A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Kamakura for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Hiking

Should you visit Bandung or Kamakura?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Kamakura? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bandung

Bandung is a cultural, scenic, and laidback city. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums. See Bandung travel costs.

Kamakura

Kamakura is a quaint, charming, and laid back coastal city. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Kamakura travel costs.

Bandung and Kamakura: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bandung or Kamakura?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Kamakura than Bandung. While Bandung is larger than Kamakura, Kamakura has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kamakura is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Bandung is known for its food, hiking, and shopping. Bandung is popular for its fashion and shopping outlets, its local street food, and its cooler temperatures. Kamakura is popular for its historic temples and shrines as well as its popular beaches. It is also home to the Great Buddha.

How is Bandung different from Kamakura?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bandung or Kamakura?

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Bandung or Kamakura.

Bandung offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with museums and landmarks like the Sri Baduga Museum, which displays prehistoric artifacts. There's also the Asian African Conference Museum, a geology museum, and the Indonesia Postal Museum. The Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum shows items relating to Indonesian wars and weapons while the Virajati Seskoad Museum has information on the Indonesian Army school.

Many visitors head to Kamakura specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. This ancient city is filled with historic landmarks such as the Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Hachimangu Shrine, among many others.

Is the Food Better in Bandung or Kamakura? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bandung is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Bandung is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city is a wonderful foodie destination with tons of street food and local options. The population is predominantly Sundanese, and the cuisine reflects that. The dishes involve a lot of raw vegetables and fresh ingredients. Make sure you try the batagor (fried tofu), soto Bandung (meat soup), and siomay (fish or chicken dumplings).

Kamakura has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Dining is part of the fun in this beautiful town. There are many great restaurants where you can sample luxury dishes, but there are also street food stalls with egg pancakes or noodle dishes.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Nightlife?

Kamakura is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Kamakura has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a diverse mix of bars and music venues. The nightlife scene is particularly active during the summer months when visitors head to the beach, but throughout the year you'll find tachinomiya standing bars, international style pubs, and jazz clubs where locals like to hang out.

Bandung has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a large student population and a number of bars around town. The nightlife has a laidback vibe and many people enjoy hanging out with friends a local pub.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Beaches?

Kamakura is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bandung is not a beach destination.

Kamakura is a good option for a beach vacation. Many locals from Tokyo or Yokohama head here during July and August to cool off at the beach, relax in the sun, and go surfing. The beaches can get crowded, but they're long and sandy and can make for a nice escape.

Bandung is not a beach destination.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for its Old Town?

Kamakura is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Bandung does not have a historic old town.

Kamakura is a good destination for visiting its old town. It's a quaint historic town with many shrines, temples, and historic landmarks that reflect its long running political past.

Bandung does not have a historic old town.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Hiking?

Bandung is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its hiking trails.

Bandung is a popular spot for hiking. There are tons of great hiking trails just outside of town. Some are undiscovered while others are more popular. The trails will take you through forests, by volcanoes, and to dramatic craters.

Many people include a hike when visiting Kamakura. Just outside of town there are many hiking trails that crisscross through the wooded hills and connect the many temples. Many of the trails are relatively short and take just an hour or two to complete.

Is the Shopping Better in Bandung or Kamakura?

Bandung is an unbeatable place for shopping. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Bandung is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. This is the ultimate shopping destination in Indonesia. Visitors come from throughout the country and abroad to buy designer goods and name brands, often at a discount price. You'll find both knock-offs and authentic merchandise, so be aware when you're purchasing something, which you might be buying.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kamakura. While the city itself is ancient, you can head to Kamakura Komachi-dori Street to find trendy boutiques and modern shopping. This is a popular place to pick up a souvenir or check out the current fashions.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bandung or Kamakura.

Bandung is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy taking in a cultural show with traditional dance and music. Near the city you can also get outside and enjoy the stunning scenery at White Crater or Gunung Tangkuban Perahu. There's also the Bandung Geological Museum and Trans Studio amusement park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kamakura. It's a town that's filled with history and character, which isn't every kids cup of tea. If you're traveling with young kids you might want to head to beach for a bit. There are also ice cream and donut shops that you can use as well to break up the sightseeing.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bandung and Kamakura make for a high quality place to visit.

Bandung makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While most honeymooners make their way to a beautiful Indonesian beach, if you're looking for a break from the heat then this city makes a good stopover. The city is near many beautiful outdoor settings such as the White Crater. There are also many nice luxury resorts and hotels.

Couples visit Kamakura frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Many couples enjoy visiting this quaint town as a day trip from Tokyo. There are impressive temples as well as restaurants and gardens.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bandung is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Bandung. Backpackers love Indonesia and this city is no exception. There are plenty of hostels around town and many great activities to enjoy.

Kamakura is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo, but there are also some affordable hostels that make it an easy place to spend the night.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Students?

Bandung is a popular place for students. However, Kamakura is not popular with students.

Bandung is a good city to visit for students. Many of the expats in town are students, so you'll have a number of people to hang out with. This is also an affordable town for study abroad.

Kamakura is not popular with students.

Is Bandung or Kamakura Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Bandung and Kamakura.

Bandung has some public transit options. There are both public buses and a public van service (Angkutan Kota) that operates on set routes.

You'll find some public transit in Kamakura, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a city bus system, but for the more remote places you'll want to take a taxi.

Is Bandung or Kamakura a more walkable city?

Bandung is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Kamakura is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Bandung is very walkable. There are a number of walkable neighborhoods around town.

Kamakura is a somewhat walkable place. It's a small city, and most of the sights can be reached on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bandung Worth Visiting? and Is Kamakura Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kamakura or Bandung?

How long in Bandung or Kamakura?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bandung or Kamakura to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bandung than Kamakura because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bandung, and 1-2 days is enough time in Kamakura.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bandung than Kamakura 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 Bandung.

One day in Bandung or Kamakura?

The city of Bandung 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.

In Kamakura, you'll find nightlife and food. This coastal city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Bandung or Kamakura?

Bandung is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city 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 Bandung, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Kamakura, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Kamakura has to offer.

Five days in Bandung or Kamakura?

Bandung 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.

Kamakura 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.

A week in Bandung or Kamakura?

Bandung 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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bandung or Kamakura?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kamakura. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Kamakura, 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.