A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Yokohama vs. Dewa Sanzan for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan, 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 colorful, under-rated, and laid-back city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan is a remote, traditional, and religious religious site. It's also known for hiking and museums.

Yokohama and Dewa Sanzan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Yokohama. Although Yokohama and Dewa Sanzan are popular destinations, Yokohama has more sights and attractions for tourists. Yokohama is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Dewa Sanzan attracts visitors for its hiking. Yokohama is more touristy than Dewa Sanzan and is popular for its tech industry, impressive Chinatown, and brightly lit skyline at night. It is also well known for the Yokohama Chinatown. Dewa Sanzan is famous for its traditional religion, three sacred mountains, and the Shukubo Pilgrim Lodges.

How is Yokohama different from Dewa Sanzan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Dewa Sanzan is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Yokohama specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Dewa Sanzan. This is a sacred religious site that is at the heart of the Shugendo folk religion. The religion combines Buddhist and Shinto traditions and there are several temples in the area including the most sacred sights at Yudono-san, Haguro-san, and Gas-san, as well as the Churenji and Dainichibo Temples.

Is the Food Better in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Yokohama has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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).

Dewa Sanzan may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. In your guesthouse you'll be given "Shojin cuisine", which is the traditional cuisine that has been handed down through the generations. It is strictly vegetarian and is heavily influenced by whatever vegetable is currently in season in the area. Traditionally, the cuisine focused on sustenance and not taste, but for the purposes of hospitality, the dishes are more flavorful than is typical in the traditional cuisine.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Nightlife?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

Yokohama has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Dewa Sanzan. This is a religious site that is remote and focused on mountain worship and devotion. Nightlife is non-existent in the area.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Hiking?

Dewa Sanzan is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Dewa Sanzan. Experienced hikers can climb Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono in one day and do Mt. Haguro separately. For Mt. Gassan, you'll want to take the bus to the 8th station and climb from there.

Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its shopping areas.

Yokohama is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Dewa Sanzan has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. This is a sacred sight that is devoted to worship and a simple life. As such, shopping in not available in the area with the exception of a couple of convenience stores.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Families?

Yokohama is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Yokohama is one of the most popular family destinations. 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.

Dewa Sanzan is not such a family-friendly city. The remote location make this a challenging place to access. It's a religious destination and its sacred and historic past is often lost to children. Out of respect for the strict religion, this site is best visited as an adult.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Couples?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Dewa Sanzan is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Yokohama makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

Dewa Sanzan is a good city for couples to visit. Couples who want to do something that's a bit different from mainstream Japan will appreciate a visit to this religious site.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yokohama and Dewa Sanzan are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Dewa Sanzan is a good city to visit for backpackers. This is an off-the-beaten-path destination for backpackers, and it can be difficult to reach by public transit. Once you're there, if you want a traditional experience, you can stay at a Shukubo Pilgrim Lodge.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan Better for Students?

Yokohama is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Dewa Sanzan is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Yokohama. Students appreciate the cosmopolitan atmosphere and high quality of the educational institutions.

Dewa Sanzan is not popular with students.

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

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its public transit.

Yokohama has some very good public transit options. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Dewa Sanzan. There is public transit from Tsuruoka Station to Mt. Haguro and the accommodation in the area. There are also buses to the top of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Yudono, and Mt. Gassan 8th Station.

Is Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan a more walkable city?

Yokohama is an excellent place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its ease of walking around.

Yokohama is a very walkable city. 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.

Dewa Sanzan is generally not very walkable. Everything is very spread out so walking can be challenging. Experienced hikers will enjoy hiking to each of the three shrines.

For even more information, also check out Is Yokohama Worth Visiting? and Is Dewa Sanzan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dewa Sanzan or Yokohama?

How long in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Yokohama and Dewa Sanzan. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dewa Sanzan than in Yokohama. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Yokohama, and 2-3 days is enough time in Dewa Sanzan.

Families should spend more time in Yokohama than Dewa Sanzan. 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 Yokohama than Dewa Sanzan. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Yokohama that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yokohama than Dewa Sanzan 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 Yokohama.

One day in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

Yokohama is a bright city where you can fill many days. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The religious site of Dewa Sanzan offers museums. 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 Dewa Sanzan?

Yokohama is a diverse big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Dewa Sanzan is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this religious site makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dewa Sanzan, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

The under-rated city of Yokohama offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Dewa Sanzan is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Yokohama. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Dewa Sanzan is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This religious site 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 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan?

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 Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Yokohama as well as Dewa Sanzan. Most visitors come to Yokohama for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the hiking.

In the summer, Yokohama is around the same temperature as Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yokohama in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Yokohama often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama receives a lot of rain in the summer. Yokohama usually gets less rain in July than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Yokohama are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Yokohama because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails are the main draw to Dewa Sanzan this time of year.

In October, Yokohama is generally a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Yokohama average around 18°C (64°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Yokohama usually receives less sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during autumn. Yokohama gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Dewa Sanzan. It's quite rainy in Yokohama. In October, Yokohama usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Yokohama during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Yokohama this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Dewa Sanzan for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the winter. The daily temperature in Yokohama averages around 6°C (42°F) in January, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around -1°C (30°F).

In the winter, Yokohama often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun.

Dewa Sanzan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Yokohama usually gets less rain in January than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Yokohama or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Yokohama and Dewa Sanzan. Many travelers come to Yokohama for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Yokohama is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yokohama in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 9°C (47°F).

Yokohama usually receives less sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during spring. Yokohama gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.

Yokohama gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Yokohama usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Yokohama gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Yokohama