A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Sendai vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sendai or Yakushima?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai 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: Sendai or Yakushima?

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Sendai 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 Sendai or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Yakushima. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Sendai is cooler than Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima 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.

In the autumn, Sendai is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sendai in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sendai or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima 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.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. In January, Sendai is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 2°C (35°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sendai usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Yakushima. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

Sendai is much colder than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 10°C (51°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sendai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Sendai