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- Platinum East Asia’s Sun and Red Dragon: “Japan and China” with THY, 10 nights (HND-PEK) Tokyo (3) - Hakone - Osaka (3) - Kyoto - Nara - Shanghai (2) - Beijing (2) | All tours and entrance fees included | 1 dinner and 4 lunches included
Platinum East Asia’s Sun and Red Dragon: “Japan and China” with THY, 10 nights (HND-PEK) Tokyo (3) - Hakone - Osaka (3) - Kyoto - Nara - Shanghai (2) - Beijing (2) | All tours and entrance fees included | 1 dinner and 4 lunches included
Tour Detail
Platinum East Asia’s Sun and Red Dragon “Japan and China” (HND-PEK) with Turkish Airlines
Tokyo (3 nights) – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Osaka (3 nights) – Kyoto – Nara – Shanghai (2 nights) – Beijing (2 nights)
10 nights 12 days | All tours and entrance fees included | 1 dinner 4 lunches included
Day 1 | Istanbul | Tuesday
We meet in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal at 23:05. Overnight on board.
Day 2 | Istanbul – Tokyo | Wednesday
After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Tokyo on Turkish Airlines flight TK198 at 02:05. We land at Tokyo Haneda Airport at 19:20 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we transfer to our hotel from the airport. We check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.
Day 3 | Tokyo | Thursday [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be Asakusa Temple, also known as Senso-ji Temple, considered one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples, and a Buddhist temple. Also called Santa-jama (Temple of the Three Gods), the temple attracts great interest from both tourists and locals. It is one of the rare temples in Tokyo that survived the bombing raids in the final year of World War II, and for this reason its original structure has remained intact. Built in 1649, according to legend the temple was erected to honor the three brothers who were deified after finding a statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. We will also see the Nakamise shopping street in the area. After free time for lunch, we will visit Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. After that, we will tour Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. Shibuya, one of the most important places in the city for young people, stands out with its advanced structure, cafés, and world-famous stores. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.
Day 4 | Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo | Friday [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Mount Fuji and Hakone tour. We begin our tour with Mount Fuji, about a 2.5-hour drive away. Mount Fuji, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2013, is Japan’s highest mountain and is regarded as the country’s sacred symbol. Although generally thought of as a single mountain, Mount Fuji actually consists of three separate volcanoes. Located on Honshu Island, on the border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, Mount Fuji is only 100 kilometers from Tokyo and can even be seen from tall buildings in Tokyo on a clear day. After taking in the breathtaking scenery of Mount Fuji, which we will reach via the fifth station (use of the fifth station may vary depending on weather conditions or may be cancelled entirely), we head to Hakone town.
We begin our Hakone tour with Owakudani Valley, a volcanic formation. Owakudani is a valley surrounding a crater formed during the last eruption of Mount Hakone about 3,000 years ago. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic region with sulfurous smoke, hot springs, and hot rivers. We will ascend by cable car from Togendai and enjoy the magnificent view of this valley. After free time for lunch, we proceed to Lake Ashi. After a pleasant approximately 30-minute boat ride on the lake aboard a wooden pirate ship, we return by bus to Tokyo and our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.
Note: This morning, when leaving the hotel for the tour, we must leave a small overnight bag in our room. Our large suitcases left at the hotel will be transferred to our hotel in Osaka before us and will reach us the next day.
Day 5 | Tokyo – Osaka | Saturday [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and continue our Tokyo tour. The first place we will see is the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the main palace, the private residences of the Imperial Family, archives, museums, and administrative offices. The Tokyo Imperial Palace was built on the site of an old castle where the Shogun once resided in the 15th century. In the 19th century, when Emperor Meiji moved the royal household from Kyoto to Tokyo, this area also became property of the royal family. Since most of the buildings were destroyed during World War II, the oldest remaining structures in the palace are only about 50 years old.
