Should you visit Yaeyama Islands or Mashiko?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Yaeyama Islands and Mashiko. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Mashiko
Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.
Which city is cheaper, Mashiko or Yaeyama Islands?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Yaeyama Islands is $104, while the average daily cost in Mashiko is $71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Yaeyama Islands and Mashiko in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $120 for a double occupancy room in Yaeyama Islands.
The prices for places to stay in Mashiko can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $37, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $74.
Food
Food in Yaeyama Islands costs travelers about $31 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about $25 per day in Mashiko for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Yaeyama Islands $31
Mashiko $25
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Yaeyama Islands is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $21 per person, per day, on local transportation in Yaeyama Islands.
Mashiko's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Mashiko.
Is it cheaper to fly into Yaeyama Islands or Mashiko?
Prices for flights to both Mashiko and Yaeyama Islands change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Yaeyama Islands typically cost an average of $9.62 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Mashiko can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.88 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Alcohol
The average person spends about $7.01 on alcoholic beverages in Yaeyama Islands per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Mashiko, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.72.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yaeyama Islands and Mashiko, we can see that Yaeyama Islands is more expensive. And not only is Mashiko much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mashiko would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mashiko 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 Mashiko.
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