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

Should you visit Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan and Yakushima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Yakushima?

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!

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, 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 Wuyuan and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 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 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 Yakushima Expensive?.

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

Both Yakushima and Wuyuan during the summer are popular places to visit.

Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Yakushima 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 Yakushima. Wuyuan gets 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yakushima in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wuyuan and Yakushima.

In the autumn, Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wuyuan in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Wuyuan usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Wuyuan gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Wuyuan as well as Yakushima.

In January, Wuyuan is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 6°C (43°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Wuyuan usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Wuyuan gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wuyuan or Yakushima in the Spring?

Both Yakushima and Wuyuan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Wuyuan. In April, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Wuyuan gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Wuyuan