A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yichang vs. Nikko for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yichang or Nikko?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yichang or Nikko, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Yichang or Nikko?

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

Nikko

Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Yichang or Nikko?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Nikko. When comparing the sizes of Yichang and Nikko, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Yichang or Nikko?

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 Yichang or Nikko in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Yichang as well as Nikko. Additionally, many travelers come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Yichang is a little warmer than Nikko in the summer. The daily temperature in Yichang averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Yichang this time of the year. In the summer, Yichang often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Yichang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 136 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nikko. Yichang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Yichang usually gets more rain in July than Nikko. Yichang gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yichang or Nikko in the Autumn?

Both Nikko and Yichang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Nikko in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Yichang is a little warmer than Nikko. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Yichang in October average around 20°C (67°F), and Nikko averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Yichang usually receives less sunshine than Nikko during autumn. Yichang gets 134 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. In October, Yichang usually receives less rain than Nikko. Yichang gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Yichang or Nikko in the Winter?

Both Nikko and Yichang during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Nikko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Nikko can be very cold during winter. In January, Yichang is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Yichang average around 6°C (43°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In Nikko, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Yichang often gets less sunshine than Nikko. Yichang gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 212 hours of full sun.

Yichang usually gets less rain in January than Nikko. Yichang gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yichang or Nikko in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Yichang and Nikko. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Nikko because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Yichang is a little warmer than Nikko in the spring. The daily temperature in Yichang averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Yichang usually receives less sunshine than Nikko during spring. Yichang gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 191 hours of full sun in the spring.

Nikko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Yichang usually receives less rain than Nikko. Yichang gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nikko and Yichang