Tour Overview
On this 16-day East Asia tour, you can get the perfect fusion of ancient traditions and modern marvels through China and Japan. Explore Tokyo’s vibrant cityscape and Kyoto’s historic sites, stroll around tranquil gardens and experience geisha culture.
Immerse yourself in China’s imperial past in Beijing, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, and marvel at Shanghai’s modern wonders. From tranquil hot springs in Hakone to free time in Osaka, this Japan and China tour blends cultural immersion, food delights, and breathtaking views.
Highlights of This Tour
- Explore both the ancient shrines and modern skyscrapers in Tokyo.
- Visit some of famous attractions in Hakone with the Hakone Freepass.
- Learn about the geisha culture in Kyoto.
- Encounter friendly deer in Nara Park and gain an understanding of the art of matcha.
- Wear traditional Japanese attire and experience Beijing hutong life, connecting deeply with local customs and traditions.
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Beijing: the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven.
- Hike on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and be amazed by the feat of engineering.
- Marvel at a magnificent archaeological wonder – Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an.
- Wander through the bustling Muslim Quarter to find some delicious street food.
- Capture the skyline of Shanghai from the Shanghai Tower.
Itinerary
Welcome to our 16-day tour in East Asia of Japan and China! Upon your arrival in Tokyo, your English-speaking guide and driver will meet you at the airport and then transfer you to your well-selected hotel.
After check-in, take a leisurely walk around the hotel. You can see modern skyscrapers and typical Japanese architecture. Japanese cuisine (にほんりょうり) is also worth trying for dinner.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Tokyo
After breakfast, the tour guide will pick you up in the hotel lobby. Start today’s Japan tour in Tokyo at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. It was built in 1920 to worship Emperor Meiji and Empress Zhaoxian. Here, tourists can admire the architectural style of Japan’s most representative shrines.
After the visit, go to explore Omotesando Street, one of Tokyo’s most famous shopping destinations. You can see world-class boutique shops, the most fashionable cafes, and contemporary architecture.
Next is Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo. According to legend, in 628 AD, two fishermen caught a 5.5 centimeter high golden statue while fishing, and nearby families raised funds to build a temple to worship this Buddha statue.
Afterward, you will get the panoramic view of the city from the Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest tower. Last, visit one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, Shibuya Crossing.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Tokyo
In the morning, guided by your private tour guide, you will visit Tsukiji Fish Market, the largest fish market in Japan with an area of approximately 230,000 square meters. You can taste exquisite seafood sushi here.
Afterwards, be transferred to Hama Rikyu Gardens, one of the oldest surviving courtyards in Tokyo. Built by the sea, modeled after West Lake in Hangzhou, China, this garden features a long stone embankment and a tidal pond.
Japanese anime occupies a very important position in global anime culture. Today you will be taken to a coffee shop themed around anime. Here you will see various anime decorations, taste a cup of Japanese matcha latte, and learn more about representative anime characters.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Tokyo
Hakone is the hometown of hot springs and a health resort in Japan. After breakfast, you will take a comfortable express train to Hakone (around 1.5 hours). After arrival, the remaining time is at your disposal. You can experience traditional onsen or explore Hakone Open Air Museum.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Hakone
Today is a free day of your tour in Japan. You can visit some of Hakone attractions on your own through the Hakone Freepass, which includes buses, cable cars, cableways, trains, and sightseeing cruises.
You can take the Hakone Ropeway to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Mount Fuji, cruise on Lake Ashi, and visit the Hakone Shrine. The shrine was built in 757 and its red torii gate is very striking. After a day of exploration, consider relaxing in the hot springs.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Hakone
After breakfast, take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Arrive in Kyoto and check into your hotel. Kyoto City was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868. The long-term history has made Kyoto rich in relics and one of the key centers of traditional Japanese culture.
You can take a stroll in the famous Gion on your own. Gion is the largest geisha district in Kyoto, with a history dating back to 1665. If you are lucky, you may see geishas wearing traditional Japanese clothing.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kyoto
Today, you will be led to explore some cultural attractions in Kyoto, represented by Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle. Kinkakuji Temple is a three storey tower covered in gold foil both inside and outside. Capture the landscape reflected in the pool water, with the garden as the background.
Nijo Castle was built in 1603 AD. There is a very interesting corridor here – when people walk on it, it will make a chirping sound like a oriole. The season when plum blossoms and chrysanthemums bloom every year is a good time for sightseeing.
Afterward, you will be taken to Nishiki Market. There are more than 130 stores mainly selling fresh fish, fresh food, materials for Kyoto cuisine, etc. You can taste the unique cuisine of Kyoto here.
Next, experience wearing authentic Japanese kimono or yukata and take photos. Finally, take a guided tour of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the oldest temple in Kyoto that has been burned down and rebuilt several times. In spring, this is one of the famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto, and in autumn, it is a popular maple viewing destination.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kyoto
After breakfast, you will take a Kyoto side tour to Uji, known for its matcha. After arrival, the tour guide will take you to a local tea house to gain a deeper understanding of the art of matcha. Watch traditional tea ceremony, enjoy tea, and experience the elegance of this ancient ritual.
