Highlights of East Asia: Japan, South Korea, and China
24 days
from Osaka to Shanghai
From
$ 7349
Duration24 days
Hit all the hot spots of East Asia on this 24-day tour through Japan, South Korea, and China. Start with stunning mountain temples, shrines, and torii gates before heading to the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea and venturing to Beijing's monumental highlights (Great Wall, Forbidden City). Along the way, you'll experience destinations like the locals do — overnights in a Japanese Ryokan (complete with onsen baths and tatami floors), a local temple in Busan, and indulging in street eats to get a true understanding of day-to-day life in China.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 24 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: OsakaPhysical Grading: Average
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Ends in: ShanghaiAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Osaka
We highly recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully experience this lively city.
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: 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 3: 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 4: Hiroshima-shi
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.
Please note the floating Torii Gate will be under construction from June 2019 to August 2020.
End place: Hiroshima
Day 5: Hiroshima-shi/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.
Please note the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle will be closed from Dec 26-Jan 3. Groups travelling during this time will visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
End place: Kyoto
Day 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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 9: Tokyo
Start place: Tokyo
Explore this exciting day with a free day.
End place: Tokyo
Day 10: Tokyo/Seoul
Start place: Tokyo
Catch a flight to Seoul, South Korea's capital city.
End place: Seoul
Day 11: Seoul
Start place: Seoul
Enjoy a walking tour in the bustling capital of South Korea. Visit Gyengbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Jogyesa Temple, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.
End place: Seoul
Meals: B
Day 12: Seoul
Start place: Seoul
Travel to the DMZ in the morning by private bus and spend about 3-4 hrs visiting the site before returning back to Seoul for another night in the city.
Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War.
A DMZ shuttle bus will be used within the DMZ area.
End place: Seoul
Meals: B
Day 13: Seoul/Gyeongju-si
Start place: Seoul
Depart Seoul in the morning and travel by high-speed train to Gyeongju, taking just over 2 hrs to reach the city.
In the afternoon, enjoy an included tour of some local highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage temples.
In the afternoon, enjoy an included tour of some local highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage temples.
Travel to Gyeongju and visit the UNESCO-listed sites of Seoguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple on an included tour.
Meals: B
Day 14: Gyeongju-si/Busan
Take a private van to visit the 500-year-old UNESCO site of Yangdong Folk Village, located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty.
Travel to the picturesque 14th century seaside temple, Haedong Yonggungsa. Continue to Busan and enjoy a walk or swim at Haeundae Beach, the most popular beach in South Korea, or perhaps a light trek on Dongbaek Island.
Travel to the picturesque 14th century seaside temple, Haedong Yonggungsa. Continue to Busan and enjoy a walk or swim at Haeundae Beach, the most popular beach in South Korea, or perhaps a light trek on Dongbaek Island.
Take a day trip to Yangdong Folk Village, a UNESCO site, before continuing to Busan to visit the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.
End place: Busan
Meals: B
Day 15: Busan
Start place: Busan
Stay in rooms called Ondol. These rooms are very traditional, heated to be cozy and comfortable, with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms here are multi-share, divided up by male and female rooms. Enjoy a traditional dinner and breakfast during the stay.
Have the opportunity to learn about temple etiquette, experience the daily drum and bell ritual, craft your own prayer beads and take an easy hike up to the oldest and highest temple in Busan for morning meditation.
Have the opportunity to learn about temple etiquette, experience the daily drum and bell ritual, craft your own prayer beads and take an easy hike up to the oldest and highest temple in Busan for morning meditation.
Visit the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gujesijang market, and Yongdusan Park, before an overnight in a local temple.
Enjoy a traditional dinner at the temple.
End place: Busan
Meals: B, D
Day 16: Busan/Seoul
Start place: Busan
Enjoy a final morning in Busan before returning to Seoul by train.
End place: Seoul
Meals: B
Day 17: Seoul/Beijing
Start place: Seoul
Board a flight to Beijing, China.
End place: Beijing
Day 18: 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 19: 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 20: 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 21: 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 22: 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 23: Shanghai
Start place: Shanghai
Enjoy free time in this bustling city.
End place: Shanghai
Day 24: Shanghai
Start place: Shanghai
We highly recommend post-accommodation to fully experience all Shanghai has to offer.
Depart at any time.
End place: Shanghai
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple, Kōyasan Your Local Living Moment: Overnight Temple Stay, Busan Your Discover Moment: 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 (Hakone)
- Traditional ryokan stay with kaiseki meal
- City tour of Seoul
- DMZ visit
- City tour of Gyeongju
- Yangdong Folk Village visit
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Visit
- City tour of Busan
- Great Wall excursion
- Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour
- Terracotta Warriors tour
- Master of the Nets Garden visit
- Shanghai orientation walk
- Chinese acrobat performance
- Japan Rail (JR) pass (7 days)
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Bullet train, Tram, Ferry, Public bus, Private vehicle, Train, Subway/metro, Plane, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels (19 nts), Mountain monastery (1 nt, shared facilities), Traditional inn (1 nt, shared facilities), Temple (1 nt, multi-share), Sleeper train (1 nt)