A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Samet vs. Chichibu-Tama-Kai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai, 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.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

Chichibu-Tama-Kai

Located at the intersection of the Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano, and Tokyo Prefectures, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park is a national park in Japan webbed with hiking trails and many ancient shrines. Mount Mitake, Mount Mitsumine, and Mount Mito are just three of the eight peaks that tower above the park at over 2000 meters, while rivers sources flowing below include the Arakawa River, Shinano River, Tama River, and Fuefuki River (Fuji River).

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Chichibu-Tama-Kai Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai?

Chichibu-Tama-Kai has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Chichibu-Tama-Kai for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Chichibu-Tama-Kai fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in July than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Chichibu-Tama-Kai receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the Autumn?

Both Chichibu-Tama-Kai and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Chichibu-Tama-Kai fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chichibu-Tama-Kai. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Chichibu-Tama-Kai receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the Winter?

Both Chichibu-Tama-Kai and Koh Samet during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Chichibu-Tama-Kai for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Chichibu-Tama-Kai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Koh Samet is much warmer than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Chichibu-Tama-Kai averages at about 4°C (39°F).

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Chichibu-Tama-Kai receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Chichibu-Tama-Kai in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Chichibu-Tama-Kai because of the natural beauty.

In April, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Chichibu-Tama-Kai fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Chichibu-Tama-Kai. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Chichibu-Tama-Kai receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chichibu-Tama-Kai and Koh Samet