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

Should you visit Koyasan or Wellington?

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 Wellington. 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 traditional, peaceful, and serene town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Koyasan is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food. See Koyasan travel costs.

Wellington

Wellington is a compact, laid-back, and funky city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Wellington travel costs.

Koyasan and Wellington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koyasan or Wellington?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Wellington than Koyasan, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Wellington is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Koyasan is more popular for its museums and attractions, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Koyasan is well known for its temple complex, spiritual history, and being the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Wellington is well known for its waterfront promenade, quirky cafe culture, and relaxing beaches. Also, Wellington is famous for Zealandia Ecosanctuary.

How is Koyasan different from Wellington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Koyasan is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Koyasan offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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).

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Wellington. As the capital city, you'll find a number of museums and sights around town. Check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Beehive, the Wellington Museum, and the City Gallery.

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

Wellington 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 Wellington. There are waterfront restaurants and a vibrant cafe scene around town. You'll also find local markets and many diverse eateries that you can explore.

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 Wellington Better for Nightlife?

Wellington is a great destination for nightlife and partying. However, Koyasan is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

The people in Wellington know how to have a good time. The best nightlife scene is found along Courtenay Place. There you'll find nightclubs, pubs, and cocktail bars. Cuba Street is another fun area with a bit more of a local vibe, and the waterfront is another great nightlife district in the city.

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 Wellington Better for Beaches?

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

Many people visit Wellington for it's beautiful beaches. There are nice beaches within walking distance of the city center. There are also beaches that are well worth the drive if you're looking to get a bit out of town. In the summer months, there are swimming beaches, and year around they have nice views and a good atmosphere.

Koyasan is not a beach destination.

Is Koyasan or Wellington Better for its Old Town?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its old town. However, Wellington does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Koyasan. The town center is filled with spiritual temples and many people prefer to do a temple stay for a night.

Wellington does not have a historic old town.

Is Koyasan or Wellington Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Koyasan and Wellington, and they are notable.

Koyasan offers some nice hiking trails. 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.

Wellington is a good destination for hiking. The area has rolling hills and beautiful coastlines that are filled with walking trails and scenic views. Some of the more popular trails in the area are the Red Rocks walk and the City-to-Sea walk.

Is the Shopping Better in Koyasan or Wellington?

Wellington is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Wellington is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. For the city's best shopping, head to the "Golden Mile". This is the area defined by Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. There are boutique designers and high end fashion outlets throughout the area. The city also has many great markets and local shopping areas.

Koyasan is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Koyasan or Wellington More Beautiful?

Koyasan is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Wellington is not a destination known for its beauty.

Koyasan is a beautiful place to visit, too. The town is quaint and filled with history and spirituality.

Wellington is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Koyasan or Wellington Better for Families?

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

Wellington is a very kid-friendly city. There's the Wellington Zoo as well as Island Bay Marine Education Centre, both of which are great for animal-lovers. Waitangi Park is a nice park where kids can run around and play, and if you're looking for something indoors, head to the Space Place at Carter Observatory. If everyone needs some down time, there's always the beach with is fun to hang out at.

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 Wellington Better for Couples?

Koyasan is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Koyasan makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Wellington is a good town for couples to visit. The botanical gardens are beautiful to explore, and there is also a bird sanctuary in the area as well. Couple's will also enjoy the many nice restaurants and beautiful outdoor space around town.

Is Koyasan or Wellington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Wellington is a great city to visit for backpackers. Located on the south side of the North Island, many backpackers use this city as a gateway to the South Island. There are many hostels around town and other fellow backpackers to hang out with.

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 Wellington Better for Students?

Wellington is a good destination for students. However, Koyasan is not popular with students.

Wellington is popular with students. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is a nice setting for students.

Koyasan is not popular with students.

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

Wellington is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Koyasan is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Wellington has some very good public transit options. There are city buses, trains, and ferries that are popular with tourists and locals alike.

While Koyasan offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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.

Is Koyasan or Wellington a more walkable city?

Koyasan and Wellington both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Wellington is a very walkable destination. This is one of New Zealand's most walkable cities and it has a compact city center.

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

Should I spend more time in Wellington or Koyasan?

How long in Koyasan or Wellington?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Wellington 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 Wellington.

One day in Koyasan or Wellington?

Koyasan might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Koyasan, one day is sufficent for most.

In Wellington, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Koyasan or Wellington?

Even though Koyasan is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

In Wellington, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Wellington has to offer.

Five days in Koyasan or Wellington?

Koyasan, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Wellington 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 Wellington?

Koyasan is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Wellington. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Wellington. 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, 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 Koyasan and Wellington, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Koyasan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koyasan is in Asia and Wellington 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 Koyasan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koyasan 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington than you might in Koyasan.

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

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Wellington?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington 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 Wellington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Wellington. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Koyasan is much warmer than Wellington in the summer. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wellington. In the summer, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun.

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan usually gets more rain in July than Wellingtonin January. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Wellington in the Autumn?

Both Wellington and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Koyasan is a little warmer than Wellington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koyasan in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Wellington averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.

Koyasan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wellington during autumn. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In October, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin April. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koyasan or Wellington in the Winter?

Both Wellington and Koyasan during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Koyasan is generally much colder than Wellingtonin July. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 6°C (42°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In the winter, Koyasan often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.

Wellington gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koyasan usually gets less rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Wellington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Wellington. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches.

Koyasan is a little warmer than Wellington in the spring. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

Koyasan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wellington during spring. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koyasan usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Wellington and Koyasan