Then we continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo’s world-famous neighborhoods. Akihabara is an extremely busy shopping district famous for electronic stores of all kinds, from small street stalls to large shopping centers. Known as the electronics city, after our tour of Akihabara we give free time for lunch. After the free time, we continue our tour with Ginza, one of the city’s most popular shopping districts, filled with luxury boutiques as well as first-class cocktail and sushi bars. At the end of our tour, we transfer to Tokyo Shinagawa train station. With Shinkansen, the world’s first high-speed train, we travel for about 3 hours to Shin-Osaka train station. From there, we transfer to our hotel by bus. We check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.
Day 6 | Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka | Sunday [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Kyoto tour. After about a 1-hour journey, we arrive in Kyoto, where our first stop will be Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf is one of Kyoto’s most famous and iconic historical structures and is regarded worldwide as a perfect example of Kitayama garden design art. Thanks to these features, it was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1994 as an important cultural asset of the former capital Kyoto. We continue our tour with Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a Buddhist temple also known as the Pure Water Monastery. The temple offers beautiful views of the distant city of Kyoto as well as many cherry trees and maple trees that burst into a sea of color in spring and autumn. The main hall, built without the use of nails together with the stage, houses the temple’s main object of worship, a small statue of the eleven-faced, thousand-armed Kannon.
After free time for lunch, we will walk along the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets leading up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sannenzaka is a cobblestone pedestrian path and tourist attraction. Surrounded by traditional buildings and shops, the road is often used together with a similar road, Ninenzaka. Sannenzaka is a narrow sloping path lined with around 60 shops and restaurants selling Kyoto’s traditional products and foods. It also includes important shops where visitors can closely experience Japanese culture, including Ochaya (tea houses), Geiko (the term for geishas in Kyoto), and Maiko (Geiko apprentices) makeup. In the final part of our tour, we visit Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. At the end of the tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.
Day 7 | Osaka – Nara – Osaka | Monday [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Nara tour. We begin our Nara tour with a visit to Nara Park. Nara Park is a public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. Established in 1880, it is one of Japan’s oldest parks. There are more than 1,200 wild Sika deer roaming freely in the park. Because of these deer, it is also known as Deer Park. After the park, we continue with Todai-ji Temple. Todaiji is not only the largest wooden structure in the world, but also houses the world’s largest Buddha statue, called Daibutsu in Japanese. After free time for lunch, we proceed to our next stop in Nara, Kasuga-taisha Shrine. The shrine was founded in 768 and rebuilt several times over the centuries. Its interior is famous for many bronze lanterns as well as numerous stone lanterns. From there, we go to Naramachi, Nara’s old traditional district. The old wooden Japanese houses known as Machiya, lined along narrow streets, now house museums, souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés. At the end of the tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.
Day 8 | Osaka – Shanghai | Tuesday [B, D]
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and continue our Osaka tour. Our first stop will be Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and which played an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation. The castle is located within a park covering an area of about two square kilometers, featuring abundant green spaces, sports facilities, a multipurpose arena (Osaka-jō Hall), and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park becomes one of Osaka’s most popular spots, especially during the cherry blossom season, usually in early April. After free time for lunch, we will see Dotonbori, Osaka’s entertainment hub, and Shinsaibashi, the city’s main shopping district. After the tour, transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Shanghai with local airlines. Arrival at Shanghai Airport. After passport and baggage procedures, we depart from the airport by bus to a local restaurant for our dinner. After dinner, transfer to our hotel. We check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Starr Hotel Shanghai (or similar) in Shanghai.
Day 9 | Shanghai | Wednesday [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Shanghai tour. Our first stop will be the Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai’s most important Buddhist temple. The temple was founded in 1882 and takes its name from two precious white jade Buddha statues, one seated and one reclining. Because these statues were brought from Myanmar to Shanghai, the temple has special significance. The temple architecture is in traditional Chinese Buddhist style and is still an active monastery used by monks. After our visit here, we go to Yu Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden in the Old City area of the city. Built between 1559 and 1577 by an official named Pan Yunduan as a peaceful retreat for his family, the garden is full of ponds, bridges, stone structures, traditional pavilions, and old trees, and contains the famous Exquisite Jade Rock. After this visit, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we continue our tour with The Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront on the Huangpu River. It is known for its early 20th-century European-style colonial buildings and also offers the city’s most iconic view together with Pudong’s modern skyline on the opposite shore. Our final stop will be Shanghai Tower. Completed in 2015, the tower is notable for its twisting spiral design. At 632 meters high, it is one of the tallest buildings in China and the world. It contains offices, hotels, and some of the world’s fastest elevators. After viewing the panoramic cityscape from the observation areas on the 119th floors, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Starr Hotel Shanghai (or similar) in Shanghai.
