A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tokyo vs. Amsterdam for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Music

Should you visit Tokyo or Amsterdam?

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

Should I visit Tokyo or Amsterdam? 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.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a iconic, eclectic, and cutting edge city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a scenic, historic, and canal-lined city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Tokyo and Amsterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Amsterdam than Tokyo. While Tokyo is larger than Amsterdam, Amsterdam has more sights and attractions for tourists. Amsterdam is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty, while Tokyo is known for its museums, food, and shopping. Amsterdam is more touristy than Tokyo and is popular for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. It is also home to The Rijksmuseum. Tokyo is popular for its ultramodern skyscrapers, neon lights, historic temples, lively karaoke bars, and peaceful parks.

How is Tokyo different from Amsterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Tokyo is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Tokyo are among the most recognizable in the world. This iconic city is filled with recognizable landmarks and world class museums including the Meiji Shrine, the Sensō-ji Temple, and the Tokyo Skytree.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Amsterdam. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.

Is the Food Better in Tokyo or Amsterdam? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tokyo is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Tokyo is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. With an astonishing number of Michelin star restaurants, this is one of the most interesting and impressive food destinations in the world. Not all restaurants are high end though. You'll find plenty of cheap eateries that offer their own rewarding culinary experience. Must try local dishes include okonomiyaki, ramen, and of course, sushi.

Amsterdam may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Food is expensive in this city, particularly in the touristy areas. There are some markets that sell great local items and the dessert cafes are awesome!

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is fantastic in both Tokyo and Amsterdam.

Tokyo is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The professional urgency that you feel during the day morphs into a vibrant, laid back city at night. The neon lights turn on and locals head out to destress. There are karaoke bars, casual pubs, high energy nightclubs, and more. Popular areas for nightlife include Roppongi, Shibuya and Shinjuku.

Amsterdam has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Music?

Tokyo and Amsterdam are both destinations where visitors can find fantastic live music.

Tokyo has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The music scene features both national and international artists and the music style is as eclectic as the city itself. You'll find many underground venues, vintage record stores, and local bars that have each created their own niche.

Amsterdam is a world class music destination. The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for its Old Town?

Amsterdam is great for its historic old town charm. However, Tokyo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Amsterdam. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.

Tokyo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Tokyo is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Tokyo make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is known for its electronics, anime products, and trendy fashion brands. Many neighborhoods are also shopping districts with malls or markets throughout. Prices can be steep, but products are generally high quality. For some of the city's best shopping, head to Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Amsterdam. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Families?

Tokyo is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Tokyo is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. This is an incredibly kid-friendly city. There's Disneyland, but there are also many other entertainment centers, amusement areas, a zoo, aquarium, and more. Kids will also enjoy experiencing the city's fascinating culture. They can visit temples, museums, and the Tokyo Tower. Another fun local experience is to go to a baseball game.

For families, Amsterdam is not always the best place to visit. The city does it's share of partying, and there are some areas, like the red light district, that aren't exactly kid-friendly, but there are some nice parks, playgrounds, and the impressive NEMO Science Museum that you can explore.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Tokyo and Amsterdam make for a very good place to visit.

Tokyo is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. This high tech city offers luxury hotels and spas, award winning restaurants, and unique date night opportunities like karaoke or sushi making classes. The city has many parks and gardens as well as malls, dynamic neighborhoods, and interesting museums.

Amsterdam is a very popular place to visit for couples. For many, a visit to this city is all about the party, but for couples who enjoy history, architecture, or boat rides along the scenic canals, the city also makes a great getaway. It's also fun to stay in a houseboat and have a unique experience.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Tokyo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Amsterdam, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. With it's party-hard personality and countless low price hostels, this city attracts its share of backpackers. Do note that many of the hostels aren't focused on quality, so make sure you understand what you're paying for. It may be worth booking a slightly more expensive room in a hotel.

Tokyo is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Known for it's high prices, it can be a bit difficult to visit this city on a budget. There are dorm rooms available but they still come with a high price tag. Food is a bit easier as the eateries are diverse with many options on the cheaper side.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Students?

Tokyo is an unbeatable place for students. However, Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Tokyo is a great destination for students. The city attracts many international students and there are a number of prestigious universities to choose from. Perhaps the biggest challenge is navigating the language difference, but that is all part of the experience when studying abroad.

Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Tokyo and Amsterdam both offer fantastic public transit to get you around.

Tokyo has a great public transit system. Trains, subways, and buses make up the complex transportation system and, while it may seem overwhelming at first, the system is actually very clean, efficient, and reliable.

Public transit in Amsterdam is top-notch. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.

Is Tokyo or Amsterdam a more walkable city?

Tokyo and Amsterdam are fantastic when it comes to walkability.

Tokyo is a very easy city to get around on foot. Many neighborhoods are very easy to explore on foot, so it's fun to just wander without a plan, seeing where you end up.

It is easy to get around Amsterdam on foot. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Tokyo Worth Visiting? and Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Amsterdam or Tokyo?

How long in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Both Tokyo and Amsterdam have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Tokyo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Tokyo than Amsterdam. In general, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Tokyo, and 2-7 days is enough time in Amsterdam.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Tokyo 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 Amsterdam.

One day in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

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

In Amsterdam, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this canal-lined big city offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

People visit Tokyo because there is so much to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amsterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

People visit Tokyo because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

Amsterdam is a fun place to experience. In Amsterdam, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this big city destination offers. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Tokyo is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Tokyo, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Amsterdam, many people enjoy the live music and shopping that this party-oriented big city offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Amsterdam?

Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo and Amsterdam, 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 Tokyo or Amsterdam?

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 Tokyo or Amsterdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as Amsterdam. Many travelers come to Tokyo for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Amsterdam in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Tokyo is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 26°C (78°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Amsterdam. In the summer, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 204 hours of full sun.

Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tokyo usually gets more rain in July than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tokyo or Amsterdam in the Autumn?

Both Amsterdam and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Amsterdam for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Tokyo is much warmer than Amsterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Amsterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Tokyo usually receives more sunshine than Amsterdam during autumn. Tokyo gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In October, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tokyo or Amsterdam in the Winter?

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

The weather in Amsterdam can be very cold. In the winter, Tokyo is much warmer than Amsterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tokyo in January average around 5°C (42°F), and Amsterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Tokyo often gets more sunshine than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 46 hours of full sun.

Tokyo usually gets less rain in January than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tokyo or Amsterdam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and Amsterdam. The spring months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year.

In April, Tokyo is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 14°C (58°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Tokyo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Amsterdam during spring. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.

Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Amsterdam. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Amsterdam and Tokyo