- 4.9/5 352 Latest reviews
- Destination: Japan, China
- Duration: 15 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Cultural
About This Trip
China and Japan share a writing system, a tea tradition and a long history of exchange, but they feel nothing alike on the ground. This 15-day private trip spends seven days in China, in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai, then flies to Osaka for the second half in Japan, with stops in Kyoto and Tokyo.
You see the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army, then walk the lanes of Gion and take a tea ceremony in Kyoto. It's a tailor-made trip with a private guide in each country, one international flight and several train days, and it suits travelers who want two different cultures in one trip. Entry rules for both countries depend on your passport, so check the official pages before you book.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 3
Beijing
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall
4 - 5
Xi’an
High-speed train, Yonghe Lamasery, Terracotta Army, Muslim Quarter
6 - 7
Shanghai
Family cooking visit, flight, the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession
8 - 9
Osaka
Flight to Japan, Himeji Castle, Kobe
10 - 11
Kyoto
Train, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari, tea ceremony
12 - 14
Tokyo
Train, Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji, free day
15
Tokyo
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel, usually 45-90 minutes away. Rest after the flight, then take a short walk nearby if you have energy. Your guide stops by to go over the route and the passport you need for ticketed sites and trains.
- Beijing
- Day 2: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park
Start at Tiananmen Square and walk the central axis of the Forbidden City, the palace of Ming and Qing emperors. Tickets are capped and the site is closed on Mondays, so we plan around it. Finish at Jingshan Park for a view back over the golden roofs.
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- Beijing
- Day 3: Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall
Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning, when locals practice tai chi in the park. In the afternoon, drive about 1.5 hours to Mutianyu, a restored section of the Wall along forested ridges. Take the cable car up and walk between the watchtowers for as long as you like.
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- Beijing
- Day 4: Lamasery and High-Speed Train to Xi’an
Visit the Yonghe Lamasery, a Tibetan Buddhist temple with incense, painted halls and a giant wooden Buddha. After lunch, take the high-speed train to Xi’an, about 4.5 hours, and arrive in the evening. This is a part-sightseeing, part-travel day.
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- Xi’an
- Day 5: Terracotta Army and the Muslim Quarter
Go early to the Terracotta Army, about 40 minutes from the city, before the tour groups arrive. Walk the pits of life-size soldiers and see the bronze chariots. In the evening, eat your way through the Muslim Quarter’s food stalls.
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- Xi’an
- Day 6: Xi’an Home Cooking, Then Shanghai
Spend the morning in a local home, learning to make dumplings or noodles with the family. Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai, about 2 hours. You arrive in the evening and check in. The pace stays light, and you can drop the visit if you prefer an easier day.
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- Xi’an
- Day 7: The Bund, Yu Garden and the French Concession
Walk the Bund, with early 20th-century banks facing the Pudong skyline, then visit Yu Garden, a Ming-era garden with rockeries and pavilions. In the afternoon, stroll the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession. Finish with the view from the Shanghai Tower if time allows.
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- Beijing
- Day 8: Fly to Osaka
Transfer to the airport and fly from Shanghai to Osaka, about 2 hours. After immigration, your driver takes you to your hotel, and your bags can be forwarded onward later. The evening is free for the neon streets of Dotonbori.
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- Osaka
- Day 9: Himeji Castle and Kobe
Take the train about 1 hour to Himeji Castle, Japan’s best-preserved feudal castle, with white walls and a wooden keep. Continue to Kobe for the harbor and the Nunobiki herb garden, or the Hakutsuru sake museum. Your guide picks the second stop to fit your pace, since this is a full day.
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- Osaka
- Day 10: Osaka to Kyoto
Take the train to Kyoto, only 15-30 minutes, and your luggage goes ahead to the hotel. Spend the afternoon in Gion, the old geisha district, where lantern-lit lanes and wooden teahouses line the streets. The evening is free for dinner.
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- Kyoto
- Day 11: Kyoto’s Temples and Tea
Visit Nijo Castle, where the floors squeak by design, and Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Finish at Fushimi Inari, where thousands of red gates climb the hill, and go early to avoid the crowds. Take part in a tea ceremony at Kodai-ji or another temple.
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- Kyoto
- Day 12: Shinkansen to Tokyo
Take the Shinkansen to Tokyo, about 2 hours 15 minutes, with luggage forwarded to the hotel. On a clear day you may see Mount Fuji from the train, on the right side. The afternoon is free to explore Shibuya or Shinjuku.
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- Tokyo
- Day 13: Tokyo Old and New
Visit the forested Meiji Shrine, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, with its shopping street. Walk Takeshita Street in Harajuku for a look at youth fashion. End the day at Shibuya Crossing.
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- Tokyo
- Day 14: Tokyo at Leisure
Enjoy a full day free to plan as you wish. You may continue exploring Tokyo’s top attractions such as Ueno Park, Akihabara, and Ebisu, or take an optional day trip outside the city to visit Mount Fuji, Japan’s most iconic landmark.
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- Tokyo
- Day 15: Departure from Tokyo
Your driver takes you to Narita or Haneda airport, 1-1.5 hours away depending on traffic. Tell us your flight time in advance so we can plan the morning. If your flight is late, we can add a last stop for souvenirs.
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