A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yokohama vs. Te Anau for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Yokohama or Te Anau?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Te Anau, 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. 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. See Yokohama travel costs.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a pristine, breathtaking, and stunning town. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. The famous beauty of Te Anau is one of the main draws. It's also known for food and hiking. See Te Anau travel costs.

Yokohama and Te Anau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yokohama or Te Anau?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Yokohama. Although Yokohama and Te Anau are popular destinations, Yokohama has more sights and attractions for tourists. Yokohama is very popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Te Anau attracts visitors for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Te Anau is more touristy than Yokohama and is popular for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Yokohama is famous for its tech industry, impressive Chinatown, and brightly lit skyline at night. It is also well known for the Yokohama Chinatown.

How is Yokohama different from Te Anau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Yokohama is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Te Anau offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The town is about the surrounding outdoor activities but you will find the Te Anau Vintage Machinery Museum and the Te Anau Trout Observatory in town.

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

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

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).

Te Anau has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town makes a great spot to refuel after all of your hiking and outdoor adventures. There are plenty of cafes and food trucks around town where you can enjoy local dishes and a friendly atmosphere.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau Better for Nightlife?

Yokohama is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

Yokohama has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Te Anau is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. This is a small town that's focused on outdoor activities, but it does receive a number of tourists, so you'll find a few bars around town where you can hang out.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau Better for Hiking?

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

Known for its hiking, Te Anau draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The town serves as basecamp for Fiordland National Park so there are many amazing hikes and walks in the area. Many of the hikes begin at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and range in length and the required skill level.

Yokohama is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yokohama or Te Anau?

Yokohama is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Te Anau is lacking in good 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.

Te Anau has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are shops where you can pick up any outdoor supplies and food items that you may need.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau More Beautiful?

Te Anau is terrific for its scenery and beauty. However, Yokohama is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Te Anau is one of the main draws. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, world class national parks, and spectacular views.

Yokohama is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau Better for Families?

Yokohama and Te Anau 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.

Te Anau is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The town's proximity to the Milford Sound make it a nice base for families who enjoy spending time outdoors. Kayaking or exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves are favorite activities in the area. There's also the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and many hikes nearby.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau Better for Couples?

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

Te Anau has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The stunning scenery in the area, combined with small town charm, make this is a top couple's destination and a wonderful honeymoon spot. Couples who appreciate nature and outdoor adventure will fall in love with this amazing 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 Te Anau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Te Anau 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 Te Anau. For such a small town, there are a decent number of hostels and budget accommodation options in the area. The town makes a good base for exploring the region's stunning scenery.

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 Te Anau Better for Students?

Yokohama is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Te Anau is not popular with students.

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

Te Anau is not popular with students.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau 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, Te Anau is lacking in good 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 limited or non-existant in Te Anau. Public transit in the area is limited and most visitors have their own car or join one of the many tours in the area.

Is Yokohama or Te Anau a more walkable city?

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

Te Anau is generally not very walkable. Exploring the area requires a vehicle and, while there are many hikes in the area, it's not easy to walk to many places. There are tours available for those that don't have a vehicle.

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

Should I spend more time in Te Anau or Yokohama?

How long in Yokohama or Te Anau?

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

Families should spend more time in Yokohama than Te Anau. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yokohama than Te Anau 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 Te Anau?

Because Yokohama is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Te Anau is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Yokohama or Te Anau?

Because Yokohama is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Yokohama has to offer.

Te Anau 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Te Anau, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Yokohama or Te Anau?

Yokohama is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Te Anau is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that hiking 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 Te Anau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Yokohama. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Yokohama. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Te Anau is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Yokohama or Te Anau?

Yokohama has a larger population, and is about 1720 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Yokohama and Te Anau, 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.