Platinum East Asia’s Three Treasures “Japan, South Korea, China” (NRT-PEK) with Turkish Airlines, 11 nights Tokyo (2) - Hakone - Osaka (3) - Kyoto - Kobe - Nara - Seoul (2) - Shanghai (2) - Beijing (2)

Platinum East Asia’s Three Treasures “Japan, South Korea, China” (NRT-PEK) with THY

Tokyo (2 nights) – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Osaka (3 nights) – Kyoto – Kobe – Nara – Seoul (2 nights) – Shanghai (2 nights) – Beijing (2 nights)

11 nights 13 days | All tours and entrance fees included | 4 lunches included

 

Day 1 | Istanbul – Tokyo

Meeting at 12:50 in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, flight to Tokyo at 15:50 with Turkish Airlines flight TK0050. Overnight on the plane.

 

Day 2 | Istanbul – Tokyo

Arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport at 08:55 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we start the Tokyo tour from the airport by our vehicle. Our first stop will be the Asakusa Temple, also known as the Senso-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple considered one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples. Also called Santa-jama (Temple of the Three Gods), the temple attracts great interest from both tourists and local people. It is one of the rare temples in Tokyo that survived the bombings in the final year of World War II, and therefore its original structure has remained intact. Built in 1649, the temple is said to have been constructed to honor the three brothers who were deified after finding a statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. We will also see the shopping street called Nakamise in the area. After the free time we will give for lunch, we will visit the 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 most crowded districts. One of the city’s most important places for young people, Shibuya stands out with its developed structure, cafes, and world-famous stores. After the tour, transfer to our hotel and check in, then settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.

 

Day 3 | Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure for the Mount Fuji and Hakone tour. We will begin our tour with Mount Fuji, which is about 2.5 hours away. Mount Fuji, which was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2013, is considered the highest mountain in Japan and the country’s sacred symbol. Although Mount Fuji is generally thought to be a single mountain, it actually consists of three separate volcanoes. Located on Honshu Island and forming a boundary between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, Mount Fuji is only 100 kilometers away from Tokyo and can even be seen from high-rise buildings in Tokyo on a clear day. After the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, we will head toward the town of Hakone. We start our Hakone tour with the volcanic formation called Owakudani Valley. Owakudani is the valley surrounding a crater formed about 3,000 years ago during the last eruption of Mount Hakone. Today, most of the area is an active volcanic region with sulfurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers. We will go up by cable car from Togendai and enjoy the view of this magnificently beautiful valley. After the free time given for lunch, we will move on to Lake Ashi. After a pleasant boat trip of about 30 minutes on the lake by wooden pirate ship, we will return to Tokyo and our hotel by our vehicle. Overnight at our 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.

Note: This morning, when leaving the hotel for the tour, we need to leave a small overnight bag in our room. The large suitcases we leave at the hotel will be transferred to our hotel in Osaka before us and will reach us the next day.

 

Day 4 | Tokyo – Osaka | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue with the Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the Main Palace, the private residences of the Imperial family, archives, a museum, and administrative offices. The Tokyo Imperial Palace was built on the site of an old castle where the Shogun 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 in World War II, the oldest items remaining in the palace today are only 50 years old. After that, we will continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo’s world-famous districts. Akihabara is an extremely crowded shopping area famous for its different kinds of electronics stores, from small street stalls to huge shopping centers. After our tour of Akihabara, also known as the electronics city, we give free time for lunch. After the free time, we continue to the Ginza district, one of the city’s most popular shopping areas filled with luxury boutiques as well as first-class cocktail and sushi bars. At the end of our tour, transfer to Tokyo Shinagawa train station. With Shinkansen, the world’s first high-speed train, we arrive at Shin-Osaka train station after a journey of about 3 hours. From here, transfer to our hotel by our vehicle. We complete the check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) hotel in Osaka.

