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

Should you visit Sukhothai or Yakushima?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Yakushima?

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

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 in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sukhothai and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Sukhothai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sukhothai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sukhothai 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 Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima than you might in Sukhothai.

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

When is the best time to visit Sukhothai or Yakushima?

Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sukhothai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sukhothai as well as Yakushima. Sukhothai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Sukhothai is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sukhothai in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Sukhothai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sukhothai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Yakushima. Sukhothai gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Sukhothai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sukhothai throughout the year.

In October, Sukhothai is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Sukhothai average around 28°C (83°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 Sukhothai. In October, Sukhothai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Sukhothai gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Sukhothai is October to April. The rainy season in Sukhothai is May to October.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Sukhothai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sukhothai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Sukhothai is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Sukhothai averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sukhothai usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Sukhothai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sukhothai and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sukhothai year-round.

The heat can be very extreme in Sukhothai. In the spring, Sukhothai is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sukhothai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sukhothai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Sukhothai gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. October to April in Sukhothai is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Sukhothai.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Sukhothai