A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wuyuan vs. Yaeyama Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands?

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 Wuyuan and Yaeyama Islands can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands?

Wuyuan

Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands?

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 Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Wuyuan during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Wuyuan is generally around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 30°C (85°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. Wuyuan usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Yaeyama Islands. Wuyuan gets 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wuyuan and Yaeyama Islands. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Wuyuan is cooler than Yaeyama Islands in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Wuyuan usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Wuyuan gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Wuyuan as well as Yaeyama Islands. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In the winter, Wuyuan is much colder than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wuyuan in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Wuyuan usually gets less rain in January than Yaeyama Islands. Wuyuan gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Wuyuan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Wuyuan is generally cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 18°C (64°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Wuyuan. In April, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Wuyuan gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Yaeyama Islands is May to June.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Wuyuan