A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yokohama vs. Airlie Beach for Families, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Airlie Beach, 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.

Yokohama

Yokohama is a diverse, bright, and colorful city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a laid back, slow-paced, and idyllic town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Yokohama and Airlie Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Yokohama. Although Yokohama and Airlie Beach are both popular with visitors, Yokohama has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Yokohama is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Airlie Beach is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Airlie Beach is more touristy than Yokohama and is known for its tours and transportation that visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. Yokohama is popular for its tech industry, impressive Chinatown, and brightly lit skyline at night. It is also home to the Yokohama Chinatown.

How is Yokohama different from Airlie Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Airlie Beach and Yokohama. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Yokohama is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Airlie Beach is not a good town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Yokohama. The city has some eclectic museums like Cupnoodles Museum, the Ramen Museum, and the Kirin Beer Factory. There are also zoos, gardens, and the largest Chinatown in Japan.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Airlie Beach. Oceanfront beauty is what this town is all about, so you won't find much is the form of museums and manmade landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Yokohama or Airlie Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Yokohama is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Yokohama makes for a great culinary experience. As home to the largest Chinatown in Japan, you'll find no shortage of Chinese restaurants here. You'll also find that the local cuisine uses a lot of vegetables. Local favorites include kenchin-jiru (tofu and vegetable chowder) as well as gyunabe (beef hot pot).

Airlie Beach has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Nightlife?

Yokohama is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Yokohama offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is diverse, with lounges, pubs, and clubs throughout. It is also the home of Japan's first commercial brewery - Kinn. You'll find a good live music scene as well as everything from casual bars to upscale cocktail lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Airlie Beach. The town has a number of nightlife venues that include DJ hosted parties, beachfront cocktail lounges, and mellow local bars.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Resorts?

Airlie Beach is terrific for its resorts. However, Yokohama is not a resort destination.

Airlie Beach offers an unforgettable resort vacation. There's everything from posh resorts and luxury hotels to family-friendly campgrounds. There are also hostels that cater to the budget crowd.

Yokohama is not a resort destination.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Airlie Beach is terrific for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Yokohama is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Airlie Beach specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.

Yokohama is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Beaches?

Airlie Beach is terrific for its beaches. However, Yokohama is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Airlie Beach are among the best in the world. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.

Yokohama is not a beach destination.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Hiking?

Airlie Beach is terrific for its hiking experiences. However, Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Airlie Beach draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. You'll find many incredible hiking trails in the area. Conway National Park is a great place to hike through the rainforest and Conway State Forest is another nice spot.

Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Yokohama is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Yokohama is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The shopping scene has a laid back vibe that encourages you to take a stroll and enjoy the sights. Head to Marine & Walk Yokohama, which is right by the Minato Mirai waterfront, to find boutiques and upscale vendors. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is also one of the more famous shopping areas, but you should also check out Yokohama World Porters.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Airlie Beach. Head to the town's main street for your typical souvenir shops and holiday stores.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Families?

Yokohama is very popular for its family-friendly activities. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Yokohama is very family-friendly. Kodomo no Kuni, or Children’s Land, is a theme park that has a lot to do for younger kids and a few things for older kids as well. Yokohama Cosmo World is another amusement park that is geared towards all ages, including rides for the older kids. Other interesting activities for families include Cupnoodles Museum, Zoorasia, and Hakkeijima Sea Paradise.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Airlie Beach is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy playing in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, visiting the markets, or hanging out at the local beaches or playgrounds. If you're hoping to swim in the ocean, be very aware of the season and the conditions.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Couples?

Airlie Beach is terrific for romance. Also, Yokohama is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Airlie Beach has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples often use this as a gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. The dining scene is good and there are countless outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. There are also many different resorts in the area.

Yokohama is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. You can explore the city's impressive Chinatown, enjoy the hot springs at Minato Mirai Manyo Club, or have an adrenaline filled day at Yokohama Cosmo World. There are also many museums and entertainment centers around town.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Airlie Beach is well known for backpackers. Also, Yokohama is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Airlie Beach. If you're hoping to visit the Whitsunday Islands, then is a good place to base yourself as a backpacker. It has a decent selection of hostels and there are a number of restaurants and other dining options.

Yokohama is a good city to visit for backpackers. Most backpackers skip over this city, but there are still a number of hostels around town and some interesting activities that you can enjoy.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Students?

Yokohama is a good destination for students. However, Airlie Beach is not popular with students.

Yokohama is a good city to visit for students. Students appreciate the cosmopolitan atmosphere and high quality of the educational institutions.

Airlie Beach is not popular with students.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Yokohama is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Yokohama can move around easily with public transportation. Yokohama Station and Shin-Yokohama Station are the two main train stations. There is a subway system as well as city buses that travel around town.

Airlie Beach has some public transit options. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.

Is Yokohama or Airlie Beach a more walkable city?

Yokohama and Airlie Beach both are great when exploring on foot.

Yokohama is very walkable. Many of the central parts of the city can be explored on foot. Most of the sites are concentrated around Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and Yokohama Station, which you can walk between.

Airlie Beach is a very walkable city. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Yokohama Worth Visiting? and Is Airlie Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Airlie Beach or Yokohama?

How long in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Both Yokohama and Airlie Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Airlie Beach than in Yokohama. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Yokohama, and 4-7 days is enough time in Airlie Beach.

Families should spend more time in Yokohama than Airlie Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Yokohama, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Yokohama. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Airlie Beach that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Yokohama if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Airlie Beach.

One day in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Each neighborhood in Yokohama has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

The beautiful town of Airlie Beach offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Yokohama is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Airlie Beach is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated big city of Yokohama. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Airlie Beach is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Airlie Beach, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Yokohama is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Airlie Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Airlie Beach has to offer. This town offers something for everyone.

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 Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Yokohama and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Yokohama is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

When is the best time to visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yokohama has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Yokohama and Airlie Beach. Many travelers come to Yokohama for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Yokohama is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Yokohama averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Yokohama usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Yokohama gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Yokohama gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Yokohama usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Yokohama gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Yokohama as well as Airlie Beach. Many visitors come to Yokohama in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Yokohama is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Yokohama in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the autumn, Yokohama often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Yokohama gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Yokohama receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Yokohama usually gets more rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Yokohama gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

Both Airlie Beach and Yokohama are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Yokohama for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Yokohama is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin July. Daily temperatures in Yokohama average around 6°C (42°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. Yokohama usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Yokohama gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Yokohama usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Yokohama gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Yokohama or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

Both Airlie Beach and Yokohama during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Yokohama because of the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.

Yokohama is much colder than Airlie Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Yokohama averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Yokohama often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Yokohama gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yokohama. Yokohama usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Yokohama gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Yokohama