 

Day 5 | Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure for the Kyoto tour. After about a 1-hour journey, our first stop will be the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. Covered in gold leaf, this three-story pavilion is one of Kyoto’s most famous and well-known historical structures and is recognized worldwide as a perfect example of the art of Kitayama garden design. Thanks to these features, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 as an important cultural asset of the old capital Kyoto. We will continue our tour with the 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 numerous cherry and maple trees that burst into a colorful sea in spring and autumn. The main hall, built without using nails together with the stage, houses the temple’s main object of worship, a small statue of Kannon with eleven faces and a thousand arms. After the free time we will give for lunch, we will tour the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets leading up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sannenzaka is a stone-paved pedestrian path and tourist attraction. Surrounded by traditional buildings and shops, the route is often used together with the similarly named Ninenzaka. Sannenzaka is a narrow sloping road filled with about 60 shops and restaurants selling Kyoto’s traditional products and foods. There are also important shops where visitors can closely experience Japanese culture, including Ochaya (tea houses) where tea ceremonies are held, and makeup for Geiko (the name given to Geishas in Kyoto) and Maiko (Geiko apprentices). In the final part of the tour, we will visit Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. At the end of the tour, return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) hotel in Osaka.

 

Day 6 | Osaka – Kobe – Nara – Osaka | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure for the Kobe tour and Nara tour. Our first stop on the Kobe tour will be the Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum (subject to being open). At Kiku-Masamune, which has maintained the tradition of producing only dry sake since the Edo Period, we will both see the stages of sake production and taste it. Nearly all of the equipment in the museum is classified as “national tangible folk cultural property,” allowing visitors to learn more about the lives and work of sake producers. We then continue our tour with the Kobe Nunobiki Botanical Garden, the largest botanical garden in Japan with seasonal flowers and magnificent mountain views. After the park, we will go to Kobe Harborland Umie shopping center, where we will give free time for lunch. After lunch, departure for Nara. We begin our Nara tour with a visit to Nara Park. Nara Park is a public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. Founded in 1880, it is one of the oldest parks in Japan. More than 1,200 wild Sika deer roam freely in the park. Because of these deer, it is also called Deer Park. After the park, we will continue with Todai-ji Temple. Todaiji is not only the world’s largest wooden structure, but also houses the world’s largest Buddha statue, called Daibutsu in Japanese. At the end of our tour, return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) hotel in Osaka.

 

Day 7 | Osaka – Seoul | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue with the Osaka tour. Our first stop will be Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and having played an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation. The castle is located in a park covering an area of approximately two square kilometers, which includes abundant green areas, sports facilities, a multipurpose arena (Osakajo Hall), and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park becomes one of Osaka’s most popular spots during cherry blossom season, which usually takes place in early April. After the free time we will give for lunch, we will see Dotonbori, which has become Osaka’s entertainment center. At the end of visits to Dotonbori and the city’s main shopping district Shinsaibashi, transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, flight to Seoul at 18:15 with Local Airlines. Arrival at Seoul Incheon Airport at 20:05 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, transfer to our hotel by our vehicle. We complete the check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) in Seoul.

 

Day 8 | Seoul | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure for the Seoul tour. Our first stop will be Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, the palace is considered the largest, most beautiful, and most magnificent of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. Inside the palace, we will also have the opportunity to see the National Folk Museum. Our next stop will be Namsangol Hanok Village. A residential area of Seoul expanded with modern structures, this village is famous for many restored traditional Korean houses called Hanok. After our visit here, we continue the tour with Myeong-dong, Korea’s most famous shopping and fashion district. After seeing this street full of many shops and restaurants, our next stop will be the Insa-dong district. The lively center of Insa-dong is its main street, closed to vehicle traffic. The street is filled with tea houses and Korean restaurants as well as shops selling traditional products such as pottery, tea, and handmade “hanji” paper. The unusual Ssamziegil Complex has cafes and stairs leading to the rooftop terrace, with walls decorated with paintings. The Hakgojae Gallery exhibits modern art works. At the end of our tour, return to our hotel. Overnight at our 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) in Seoul.

