A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Matsue vs. Noosa Heads for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Matsue or Noosa Heads?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Matsue and Noosa Heads can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Matsue

Matsue is a quiet, peaceful, and pretty town. The beauty of Matsue is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Matsue travel costs.

Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads is a natural, charming, and laid back coastal town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. The beauty of Noosa Heads is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Noosa Heads travel costs.

Matsue and Noosa Heads: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Noosa Heads than Matsue, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Noosa Heads is better known for its nightlife, beaches, hiking, and small town charm, while Matsue is more popular for its museums and attractions and historical sights. Matsue is well known for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Noosa Heads is well known for its stunning beaches, natural beauty, and surfing culture. Also, Noosa Heads is famous for Noosa Main Beach.

How is Matsue different from Noosa Heads?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Matsue is a great town for its historical sights. However, Noosa Heads is not known for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

Noosa Heads offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. As a holiday destination, it is all about the beaches and laid back natural beauty. You'll find little in the form of museums, but do make your way to Laguna Lookout to take in the view.

Is the Food Better in Matsue or Noosa Heads? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Matsue and Noosa Heads can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Matsue. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Noosa Heads has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The scenic setting means that there are peaceful restaurants that look out on the sea or river. Many restaurants use local ingredients from nearby farms. Farm-to-table is a popular concept here, and there are many sustainable seafood dishes that use locally caught fish.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Nightlife?

Noosa Heads is a coastal town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Noosa Heads has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of pubs and bars that have opened around town. You'll find cocktail lounges, beer gardens, an plenty of outdoor activities to choose from.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Beaches?

Noosa Heads is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Noosa Heads is considered to be a world-class beach destination. Visitors come for the laid back vibe and the spectacular beaches. For swimming, head to Noosa Main Beach. There's also surfing at the Noosa World Surfing Reserve and a peaceful and natural setting at Noosa National park.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a town with good options for its old town. However, Noosa Heads does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Matsue. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Noosa Heads does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Hiking?

Noosa Heads is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Noosa Heads. There are hiking trails that take in the coastal views or you can head inland and wander through wooded landscapes. Some of the best hiking trails are found at Noosa National Park.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Noosa Heads and Matsue.

Matsue offers some nice shopping areas. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Noosa Heads has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The main shopping street through town is Hastings Street. It's where you'll find beachside boutiques, impressive art galleries, as well as international brands.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads More Beautiful?

Matsue and Noosa Heads are somewhat similar when it comes to the great scenery.

The beauty of Matsue is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. This is a pretty town with a peaceful atmosphere, beautiful gardens, and a lakefront setting.

With stunning beauty, Noosa Heads attracts visitors from all around. It's stunning natural beauty, breathtaking beaches, and nearby green spaces have made this a popular holiday destination.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Families?

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

Noosa Heads is a very kid-friendly coastal town. There are playgrounds and green space where you can picnic at the Noosa Villages. Kids will also enjoy taking ferry rides and exploring Noosa National Park. Also nearby is the impressive K'Gari (Fraser Island).

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Couples?

Noosa Heads is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Noosa Heads frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's filled with romantic beaches and fun outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking. There are plenty of places to hike and explore, as well as sunset cruises and dolphin spotting tours. You can also unwind with a spa day or sip wine by the sea.

Matsue is a good town for couples to visit. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Noosa Heads is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Noosa Heads is a great coastal town to visit for backpackers. The laid back atmosphere makes this a long running stop for backpackers to Australia. There are a number of hostels to choose from and many ways to explore nature.

Plenty of backpackers visit Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is a great town for times when you don't have a car. Also, Noosa Heads is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its public transit.

Public transit in Matsue can get you to some places easily. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

Noosa Heads has a few public transit options. There's a ferry that travels along the river. There are also buses that travel to local destinations.

Is Matsue or Noosa Heads a more walkable city?

Matsue and Noosa Heads both are great when exploring on foot.

Matsue is a very walkable town. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Noosa Heads is a very walkable destination. It's fun to explore the town and surrounding areas on foot. There are walking and bike paths throughout.

For even more information, also check out Is Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Noosa Heads Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Noosa Heads or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

It's fun to spend time in either Matsue or Noosa Heads. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Noosa Heads due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 2-4 days is enough time in Noosa Heads.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Noosa Heads than Matsue 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 Noosa Heads.

One day in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic town of Matsue. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Noosa Heads might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the pretty destination of Matsue. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Noosa Heads is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

The serene town of Matsue offers museums and food. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Noosa Heads. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

A week in Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Matsue. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Noosa Heads is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Noosa Heads?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Noosa Heads. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Noosa Heads, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Matsue or Noosa Heads?

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

Should I visit Matsue or Noosa Heads in the Summer?

Both Noosa Heads and Matsue during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Matsue because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.

Matsue is a little warmer than Noosa Heads in the summer. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in January.

Noosa Heads gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in July than Noosa Headsin January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Noosa Heads. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Matsue this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Matsue is a little warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Matsue in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 14°C (58°F)in April.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Matsue usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Matsue or Noosa Heads in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Noosa Heads. Many travelers come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Noosa Heads in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Matsue. In January, Matsue is generally much colder than Noosa Headsin July. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 4°C (39°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the winter. Matsue usually gets more rain in January than Noosa Headsin July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Noosa Heads in the Spring?

Both Noosa Heads and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Matsue in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

Matsue is around the same temperature as Noosa Heads in the spring. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. In April, Matsue usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Matsue