry and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Looking for a hotel in Pondicherry or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Pondicherry


Hotels in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pondicherry Hotel Prices and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pondicherry $5.66
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Also for Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Hakone to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) - Private Departure Transfer: $155
  • Hakone Resorts to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) - Departure Transfer: $242

Is it cheaper to fly into Pondicherry or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

Prices for flights to both Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Pondicherry change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pondicherry $11
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry

For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
  • French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $78
  • South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $161
  • Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $289

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pondicherry $11
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $11

Tours and Activities in Pondicherry

For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Sri Arunachaleswara Temple Tour From Pondicherry: $48
  • Auroville Guided Walking Tour: $14
  • Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $133
  • Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville: $262
  • Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $150
  • Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
  • Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry : $15
  • Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour : $13
  • Pondicherry Art Trails (2 Hours Guided Walking Tours): $13
  • Pondicherry City Bicycle Tour: $170
  • Private Walking Tour in the French Quarter of Pondicherry: $57
  • Spiritual Walk Tour Pondicherry: $13

Tours and Activities in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

  • Custom Private Tour in Hakone with Optional Hot Springs Experience: $300
  • Easygoing Nature Walk in Hakone Tour: $26
  • Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $155
  • Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $181
  • Hakone Full-Day Private Tour : $245
  • Hakone Onsen Experience, Lake Ashi, Open-Air Museum Tour: $226
  • Hakone for Children to Enjoy! Japanese Crafts Experience: $174
  • Private Shopping Tour from Hakone hotels to Grandberry Park: $134
  • Private Shopping Tour from Hakone to Gotemba Premium Outlets: $134
  • Private Shopping Tour from Hakone to Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama: $156
  • Supreme Sencha: Tea Ceremony & Making Experience in Hakone: $129
  • Tour around Mount Fuji group from 2 people ¥32,000: $209

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pondicherry $6.90
    Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park $8.39


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pondicherry Expensive? and Is Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Expensive?.


Related Articles for Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park