A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Yaeyama Islands vs. Matsue for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yaeyama Islands or Matsue?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Yaeyama Islands and Matsue. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Yaeyama Islands or Matsue?

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.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

Which city is cheaper, Matsue or Yaeyama Islands?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Yaeyama Islands is $105, while the average daily cost in Matsue is $74. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Yaeyama Islands and Matsue in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yaeyama Islands $61
    Matsue $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yaeyama Islands $122
    Matsue $58
Compare Hotels in Yaeyama Islands and Matsue

Looking for a hotel in Yaeyama Islands or Matsue? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Yaeyama Islands


Hotels in Matsue


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Yaeyama Islands Hotel Prices and Matsue Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yaeyama Islands $21
    Matsue $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Yaeyama Islands or Matsue?

Prices for flights to both Matsue 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Yaeyama Islands $32
    Matsue $31

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yaeyama Islands $9.74
    Matsue $9.95

Tours and Activities in Matsue

Here are a few actual costs in Matsue for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private Customized Tour with Izumo Taisha Shrine: $88
  • Adachi Museum Private Customized Guided Tour from Matsue: $396
  • The best of Matsue walking tour: $496
  • Romantic Tour In Matsue: $496

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yaeyama Islands $7.09
    Matsue $7.74


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yaeyama Islands and Matsue, we can see that Yaeyama Islands is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Matsue.


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

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Matsue in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Yaeyama Islands and Matsue.

In the summer, Yaeyama Islands is a little warmer than Matsue. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yaeyama Islands in July are around 29°C (85°F), and Matsue is about 25°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In Yaeyama Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Yaeyama Islands usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during summer. Yaeyama Islands gets 279 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Yaeyama Islands usually receives less rain than Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Yaeyama Islands 29°C (85°F) 
    Matsue 25°C (78°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Yaeyama Islands as well as Matsue.

In October, Yaeyama Islands is generally much warmer than Matsue. Temperatures in Yaeyama Islands average around 26°C (78°F), and Matsue stays around 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Yaeyama Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 177 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Yaeyama Islands usually gets more rain in October than Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Yaeyama Islands 26°C (78°F) 
    Matsue 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue and Yaeyama Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. Yaeyama Islands is much warmer than Matsue in the winter. The temperature in Yaeyama Islands is usually 18°C (64°F) in January, and Matsue stays around 4°C (39°F).

Yaeyama Islands usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during winter. Yaeyama Islands gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. In January, Yaeyama Islands usually receives less rain than Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Yaeyama Islands 18°C (64°F) 
    Matsue 4°C (39°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue and Yaeyama Islands during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Yaeyama Islands is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yaeyama Islands in April are around 23°C (74°F), and Matsue is about 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Yaeyama Islands often gets less sunshine than Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 154 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. Yaeyama Islands usually gets more rain in April than Matsue. Yaeyama Islands gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Yaeyama Islands 23°C (74°F) 
    Matsue 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Matsue and Yaeyama Islands

Yaeyama Islands Matsue
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Feb 19°C (65°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 4°C (40°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
Mar 20°C (69°F) 126 mm (5 in) 7°C (45°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Apr 23°C (74°F) 147 mm (5.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 231 mm (9.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 203 mm (8 in) 21°C (71°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 179 mm (7 in) 25°C (78°F) 268 mm (10.6 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 229 mm (9 in) 23°C (73°F) 216 mm (8.5 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 173 mm (6.8 in) 17°C (62°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 11°C (53°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Dec 20°C (67°F) 134 mm (5.3 in) 7°C (44°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)


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Yaeyama Islands vs. Matsue Travel Comparison

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