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

Should you visit Pai 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 Pai 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: Pai or Yakushima?

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.

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 The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, 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 Pai and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Pai.

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

When is the best time to visit Pai or Yakushima?

Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Yakushima. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year.

In October, Pai is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pai or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Pai is much warmer than Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pai or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round.

The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Pai