A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yokohama vs. Nelson for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Yokohama or Nelson?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Nelson, 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 laid-back, diverse, and bright city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Nelson

Nelson is a outdoorsy, adventure-filled, and natural city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Yokohama and Nelson: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yokohama or Nelson?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Yokohama than Nelson, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Yokohama is more popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Nelson is known for its beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Nelson is more touristy than Yokohama and is known for its stunning national parks, beautiful coastline, and outdoor adventures. 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 Nelson?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Yokohama is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Nelson offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. While most people spend their time enjoying the nature-oriented activities, there are several museums in the area as well. Founder's Heritage Park Museum is a village-like setting that you can explore. There's also the Nelson Classic Car Museum and local art and craft galleries that are fun to walk through.

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

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

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).

Nelson has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Local ingredients, vineyards, and craft breweries all make the foodie scene around town interesting. There are many great restaurants that offer seasonal menus that change with the season. Eating is an experience in town, and locals take pride in the food they produce.

Is Yokohama or Nelson Better for Nightlife?

Yokohama is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city 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 Nelson. The city attracts a good tourist crowd, and there are bars and clubs that keep things interesting late into the evening.

Is Yokohama or Nelson Better for Beaches?

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

The beaches in Nelson are among the best in the world. Beaches in the area are sandy and most are great for swimming. There are many water sports available as well such as kayaking, kite surfing, and paddleboarding. You'll find locals and tourists alike hanging out at the beach and enjoying a barbecue.

Yokohama is not a beach destination.

Is Yokohama or Nelson Better for Hiking?

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

Known for its hiking, Nelson draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The area is filled with walking and hiking trails that wander along the coast and soak up the spectacular views. There are also three national parks in the area that are filled with trails. Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park, and Nelson Lakes National Park each have their own environments and scenery to explore.

Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yokohama or Nelson?

Yokohama is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city 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 Nelson. There are weekly markets in the area and a variety of retail shops where you can pick up anything you might need.

Is Yokohama or Nelson Better for Families?

Yokohama and Nelson are both first-rate destinations for the whole family.

Yokohama is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. 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.

Nelson is an extremely popular city to visit for families. Surrounded by family-friendly national parks, this city has a number of things for kids to do. In particularly, Abel Tasman National Park is a highlight for kids, with canoeing, sailing and other activities. Kids will also enjoy a visit to Cable Bay Adventure Park or seeing the historically themed Founders Park.

Is Yokohama or Nelson Better for Couples?

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

Nelson has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Wilderness, national parks, beaches, and mountain scenery make this a wonderful couples destination. The area also has beautiful vineyards and gardens as well hiking and outdoor adventures.

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 Nelson Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nelson is terrific for backpackers. Also, Yokohama is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Nelson is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are many hostels in the area as well as outdoor activities and adventure sports that backpackers will love.

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 Nelson Better for Students?

Yokohama is a city with good options for students. However, Nelson 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.

Nelson is not popular with students.

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

Yokohama is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Nelson is not a good city 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Nelson. The city has a local bus network, but to efficiently explore everything that the area has to offer, you'll want to have a car.

Is Yokohama or Nelson a more walkable city?

Yokohama and Nelson both are high quality 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.

Nelson is a very walkable city. There are many great walks in the area and its a wonderful way to get around.

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

Should I spend more time in Nelson or Yokohama?

How long in Yokohama or Nelson?

In either Yokohama or Nelson, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Nelson than Yokohama because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Yokohama, and 3-5 days is enough time in Nelson.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nelson 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 Nelson.

One day in Yokohama or Nelson?

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

The beautiful city of Nelson 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Nelson, 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 Nelson?

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.

Nelson 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 city 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 Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Yokohama or Nelson?

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