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

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Yakushima?

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

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

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.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Pyeongchang and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Yakushima?

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 Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Yakushima.

In the summer, Pyeongchang is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Pyeongchang is generally cooler than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Pyeongchang during the winter are popular places to visit.

The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. Pyeongchang is much colder than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Yakushima.

In the spring, Pyeongchang is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Pyeongchang