A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tiger Leaping Gorge vs. Kyoto for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tiger Leaping Gorge or Kyoto?

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Kyoto. 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: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Kyoto?

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

Kyoto

Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Kyoto or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
    China Prices
    Kyoto Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $54
    Kyoto $118

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54, while the average daily cost in Kyoto is $118. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tiger Leaping Gorge and Kyoto in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
    Kyoto $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
    Kyoto $132
Compare Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge and Kyoto

Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge or Kyoto? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


Hotels in Kyoto


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kyoto Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17
    Kyoto $7.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:

  • Kyoto Gion & Fushimi E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $132
  • Naruto & Boruto at Nijigen no Mori Entry & Transfer: $47
  • Minivan Departure Transfer from Kyoto City to Kansai Airport KIX: $260
  • Private Transfer from Maizuru Cruise Port to Osaka Airport (ITM): $155
  • Private Transfer from Maizuru Port to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX): $226
  • Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $115
  • Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Osaka Itami International airport: $83
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Kyoto City to Osaka Itami Airport: $108

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiger Leaping Gorge or Kyoto?

Prices for flights to both Kyoto and Tiger Leaping Gorge change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
    Kyoto $43

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.

  • Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $48
  • Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $55
  • 1 hour Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki cooking class in Kyoto: $61
  • Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $75
  • Bento Box Cooking Class: $75
  • Ramen Bowl Painting & Cooking in Gion, Kyoto: $76
  • Japanese Cuisine Cooking Class in Kyoto: $76
  • Kyoto Ramen Bowl Painting and Michelin Cooking Class: $76
  • Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guide: $83
  • Private Japanese Home Cooking Class in Kyoto with Michiyo: $86
  • Japanese 'Bento' cooking class in Kyoto: $89
  • Experience 'IZAKAYA' food cooking class in Kyoto: $89

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
    Kyoto $13

Tours and Activities in Kyoto

Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Hidden Temples in Kyoto a Self-Guided Zen Tour: $3.57
  • Fushimi Inari Shrine: Explore the 1,000 Torii Gates on an audio walking tour: $7.99
  • Kyoto Fushimi Inari Taisha Walking Tour with Audioguide: $8.35
  • Kyoto Self-Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Nidec Kyoto Tower Observation Deck Admission Ticket: $15
  • Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: 3-Hour Guided Tour: $20
  • Kyoto Fushimi Sake Night Tour -Monitor tour-: $21
  • Kyoto Running Tour with Locals: $21
  • simple kimono plan&Gorgeous kimono experience: $21
  • Nishiki Market Street Food and Sake Tour in Kyoto -Monitor tour-: $21
  • Private Walking Tour Kiyomizu Temple & Yasaka Shrine Monitor tour: $21
  • Sagano Romantic Train Ticket: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46
    Kyoto $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto

Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Kyoto Local Bar Crawl in Kawaramachi Area: $42
  • Kyoto Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $65
  • Kyoto Kyo-Yuzen Craft Workshop Day Tour and Sake Brewery Visit : $141


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

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