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

Should you visit Shenyang or Yakushima?

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

Should I visit Shenyang or Yakushima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Shenyang or Yakushima?

Shenyang

Shenyang, China is the capital, and largest, city in the Liaoning Province in northwest China which borders North Korea. Shenyang has a long, imperial, history and is the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty. The city has a blend of beautifully preserved architecture and modern buildings, creating a pleasant atmosphere for exploring!

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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in 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 Shenyang and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Shenyang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shenyang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shenyang 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 Shenyang.

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

When is the best time to visit Shenyang 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 Shenyang or Yakushima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Shenyang as well as Yakushima.

Shenyang is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Shenyang averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Shenyang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenyang usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Shenyang gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Shenyang or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima and Shenyang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Shenyang is much colder than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shenyang in October average around 10°C (51°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. In October, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Shenyang gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Shenyang or Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima and Shenyang during the winter are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Shenyang. In January, Shenyang is generally much colder than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Shenyang average around -11°C (13°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Shenyang usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Shenyang gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Shenyang or Yakushima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenyang and Yakushima.

Shenyang is much colder than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Shenyang averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Shenyang gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yakushima and Shenyang