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

Should you visit Longsheng 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 Longsheng 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: Longsheng or Yakushima?

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

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 China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Longsheng or Yakushima?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Longsheng or Yakushima in the Summer?

Both Yakushima and Longsheng during the summer are popular places to visit.

Longsheng is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. Longsheng usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Longsheng gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Yakushima in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Longsheng and Yakushima.

In the autumn, Longsheng is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Longsheng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Longsheng usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Longsheng gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Longsheng or Yakushima in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Longsheng as well as Yakushima.

In January, Longsheng is generally cooler than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Longsheng average around 10°C (49°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Longsheng usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Longsheng gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Longsheng or Yakushima in the Spring?

Both Yakushima and Longsheng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Longsheng is a little warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Longsheng averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Longsheng. In April, Longsheng usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Longsheng gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Longsheng