A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sendai vs. Newcastle for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Sendai or Newcastle?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Newcastle, 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.

Sendai

Sendai is a cosmopolitan, lively, and high energy city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Newcastle

Newcastle is a coastal, vibrant, and high energy city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Sendai and Newcastle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Newcastle?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Newcastle than Sendai. While Sendai is larger than Newcastle, Newcastle has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sendai is more touristy than Newcastle and is popular for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. Newcastle is popular for its bustling harbor, sandy beaches, and coastal walks. It is also home to the Bathers Way.

How is Sendai different from Newcastle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Newcastle and Sendai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sendai or Newcastle?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Sendai and Newcastle.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sendai can be an interesting and educational experience. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Newcastle. There are some interesting sights around town such as Nobbys Lighthouse. There's also the popular Ocean Baths. These pools offer a nice break from the surf. You can also check out the sights along the Newcastle Memorial Walk. For a history lesson, head to Fort Scratchley.

Is the Food Better in Sendai or Newcastle? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Newcastle is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Newcastle has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's a moderately sized city, so you'll find a good mix of restaurants. Head to the beachfront if you want fine dining and good seafood. There are also some good breweries and cafes, as well as brunch places and international flavors around town.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sendai area. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Nightlife?

Both Sendai and Newcastle have very good vibes after the sun sets.

Sendai has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

The people in Newcastle know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city, and the best nightlife can be found in the Honeysuckle Precinct. This is where you'll find the largest number of bars and pubs. Hunter Street is also a cool hangout area where you'll find the hidden gems where the locals hang out. Civic Theatre is the place to see a show.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Beaches?

Newcastle is an excellent place to visit for the beache. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Newcastle. There are a number of beaches in and near the city. Nobbys Beach is the most popular and you'll find families, surfers, and locals hanging out here. Newcastle Beach is also popular with its many restaurants and cafes.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Sendai. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Hiking?

Newcastle is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Newcastle has hiking trails worth exploring. There are many places to enjoy a stroll or hike near town. The most famous walk is the Bathers Way Walk, which runs along the coastline and offers spectacular views. It's particularly nice during the winter whale watching season.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Newcastle?

Shoppers can find a variety of very good stores in both Sendai and Newcastle.

Sendai is well-known for its shopping. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Newcastle. It's gained popularity for its trendy fashions and chic style. You'll find great shopping around town that highlight both local and international brands.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Families?

Sendai is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Sendai is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

Newcastle is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the long sandy beaches, but there's also a working harbor that you can explore. You can also visit the Newcastle Museum or try one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Couples?

Sendai and Newcastle are both good to visit as a couple.

Sendai makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Newcastle is a good city for couples to visit. The city has some great restaurants as well as many coastal walks and a vibrant nightlife scene that couples enjoy.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sendai and Newcastle are both good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Sendai. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

Newcastle is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's not Australia's most popular backpacker destination, there are some hostels and a good nightlife scene that are worth checking out.

Is Sendai or Newcastle Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sendai is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Sendai can get you to most places easily. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Newcastle has some public transit options. There's both a light rail system and a bus system.

Is Sendai or Newcastle a more walkable city?

Sendai is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

Sendai is a very walkable destination. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

Newcastle is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Sendai Worth Visiting? and Is Newcastle Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Newcastle or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Newcastle?

It's fun to spend time in either Sendai or Newcastle. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Newcastle due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sendai, and 2-4 days is enough time in Newcastle.

Families should spend more time in Sendai than Newcastle. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sendai, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Newcastle than Sendai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Newcastle that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Newcastle than Sendai if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Newcastle.

One day in Sendai or Newcastle?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Sendai. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Newcastle. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sendai or Newcastle?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Sendai. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Newcastle is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Sendai or Newcastle?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cosmopolitan city of Sendai. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Newcastle. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Sendai or Newcastle?

Sendai is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal destination of Newcastle. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Sendai and Newcastle, we can see that Sendai 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. Even though Sendai is in Asia and Newcastle is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Sendai or Newcastle?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Newcastle. When comparing the sizes of Sendai and Newcastle, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Sendai or Newcastle?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Newcastle is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sendai or Newcastle in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Newcastle. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Newcastle for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Sendai is around the same temperature as Newcastle. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sendai in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Newcastle averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. In the summer, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Newcastlein January. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Newcastle receives 232 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Newcastle. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets more rain in July than Newcastlein January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Newcastle in the Autumn?

Both Newcastle and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Newcastle because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

In October, Sendai is generally cooler than Newcastlein April. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 15°C (59°F), and Newcastle fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Newcastle during autumn. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Newcastle receives 199 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives less rain than Newcastlein April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sendai or Newcastle in the Winter?

Both Newcastle and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Newcastle this time of year.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. Sendai is much colder than Newcastle in the winter. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 2°C (35°F) in January, and Newcastle fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.

In Newcastle, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Newcastlein July. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Newcastle receives 206 hours of full sun.

Sendai usually gets less rain in January than Newcastlein July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Newcastle in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Newcastle. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Newcastle for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Sendai is much colder than Newcastle. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sendai in April average around 10°C (51°F), and Newcastle averages at about 18°C (64°F)in October.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Newcastle this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Newcastle during spring. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Newcastle receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sendai usually receives more rain than Newcastlein October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Newcastle receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Newcastle and Sendai