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

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park, 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 Shiretoko National Park?

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.

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.

While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park?

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 Shiretoko National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Shiretoko National Park. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Shiretoko National Park this time of year.

In July, Pyeongchang is generally a little warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 24°C (76°F), and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shiretoko National Park receives 178 hours of full sun.

Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in July than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park in the Autumn?

Both Shiretoko National Park and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Shiretoko National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Pyeongchang is a little warmer than Shiretoko National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 15°C (60°F) in October, and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Shiretoko National Park receives 158 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park in the Winter?

Both Shiretoko National Park and Pyeongchang during the winter are popular places to visit.

Shiretoko National Park can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Pyeongchang. In the winter, Pyeongchang is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pyeongchang in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Shiretoko National Park averages at about -6°C (20°F).

In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shiretoko National Park receives 108 hours of full sun.

Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in January than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Shiretoko National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Shiretoko National Park. Furthermore, most visitors come to Shiretoko National Park for the natural beauty during these months.

Shiretoko National Park can be very cold during spring. In April, Pyeongchang is generally much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 12°C (54°F), and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In Pyeongchang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pyeongchang usually receives more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Shiretoko National Park receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Pyeongchang usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Shiretoko National Park and Pyeongchang