A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pai vs. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

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 Pai and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. 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: Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Spanning the Japanese prefectures of Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a natural area with beautiful scenery as well as a number of popular tourist spots. Some of its highlights include Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands, offering a geographic range of natural hot springs, coastlines, mountainous areas, lakes, and more than 1,000 volcanic islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, we can see that Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park?

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Pai is generally a little warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Pai is much warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite rainy in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Winter?

Both Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Pai is much warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park averages at about 5°C (42°F).

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pai or Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the Spring?

Both Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Pai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park because of the natural beauty.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally much warmer than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Pai