About the tour
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.
Highlights
- Meet the ancient Terracotta Warriors, Visit the Great Wall of China, Sleep in a temple atop Mt Kōya, get a bird's-eye view of Mt Fuji from a cable car, stay in a traditional ryokan
Meals
Accommodation
Included in the price
Beijing
- 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.
Beijing
- 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.
Day-wise Itinerary
ExpandDay 1: 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.
Day 2: Beijing
Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs.
Day 3: Beijing/xi'an
Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Later, board a fast train to Xi'an.
Day 4: Xi'an
Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. After, the day is yours to explore as you wish.
Day 5: Xi'an/shanghai
Say goodbye to Xi'an this morning and hop on the fast train to the bustling city of Shanghai.
Day 6: Shanghai
Train to Suzhou today for a day exploring in the city. Admire Suzhou's classical gardens, canals, bridges and museums.
Day 7: Shanghai
After an orientation walk along Shanghai's famous Bund, you are free to explore the delights of this modern Chinese city. In the evening, head to the theatre for an intense acrobatic performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Day 8: Shanghai/osaka
Board a flight from Shanghai to Osaka and enjoy a free night exploring the cityscape.
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.
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.
Day 11: 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.
Day 12: Hiroshima/kyoto
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.
Day 13: 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.
Day 14: Kyoto/hakone
- Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills famous for its onsens, or natural hot springs.
- In the evening, enjoy savouring a complex meal of traditional Japanese foods, followed by a recommended soak in the onsen.
Day 15: Hakone/tokyo
- 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.
Day 16: Tokyo
Depart at any time.