 

Day 9 | Seoul – Shanghai | [B]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue with the Seoul tour. Our first stop will be N Seoul Tower, a communication tower and observatory. After reaching the tower by cable car, we will be able to view the city from Seoul’s highest point. Our next stop will be Bongeunsa Temple, which has a history of 1,200 years. Considered a cornerstone of Korean Buddhism, Bongeunsa is among the structures attracting tourists to the area with Maitreya, one of Seoul’s largest statues, and its library housing 3,479 sacred Buddhist scriptures. After that, we will see the Starfield Library and the Gangnam Style Statue located in the same complex. At the end of our tour, transfer to Seoul Incheon Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, flight to Shanghai at 18:55 with Local Airlines. Arrival at Shanghai Airport at 20:10 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, transfer to our hotel from the airport by our vehicle. We complete the check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Starr Hotel Shanghai (or similar) in Shanghai.

 

Day 10 | Shanghai | [B, L]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure 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. The temple has special importance because these statues were brought from Myanmar to Shanghai. The temple architecture is in traditional Chinese Buddhist style and it is still an active monastery used by monks. After our visit here, we will go to Yu Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden from the Ming Dynasty located in the city’s Old City area. The garden was built between 1559 and 1577 by an official named Pan Yunduan as a peaceful place of rest for his family. It is filled with ponds, bridges, stone structures, traditional pavilions, and old trees, and contains the famous Exquisite Jade Rock. After this visit, we will have our lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we continue our tour with The Bund, the famous waterfront on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Known for its early 20th-century European-style colonial buildings, it also offers the city’s most iconic view together with the modern skyline of Pudong across the river. Our final stop on the tour will be Shanghai Tower. The tower was completed in 2015 and is notable for its rotating spiral design. With a height of 632 meters, it is the tallest building in China and one of the tallest in the world. It contains offices, hotels, and some of the world’s fastest elevators. After enjoying panoramic views of the city 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 11 | Shanghai – Beijing | [B, L]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue with the Shanghai tour. First, we will go to Xintiandi, a stylish living and entertainment district where old Shikumen houses have been restored in a modern way. This elegant and tourist-friendly area, where historical texture blends with modern architecture, is full of cafes, 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 cafes, our final stop is Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s most famous shopping street. Offering 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 our lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, transfer to the train station. With a high-speed train journey of about 5 hours, we arrive at Beijing train station. From here, transfer to our hotel by our vehicle. We complete the check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 4* Howard Johnson by Wyndham Paragon Hotel (or similar) in Beijing.

 

Day 12 | Beijing | [B, L]

After breakfast at our hotel, departure for our Beijing and Great Wall tour. By our vehicle, we will go to the Juyong Pass (Juyongguan Great Wall), one of the Great Wall sections closest to Beijing. The pass was historically used as an important military route 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 our lunch at a local restaurant in the same area. After lunch, on our return to Beijing city center, we will go to the Olympic Stadium. After seeing 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 13 | Beijing | [B, L]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue with the 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 Heavenly Peace Gate 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 both politically and culturally in Chinese history, are important structures such as the National Museum, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, and Qianmen Gate to the south. Then we depart for a local restaurant where we will have our lunch. After lunch, we will go to the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, completed in 1420 and referred to as the Forbidden City because public entry was forbidden for centuries. The place where Chinese emperors lived and ruled the country for 500 years is the world’s largest palace complex, with about 980 buildings and more than 8,700 rooms. At the end of our tour, we depart for Beijing Airport. Overnight on the plane.

 

Day 14 | Beijing – Istanbul

After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, flight to Istanbul at 00:05 with Turkish Airlines flight TK0089. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 05:30 local time and the end of our tour. We bid farewell, hoping to meet again on our next distinguished and enjoyable trip.

 

Explanation of abbreviations: [B] = Breakfast, [L] = Lunch, [D] = Dinner