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

Should you visit Sendai or Picton?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Picton, 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 food, beaches, and shopping.

Picton

Picton is a quaint, relaxing, and picturesque town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Visitors also love the museums, food, and beaches.

Sendai and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Picton?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sendai. Although Sendai and Picton are both popular with visitors, Sendai has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Sendai is more popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Picton is known for its food, beaches, hiking, and small town charm. Sendai is popular for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also home to the statue of Lord Masamune. Picton is popular for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails.

How is Sendai different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Picton 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 Picton?

Sendai is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sendai. 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.

Picton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

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

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

Picton has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

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 Picton Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Picton is not a good town for nightlife.

Sendai offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Picton. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Is Sendai or Picton Better for Beaches?

Picton 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 Picton. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

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 Picton Better for Hiking?

Picton is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Picton. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Picton?

Sendai is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Sendai. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Picton. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Is Sendai or Picton Better for Families?

Sendai and Picton are both great destinations for the whole family.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Sendai is very family-friendly. 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.

Picton is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

Is Sendai or Picton Better for Couples?

Picton is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Picton makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

Sendai is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Is Sendai or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Picton. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

Sendai is a good city to visit for backpackers. 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.

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

Sendai is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town 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.

Picton has some public transit options. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Sendai or Picton a more walkable city?

Sendai and Picton are great when it comes to walkability.

Sendai is a very walkable city. 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.

Picton is a very walkable destination. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Picton or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Picton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Sendai or Picton to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Sendai than Picton because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sendai, and 1-2 days is enough time in Picton.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton 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 Picton.

One day in Sendai or Picton?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sendai. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Picton. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Sendai or Picton?

Sendai 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.

Picton 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 Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sendai. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Picton. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Picton?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the lively destination of Sendai. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the picturesque destination of Picton. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sendai and Picton, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Picton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sendai is in Asia and Picton is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Picton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Picton 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai than you might in Picton.

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

Which is Bigger, Sendai or Picton?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Sendai and Picton, 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 Picton?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Picton 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 Picton in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Picton. Many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Picton in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sendai is a little warmer than Picton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sendai in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Picton averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.

Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets more rain in July than Pictonin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Picton in the Autumn?

Both Picton and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sendai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Picton for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In October, Sendai is generally around the same temperature as Pictonin April. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 15°C (59°F), and Picton fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives more rain than Pictonin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sendai or Picton in the Winter?

Both Picton and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Picton because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Sendai can be very cold during winter. Sendai is much colder than Picton in the winter. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 2°C (35°F) in January, and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F)in July.

Picton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sendai usually gets less rain in January than Pictonin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Picton in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Picton. The spring months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the beaches and the small town charm are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

In the spring, Sendai is cooler than Picton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sendai in April average around 10°C (51°F), and Picton averages at about 13°C (55°F)in October.

In April, Sendai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pictonin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Picton and Sendai