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

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Ise?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Ise, 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 Ise?

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.

Ise

A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Ise, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Ise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ise 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 Ise.

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

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Ise?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Ise in the Summer?

Both Ise and Pyeongchang during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Ise. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Ise averages at about 26°C (79°F).

In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Ise. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.

Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ise. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Ise in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Ise. Furthermore, many visitors come to Ise in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Pyeongchang is generally cooler than Ise. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Ise during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Ise. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Ise in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Ise. Additionally, most visitors come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Ise can be very cold during winter. Pyeongchang can get quite cold in the winter. Pyeongchang is much colder than Ise in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Ise. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun.

Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in January than Ise. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Ise in the Spring?

Both Ise and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches.

In the spring, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Ise. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Ise averages at about 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Ise during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Ise. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ise and Pyeongchang