A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yokohama vs. Napier for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Yokohama or Napier?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Napier, 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. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Napier

Napier is a coastal, relaxed, and character-filled town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Yokohama and Napier: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yokohama or Napier?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Yokohama than Napier, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Yokohama is more popular for its shopping and big city activities, while Napier is known for its beaches and hiking. Napier is more touristy than Yokohama and is popular for its many art deco buildings, its beautiful vineyards, and the area's long sandy beaches. 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 Napier?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Yokohama and Napier have excellent landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Yokohama can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Napier. Considered an "Art Deco capital", there are many interesting buildings around town and it's worth taking an Art Deco Walk. The National Aquarium of New Zealand is also impressive as is the MTG Hawke's Bay, which is a museum, gallery, and theater in one. For something a little outside the box, you can visit the Napier Prison, which is New Zealand's oldest place of incarceration, dating back to 1862.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Yokohama and Napier.

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).

Napier has a huge number of terrific restaurants. With its many wineries and big mix of fine dining restaurants, there is plenty for a foodie to enjoy around town. You'll find restaurants that serve up New Zealand favorites as well as those that experiment with modern and trendy recipes.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Yokohama and Napier.

Yokohama is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

Many people head to Napier for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is diverse and fun. Whether you're looking for a wild party or just want to relax with a drink and some friends, there are plenty of places where you can hang out.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Beaches?

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

The beaches in Napier are among the best in the world. It's a popular beach destination and you'll find plenty of beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and playing with the kids. You'll want to head out of town to find the best and most beautiful beaches. For hidden beaches and some of the area's best surf, head to Mahia Peninsula. To escape the tourists and hang out with the locals, go to Waipatiki Beach. And for a picnic, Westshore Beach is a favorite. Waimarama Beach is another favorite in the area as well.

Yokohama is not a beach destination.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Hiking?

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

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Napier. Hawke's Bay is filled with wonderful walks and hikes. There are easy coastal paths as well as mult-day treks around Lake Waikaremoana. It's not hard to find somewhere to stretch your legs and explore the scenery.

Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yokohama or Napier?

Yokohama is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Napier is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Yokohama. 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.

Napier offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find all of the standard New Zealand retail chains as well antique and boutique shops. With its many Art Deco buildings, the city has character and personality.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Families?

Yokohama is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Napier is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Napier is a very kid-friendly city. This coastal city has a waterpark, a waterfall walk, and plenty of beaches where the family can hang out. There's also a waterfront promenade that is filled with water features and playgrounds where the kids can run around. You can also check out Hawke's Bay Farmyard Zoo or on a rainy day head to the Faraday Museum of Technology.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Couples?

Yokohama and Napier are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Yokohama frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Napier is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Surrounded by vineyards and lined with beaches, this is a great place for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon. Hop on a bike and explore the wineries or enjoy a beautiful hike through nature. There are also adrenaline-filled activities for thrill seekers or fine dining restaurants for the foodies.

Is Yokohama or Napier Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Napier 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 Napier. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of fun activities like mountain biking or white water rafting that you can enjoy.

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 Napier Better for Students?

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

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

Napier is not popular with students.

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

Yokohama is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Napier is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit in Yokohama is fairly effecient and thorough. 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 Napier. Public transit to most of the beaches is limited or nonexistent, so you really need a car if you want to get around and see everything.

Is Yokohama or Napier a more walkable city?

Yokohama is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Napier is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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.

Napier is generally not very walkable. If you stay in town you can walk to cafes and restaurants, but you really need a car if you're planning to visit beaches or explore the area in depth.

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

Should I spend more time in Napier or Yokohama?

How long in Yokohama or Napier?

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

Families should spend more time in Yokohama than Napier. 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 Napier. 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 Napier 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 Napier.

One day in Yokohama or Napier?

Yokohama is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Napier offers food and shopping. 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 Napier?

Yokohama is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Napier is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Napier, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Yokohama or Napier?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Yokohama. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Napier is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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 Napier?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful big city of Yokohama. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Napier is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yokohama and Napier, we can see that Napier is more expensive. And not only is Yokohama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yokohama is in Asia and Napier is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Yokohama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yokohama 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 Napier would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napier than you might in Yokohama.

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

Which is Bigger, Yokohama or Napier?

Yokohama has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Napier. When comparing the sizes of Yokohama and Napier, 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.