A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Yamaguchi for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Yamaguchi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Surabaya

Surabaya is a undiscovered, authentic, and local city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Surabaya travel costs.

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is a scenic, traditional, and serene town. With stunning beauty, Yamaguchi attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and hiking. See Yamaguchi travel costs.

Surabaya and Yamaguchi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Surabaya than Yamaguchi. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Surabaya is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Yamaguchi attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, hiking, and impressive beauty. Yamaguchi is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for its temples, serene setting, and traditional ways. Surabaya is famous for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution. It is also well known for the Submarine Monument.

How is Surabaya different from Yamaguchi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Yamaguchi is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Yamaguchi offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many historic shrines and temples in the area, as well as the Kintai Bridge.

While most people don't head to Surabaya specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. You'll likely pass through town on your way somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out Suramadu Bridge, the House of Sampoerna, Cheng Hoo Mosque, Sanggar Agung Temple, and Ampel Mosque. It's also worth a visit to the Submarine Museum and the Heroes Monument.

Is the Food Better in Surabaya or Yamaguchi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Yamaguchi is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Yamaguchi is an experience not to be missed. The city has a long-running farming and fishing industry, so you can be assured fresh ingredients at every meal. Dishes are still deeply rooted in the area's culinary traditions, and perhaps the most famous local delicacy is the Fugu fish, otherwise known as blowfish. It's become famous among westerners as the fish can be poisonous if not prepared correctly.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Surabaya. It's a port city, and the cuisine reflexs this. You'll find a mix of different flavors that combine Javanese, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian cuisines. Dishes include a lot of vegetables as well as tofu and tempeh. Many dishes are also sweet in flavor or incredibly spicy.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Nightlife?

Surabaya is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Yamaguchi is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Surabaya. Like the rest of the city, the nightlife scene has a local vibe. There are night markets, fascinating neighborhoods, and some lively clubs and bars.

Yamaguchi is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are some pubs and local bars, but most of the area is peaceful and tranquil, especially at night.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Yamaguchi is not a beach destination.

Surabaya has a beach worth visiting. You'll find a few beaches within a short drive of the city center. Some of the popular ones include Ria Kenjeran Beach, Bentar Beach, and Delegan Beach.

Yamaguchi is not a beach destination.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Hiking?

Yamaguchi is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Yamaguchi is a good destination for hiking. There are hiking and walking trails throughout the prefecture so that you can energy the natural setting.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Surabaya is a very popular place for its shopping areas. However, Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Surabaya. The city has a great mix of air-conditioned mega-malls and colorful street markets. Bratang Market has become a favorite but it's also worth checking out Tugu Pahlawan Market and Ampel Market.

Yamaguchi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi More Beautiful?

Yamaguchi is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Yamaguchi attracts visitors from all around. The area is famed for its serene setting and natural beauty. There are many historic temples and pagodas in the area.

Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Families?

Yamaguchi is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Yamaguchi. The city offers beautiful temples and a glimpse into Japanese culture that kids and adults alike will enjoy. There are also beautiful gardens and nearby natural scenery.

For families, Surabaya is not always the best place to visit. You'll like be passing through this city enroute to somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out the Submarine Museum. You can also wander through the market area of Qubah or explore Chinatown.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Couples?

Yamaguchi is a great destination for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Couples visit Yamaguchi frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With its historic temples, natural beauty, and nice green space, this is a lovely city to explore as a couple.

Surabaya is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some sights an museums that you can visit while you're in town.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yamaguchi is a popular place for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Yamaguchi. There are a couple of hostels and budget-friendly accommodation options in the area.

Surabaya is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town but most backpackers don't spend more than a night in town.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Yamaguchi is a popular place for its public transit. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Yamaguchi, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses through the city and prefecture.

Public transit is mostly limited in Surabaya. There's a bus system, but it's mostly used by locals. There are two types of buses - normal buses and patas buses, which are express.

Is Surabaya or Yamaguchi a more walkable city?

Surabaya is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Yamaguchi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Surabaya is a very walkable destination. It's one of the more walkable cities in Indonesia and it has the feel of a bunch of neighborhoods combined together.

Yamaguchi is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walking trails in the area.

For even more information, also check out Is Surabaya Worth Visiting? and Is Yamaguchi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Yamaguchi or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Surabaya or Yamaguchi to fill your time. In our opinion, Yamaguchi has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Yamaguchi than Surabaya. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yamaguchi than Surabaya 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 Yamaguchi.

One day in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Surabaya has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The beautiful town of Yamaguchi offers museums and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. 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.

Yamaguchi is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Yamaguchi, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the undiscovered city of Surabaya. 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.

Yamaguchi is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Surabaya 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.

Yamaguchi is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Yamaguchi?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Yamaguchi. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Yamaguchi, 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.