A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koyasan vs. Picton for Attractions, Food, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Koyasan or Picton?

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 Koyasan and Picton. 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.

Koyasan

Koyasan is a spiritual, traditional, and peaceful town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Koyasan offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and hiking. See Koyasan travel costs.

Picton

Picton is a relaxing, picturesque, and scenic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Picton travel costs.

Koyasan and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koyasan or Picton?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Picton. Although Koyasan and Picton are both popular with visitors, Picton has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Picton is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, hiking, and shopping, while Koyasan is known for its museums and attractions, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Koyasan is popular for its temple complex, spiritual history, and being the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Picton is popular for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails. It is also home to the Queen Charlotte Track.

How is Koyasan different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koyasan or Picton?

Koyasan is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Koyasan. This spiritual destination is filled with temples. Some of the most notable are Okunoin Temple, Torodo Hall, Kongobuji Temple, Danjo Garan, and Daimon (the Great Gate).

Picton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

Is the Food Better in Koyasan or Picton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picton is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Picton. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

Koyasan is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are cafes in town that serve simple udon noodle dishes and other local options. If you do a temple stay, it will likely include a meal, which is usually vegetarian and prepared by Buddhist monks. A typical menu includes miso soup, soba, pickled vegetables, tofu, tempura vegetables, rice, tea, and melon. Breakfast is similar but smaller in size.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Nightlife?

Picton is a town with a few options for nightlife and partying. However, Koyasan is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Picton is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Koyasan This spiritual town is not a place for nightlife, but it is fascinating to take a night tour of the area.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Beaches?

Picton is a great destination for the beach. However, Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Picton for it's beautiful beaches. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for its Old Town?

Koyasan is a well-known place for its historic old town charm. However, Picton does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Koyasan. The town center is filled with spiritual temples and many people prefer to do a temple stay for a night.

Picton does not have a historic old town.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Hiking?

Picton is a great destination for its hiking experiences. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Picton. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

Koyasan is a good destination for hiking. Most people arrive by cable car, but this area has been a long running pilgrim destination and you'll find many historic pilgrimage trails that are still in the area. The Koyasan Choishi Michi trail is one of the most well known.

Is the Shopping Better in Koyasan or Picton?

Picton is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Picton offers some nice shopping areas. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Koyasan or Picton More Beautiful?

Koyasan is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Picton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Koyasan offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The town is quaint and filled with history and spirituality.

Picton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Families?

Picton is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Picton is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

Koyasan offers lots of family activities. It's filled with history, so its best to recognize your kid's limits when it comes to that sort of thing. If you're planning to do a temple stay, then consider how your child might handle the situation and make sure you reach out to let them know you have a child before reserving.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Couples?

Koyasan and Picton both excellent destinations for a couple.

Couples visit Koyasan frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. A temple stay in Koyasan is a truly unique experience that immerses you in the culture and lifestyle of the area. It's a truly one-of-a-kind experience for couples who like to do things outside of the box.

Picton is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Picton is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Koyasan. It's not your typical backpacker destination and most visitors prefer to experience a temple stay while in the area. If that's not your style, there is a hostel nearby.

Is Koyasan or Picton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Koyasan and Picton.

You'll find some public transit in Koyasan, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. To get to town you'll take a cable car and then a bus (or taxi, but you can't walk). Once you're in town, almost everything is in the town center and doesn't require transit.

While Picton offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Koyasan or Picton a more walkable city?

Koyasan and Picton both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Koyasan is a very walkable town. Once you reach the town its relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.

Picton is a very walkable destination. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Koyasan Worth Visiting? and Is Picton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Picton or Koyasan?

How long in Koyasan or Picton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Koyasan or Picton to fill your time. In our opinion, Picton has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Picton than Koyasan. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Picton than Koyasan. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Picton, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton than Koyasan 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 Picton.

One day in Koyasan or Picton?

Koyasan might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Picton, you'll find museums and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town 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 Koyasan or Picton?

Koyasan 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.

In Picton, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Picton has to offer.

Five days in Koyasan or Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Koyasan. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Picton is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Koyasan or Picton?

Koyasan is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Picton. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Picton. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.

When comparing the travel costs between Koyasan and Picton, we can see that Picton 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 Koyasan is in Asia and Picton is in Pacific, 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 Koyasan Expensive? and Is Picton Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Picton?

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

Should I visit Koyasan or Picton in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Picton. The summer months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

In the summer, Koyasan is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koyasan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Picton averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.

Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Pictonin January. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koyasan or Picton in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Picton. The hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Picton for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Koyasan is generally a little warmer than Pictonin April. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 19°C (65°F), and Picton fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koyasan usually gets more rain in October than Pictonin April. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Picton in the Winter?

Both Picton and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Picton in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Koyasan is much colder than Picton in the winter. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 6°C (42°F) in January, and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Picton. In January, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Pictonin July. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koyasan or Picton in the Spring?

Both Picton and Koyasan during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Picton for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Koyasan is a little warmer than Picton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koyasan in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Picton averages at about 13°C (55°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koyasan. Koyasan usually gets more rain in April than Pictonin October. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Picton and Koyasan