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

Should you visit Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima?

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 Yakushima. 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 Yakushima?

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.

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 Tokyo, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Yaeyama Islands?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yaeyama Islands is $94, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $118. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Yaeyama Islands and Yakushima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yaeyama Islands $54
    Yakushima $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yaeyama Islands $108
    Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Yaeyama Islands and Yakushima

Looking for a hotel in Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima? 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 Yakushima


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 Yakushima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yaeyama Islands $19
    Yakushima $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima?

Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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 $29
    Yakushima $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yaeyama Islands $8.73
    Yakushima $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yaeyama Islands $6.36
    Yakushima $6.45


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

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



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

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 Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Yaeyama Islands are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In the summer, Yaeyama Islands is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yaeyama Islands in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. In July, Yaeyama Islands usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yakushima. Yaeyama Islands gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Yaeyama Islands 29°C (85°F) 
    Yakushima 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Yaeyama Islands during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Yaeyama Islands is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Yaeyama Islands average around 26°C (78°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima 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 around the same amount of rain in October as Yakushima. Yaeyama Islands gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Yaeyama Islands 26°C (78°F) 
    Yakushima 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Yaeyama Islands and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Yaeyama Islands is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Yaeyama Islands averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Yaeyama Islands usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Yaeyama Islands gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Yaeyama Islands 18°C (64°F) 
    Yakushima 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Yaeyama Islands or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Yaeyama Islands as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Yaeyama Islands is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yaeyama Islands in April average around 23°C (74°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. Yaeyama Islands usually gets less rain in April than Yakushima. Yaeyama Islands gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Yaeyama Islands 23°C (74°F) 
    Yakushima 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Yaeyama Islands

Yaeyama Islands Yakushima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 11°C (52°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Feb 19°C (65°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 12°C (53°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Mar 20°C (69°F) 126 mm (5 in) 14°C (57°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Apr 23°C (74°F) 147 mm (5.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 231 mm (9.1 in) 21°C (69°F) 288 mm (11.3 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 203 mm (8 in) 24°C (74°F) 352 mm (13.9 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 179 mm (7 in) 27°C (81°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 205 mm (8.1 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 229 mm (9 in) 26°C (78°F) 253 mm (10 in)
Oct 26°C (78°F) 173 mm (6.8 in) 22°C (71°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 20°C (67°F) 134 mm (5.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)


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