Ancient Empires—Beijing to Tokyo
16 days
from Beijing to Tokyo
From
$ 5399
Duration16 days
Explore two ancient nations in 16 well-packed days on this unique journey that takes you from the epic lengths of the Great Wall of China to the poetic views of Mt Fuji. Hop aboard trains and ferries and face an army of Terracotta Warriors for a historical encounter you won't soon forget. Spend nights in a traditional ryokan and a shukubo temple lodging for an authentic Japanese experience. Our CEOs will take you off the beaten track to reveal the cultural treasures of the region’s ancient sites.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 16 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: BeijingPhysical Grading: Average
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Ends in: TokyoAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
Is Beijing top of your must-see list? Booking pre-trip accommodations will let you do Beijing your way before meeting up with the group.
Arrive at any time.
Peak season notice: Golden Week falls between October 1st and 7th, 2019/2020/2021. Please note that Golden Week is a semi-annual 7-day or 8-day national holiday for the people of China. This is a very busy time of the year for domestic tourists, so expect some crowding at major attractions. We recommend booking these dates well in advance as accommodations and transportation availability is extremely limited.
End place: Beijing
Day 2: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs.
Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall.
End place: Beijing
Day 3: Beijing/Xi'an
Start place: Beijing
Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Later, board a fast train to Xi'an.
End place: Xi'an
Day 4: Xi'an/Suzhou
Start place: Xi'an
Enjoy some free time exploring the city before a visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. After enjoy a local lunch at a farmhouse before hopping on an overnight train to Suzhou.
Local lunch at a farmhouse.
End place: Suzhou
Meals: L
Day 5: Suzhou
Start place: Suzhou
Visit Suzhou, the "Venice of the East." Explore the Master of the Nets Garden, one of China's most exquisite gardens.
End place: Suzhou
Day 6: Suzhou/Shanghai
Start place: Suzhou
Travel by metro and train to Shanghai. After an orientation walk along Shanghai's famous Bund, you are free to explore the delights this modern Chinese city has to offer.
Travel to Shanghai and take an orientation walk along the Bund. After enjoy a Shanghai acrobat show.
End place: Shanghai
Day 7: Shanghai
Start place: Shanghai
Enjoy free time in this bustling city.
End place: Shanghai
Day 8: Shanghai/Osaka
Start place: Shanghai
Board a flight from Shanghai to Osaka and enjoy a free night exploring the cityscape.
Hop on a flight from Shanghai to Osaka. Take the evening to explore the city.
Meals: B
Day 9: Osaka/Kōyasan
Journey to Mt Koya, a religious centre founded in 816 by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. The train ride up the mountain is possibly one of the finest rail journeys in Japan. For the final steep ascent, switch to funicular and then hop on a bus to reach the monastery.
In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata, or kimono.
In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata, or kimono.
Depart early and travel to the centre of Buddhism in Japan and sleep in a temple atop the 800m Mt Koya. Savour a traditional dinner of shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). Watch the monks pray in the morning.
Enjoy shojin-ryori, typical vegetarian cuisine.
Meals: B, D
Day 10: Kōyasan/Hiroshima
Early morning offers the chance to observe the monks praying. Breathe in some fresh mountain air before a vegetarian breakfast, then start the journey back down the mountain via bus, train and funicular.
Later, board a train to Hiroshima, a historically significant city, marked by the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945.
Later, board a train to Hiroshima, a historically significant city, marked by the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945.
Watch the monks pray in the morning and enjoy a traditional breakfast before travelling to Hiroshima. This afternoon, visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum commemorating the events of 1945.
End place: Hiroshima
Meals: B
Day 11: Hiroshima
Start place: Hiroshima
Take a ferry ride over to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating torii gate. Opt to hike around Mt Misen.
End place: Hiroshima
Day 12: Hiroshima/Kyoto
Start place: Hiroshima
Travel to Kyoto and start exploring. Visit the impressive Nijo Castle and gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, explore the geisha district of Gion on a CEO-led walking tour.
End place: Kyoto
Day 13: Kyoto
Start place: Kyoto
Enjoy a visit to the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and walk under the bright torii gates. Opt to shop, stroll along the riverbank, or explore another of Kyoto's many temples with free time.
End place: Kyoto
Day 14: Kyoto/Hakone
Start place: Kyoto
Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs. Stay in a traditional ryokan, with its own private onsen.
In the evening, enjoy the ryokan, savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.
In the evening, enjoy the ryokan, savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.
Take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko and a walk along the Old Tokaido Highway, and hopefully catch a glimpse of majestic Mt Fuji. Enjoy a stay in traditional ryokan accommodation, feast on a Japanese multi-course kaiseki meal, soak in the natural hot springs, and sleep on a futon.
A traditional multi-course kaiseki meal.
End place: Hakone
Meals: D
Day 15: Hakone/Tokyo
Start place: Hakone
Arrive before noon to Tokyo, with time to explore this energetic metropolis.
Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just under the modern surface.
Opt to visit Ueno park and the museums, Akihabara for cutting edge electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for the highest of the high end, walk the grounds of the Imperial Palace East Garden, or just stroll the streets, looking for the traditional life that still lies just under the modern surface.
Head to Tokyo with time to do some last-minute shopping.
End place: Tokyo
Meals: B
Day 16: Tokyo
Start place: Tokyo
Depart at any time.
We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this vibrant city.
End place: Tokyo
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Shanghai Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple, Kōyasan
- Great Wall excursion and entrance (Beijing)
- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour
- Terracotta Warriors excursion (Xi'an)
- Master of the Nets Garden visit (Suzhou)
- Shanghai orientation walk
- Chinese acrobat performance (Shanghai)
- Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum visit
- Miyajima excursion with floating torii gate visit
- Nijo Castle and gardens visit (Kyoto)
- Gion walk
- Fushimi Inari shrine visit
- Lake Ashino-ko boat ride
- Traditional ryokan stay with kaiseki meal
- Japan Rail (JR) pass (7 days)
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Train, Local bus, Air-conditioned bus, Walking, Metro, Bullet train, Plane, Ferry -
Accommodation
Hotels (12 nts), Sleeper train (1 nt), Mountain monastery (1 nt, shared facilities), Traditional inn (1 nt, shared facilities)