Day 10 | Shanghai – Beijing | Thursday [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and continue our Shanghai tour. First, we will visit Xintiandi, a stylish living and entertainment district where old Shikumen houses have been modernly restored. This elegant and tourist-friendly area, where historical texture blends with modern architecture, is full of cafés, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. Our next stop is Tianzifang, which offers a more bohemian and artistic atmosphere. After this creative neighborhood, famous for narrow streets, art workshops, design shops, and small cafés, our final stop will be Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s most famous shopping street. With a wide range of shopping options from luxury brands to affordable stores, the street is also known as “China’s 5th Avenue.” At the end of our tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to the train station. We travel by high-speed train for about 5 hours to Beijing train station. From there, we transfer to our hotel by bus. We check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Howard Johnson by Wyndham Paragon Hotel (or similar) in Beijing.
Day 11 | Beijing | Friday [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for our Beijing and Great Wall tour. By bus, we will go to Juyong Pass (Juyongguan Great Wall), one of the sections of the Great Wall closest to Beijing. The pass was historically used as an important military pass and is located in a strategic valley. Its scenery is especially enjoyable in spring and autumn because it is surrounded by greenery. Although it offers easier climbing options compared with other sections, some parts are quite steep. After our visit here, we will have lunch at a local restaurant in this area. After lunch, on our return to Beijing city center, we will go to the Olympic Stadium. After viewing and examining the stadium from the outside, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Howard Johnson by Wyndham Paragon Hotel (or similar) in Beijing.
Day 12 | Beijing | Saturday [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and continue our Beijing tour. Our first stop will be Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world, located in the center of Beijing. It takes its name from the Gate of Heavenly Peace to the north, and China’s national ceremonies, flag-raising ceremonies, and various official events are held here. Around the square, which is a symbolic center in Chinese history both politically and culturally, are important structures such as the National Museum, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum, and Qianmen Gate to the south. Then we move to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we proceed to the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, known as the Forbidden City because public entry was forbidden for centuries. Completed in 1420, it is the largest palace complex in the world, where Chinese emperors lived and governed the country for 500 years, with approximately 980 buildings and more than 8,700 rooms. At the end of the tour, we head to Beijing Airport. Overnight on board.
Day 13 | Beijing – Istanbul | Sunday
After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK089 at 00:10. We land at Istanbul Airport at 05:30 local time and our tour comes to an end. We bid farewell, hoping to meet again on your next distinguished and enjoyable journey.
Abbreviations: [B] = Breakfast, [L] = Lunch, [D] = Dinner
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airline ticket on Turkish Airlines scheduled flights on the IST-HND and PEK-IST routes
- One-way economy class airline ticket on local airlines scheduled flights on the KIX-PVG route
- Airport taxes
- Travel by Shinkansen high-speed train between Tokyo and Osaka
- Travel by high-speed train between Shanghai and Beijing
- 3 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Tokyo with breakfast
- 3 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Osaka with breakfast
- 2 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Shanghai with breakfast
- 2 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Beijing with breakfast
- 1 dinner
- 4 lunches
- All airport – hotel – airport transfers
- All tours and entrance fees specified in the program
- Turkish-speaking guide service
- Professional liability insurance (as required by Law No. 1618)
Not Included
China visa fee (170 EUR)
Exit tax
All museum and archaeological site entrance fees not stated as included
Meals and beverages during meals not stated as included
Optional tours
Personal expenses
Tour guarantee and travel health insurance
All services not explicitly stated as included in the tour program
Tips for local guides, hotel staff, and drivers (optional; 5 EUR per person per day will be collected by the guide)