A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Katoomba vs. Yakushima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Katoomba or Yakushima?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Katoomba and Yakushima. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Katoomba or Yakushima?

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Katoomba and Yakushima, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Katoomba is in Pacific and Yakushima is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

When is the best time to visit Katoomba or Yakushima?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Katoomba is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Yakushima has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Katoomba or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Katoomba are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In the summer, Katoomba is cooler than Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Katoomba in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Katoomba. In January, Katoomba usually receives less rain than Yakushimain July. Katoomba gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Katoomba or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Katoomba during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Katoomba for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In April, Katoomba is generally cooler than Yakushimain October. Daily temperatures in Katoomba average around 18°C (65°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Katoomba usually gets less rain in April than Yakushimain October. Katoomba gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Katoomba or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Katoomba and Yakushima. Many visitors come to Katoomba in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Katoomba is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Katoomba averages around 11°C (51°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Katoomba usually receives less rain than Yakushimain January. Katoomba gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Katoomba or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Katoomba as well as Yakushima. Most visitors come to Katoomba for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Katoomba is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Katoomba in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Katoomba usually gets less rain in October than Yakushimain April. Katoomba gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Katoomba