A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pyeongchang vs. Atami for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Atami?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Atami, 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.

Where Should I go: Pyeongchang or Atami?

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

Atami

Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Atami?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Atami in the Summer?

Both Atami and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Atami for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Atami. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Atami averages at about 26°C (78°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Atami during summer. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In July, Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Atami. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Atami in the Autumn?

Both Atami and Pyeongchang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Atami in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Pyeongchang is generally cooler than Atami. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Atami fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In the autumn, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Atami. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun.

Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in October than Atami. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Atami in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Atami. Furthermore, most visitors come to Atami for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Pyeongchang can get quite cold in the winter. Pyeongchang is much colder than Atami in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Atami fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Atami during winter. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Atami. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Atami in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Atami. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Atami because of the beaches.

In the spring, Pyeongchang is cooler than Atami. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Atami averages at about 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pyeongchang this time of the year. In the spring, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Atami. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Atami. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in April than Atami. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Atami and Pyeongchang