Afterward, head to Nara Park, one of the pioneers of modern parks in Japan. There, you can see deer strolling freely. They are symbols of this city. Also, explore Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden building. There is a huge Buddha statue there, over 15 meters high.
You will also be led to visit a local sake brewery, learn about the process of making sake, and have the opportunity to taste various types of sake. Finally, explore the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. The vermilion torii gates are one of the most representative landscapes in Kyoto. Hundreds or even thousands of torii gates form a path leading to the top of Inari Mountain, with dozens of fox statues in between.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kyoto
Today you are free. You can explore another famous city in Japan – Osaka – at your own pace. Osaka Castle is recommended as one of the famous landmarks in Osaka, alongside Nagoya and Kumamoto, making it one of the three famous historical cities in Japan. You can also taste street food at Dotonbori or shop at Shinsaibashi.
After the visit, your tour of Japan cones to an end. Then you will take a flight to Beijing, the capital of China. After arrival, a local private driver will meet you and escort you to a hotel in the city center for rest.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Beijing
Begin your East Asia tour in China of Beijing after breakfast. Your guide and driver will pick you up for a visit to Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing. The square covers an area of 440,000 square meters and can accommodate 1 million people for a grand gathering at the same time. You will see the National Flag Pole, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall and the Zhengyangmen Gate along the central axis from north to south.
After that, continue walking a short distance north to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the symbol and icon of ancient China. Today you will have a guided tour to admire the large-scale precious architecture and millions of valuable artifacts.
For lunch, you will enjoy the famous palace dish – the famous Peking Roast Duck at Quanjude Restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will experience a rickshaw ride through the traditional hutongs. Go to visit a local family and learn about their daily life and even experience cultural activities such as learning calligraphy and weaving Chinese knots (extra charge).
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Beijing
After breakfast, we will go to admire the Temple of Heaven. Located in the southern part of Beijing, this magnificent royal structure served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.
Next comes the highlight of your Beijing tour as you will be hiking on the famous world’s heritage Mutianyu Great Wall. With its dense enemy towers, it is the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Connected to Juyongguan Great Wall in the west and Gubeikou in the east, Mutianyu has been a military stronghold guarding Beijing since ancient times. We will arrange for you to go up the wall by cable car and then take a hike to enjoy the natural scenery.
After the Great Wall tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Beijing
In the morning, you will visit the Summer Palace, China’s royal garden during the Qing Dynasty. Based on Kunming Lake and Wanshou Hill (Longevity Hill), and modeled after the scenery of West Lake in Hangzhou, the Summer Palace is one of the best-preserved imperial gardens, and is known as the Royal Garden Museum. Immerse yourself in the harmonious blend of nature and architecture. (Optional: A leisure boat ride on the Kunming Lake)
In the afternoon, you will be escorted on the high-speed train to the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties – Xi’an. Upon arrival, a local driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Your China tour of Xian starts after meeting your tour guide. He/She will take you to visit the world-famous Terracotta Army, known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. You will be guided through Pits 1, 2 and 3, where you can see life-sized warriors, and many horses and chariots. After a Chinese-style lunch, we will drive back to the downtown area.
After lunch, we drive back to the city center to the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and most well preserved ancient city wall in China, 12 meters high and 12-14 meters wide at the top. It is a closed rectangle with a circumference of 13.74 kilometers. On the city wall, you can choose to ride a bicycle at your own expense and enjoy the scenery inside and outside the city wall.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Today is the last day of Xian tour. After breakfast, take a guided tour of Xi’an Museum. Here,you can learn about thousand-year history of founding the capital and the development of Xian. Also, admire a large collection of cultural relics from all eras of Xian. In this scenic area, you can also admire the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
Then, transfer you to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a holy place for Buddhists, built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Last, take a walk at the Muslim Quarter, where you will find many special local products and authentic local snacks. You can enjoy preserved meat, casserole, and various noodles, and purchase some Terracotta Warriors imitations as souvenirs.
After the tour in Xian, you will be escorted to the airport to take a flight to Shanghai, China’s bustling metropolis. Upon arrival, a local driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for rest.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Shanghai
Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with exquisite architecture, scenic pavilions and ponds, is the beginning of your China tour package in Shanghai. Adjacent to the garden, you can explore the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar, finding local snacks, crafts, and souvenirs.
Next, transfer you to walk along the famous Wai Tan, aka the Bund, a must see for visitors in Shanghai. What impresses tourists the most are the 52 buildings, which blend various international architectural styles and can be called the “International Architecture Exhibition”. Then, experience a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to appreciate both the old and new sides of Shanghai.
Last, you will be guided to ascend Shanghai Tower. This is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking skyline and a panoramic view of the city.
In the evening, take a leisurely walk along Nanjing Road (on your own, no tour guide), one of the world’s busiest shopping streets. Experience the dynamic nightlife in Shanghai.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Shanghai
The morning is free for you to stroll around if time permits. Your private driver will escort you to the airport depending on your flight schedule for your flight to next destination or back home. Your Japan and China tour of 16 days comes to an end here. Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
What’s Included
Dates & Availability
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
