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- Platinum East Asia's Red Dragon and the Rising Sun: China and Japan (PEK-HND) with Turkish Airlines. 10-night itinerary: Beijing (2 nights), Shanghai (2 nights), Osaka (3 nights), Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Tokyo (3 nights), Hakone, Mount Fuji. Includes all tours and entrance fees. One dinner and four lunches included.
Platinum East Asia's Red Dragon and the Rising Sun: China and Japan (PEK-HND) with Turkish Airlines. 10-night itinerary: Beijing (2 nights), Shanghai (2 nights), Osaka (3 nights), Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Tokyo (3 nights), Hakone, Mount Fuji. Includes all tours and entrance fees. One dinner and four lunches included.
Platinum East Asia's Red Dragon and Sun "China and Japan" (PEK-HND) with THY
Beijing (2 nights) – Shanghai (2 nights) – Osaka (3 nights) – Kyoto – Nara – Kobe – Tokyo (3 nights) – Hakone – Mount Fuji
10 nights 12 days | All tours and entrance fees included | 1 dinner and 4 lunches included
Day 1 | Istanbul
Meeting at the Turkish Airlines counter in front of the Istanbul Airport international departures terminal at 22:40. We will spend the night on the plane.
Day 2 | Istanbul – Beijing | [D]
After our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Beijing on Turkish Airlines flight TK0088 at 01:40. We arrive at Beijing Airport at 11:35 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we begin our Beijing tour from the airport via our vehicle. Our first stop will be Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing, one of the world's largest city squares. Named after the Gate of Heavenly Peace to its north, it is where China's national ceremonies, flag-raising ceremonies, and various official events are held. The square, a symbolic center both politically and culturally in Chinese history, is surrounded by important structures such as the National Museum, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, and the Qianmen Gate to the south. After the tour, we move to a local restaurant for our dinner. After finishing dinner, we transfer to our hotel. We complete our check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. We will spend the night at the 4* Howard Johnson by Wyndham Paragon Hotel (or similar) in Beijing.
Day 3 | Beijing | [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our Beijing and Great Wall tour. By vehicle, we will go to Juyong Pass (Juyongguan Great Wall), one of the sections of the Great Wall closest to Beijing. The pass was used as an important military passage in history and is located in a strategic valley. Its view is especially pleasant in spring and autumn due to the greenery. Although it offers easier climbing options compared to other sections, some parts are quite steep. After our visit here, we will have our lunch at a local restaurant in this area. After lunch, on our return to central Beijing, we will visit the Olympic Stadium. After viewing and inspecting the stadium from the outside, we return to our hotel. We will spend the night at the 4* Howard Johnson by Wyndham Paragon Hotel (or similar) in Beijing.
Day 4 | Beijing – Shanghai | [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue our Beijing tour. Our first stop will be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, completed in 1420, known as the Forbidden City because unauthorized entry by the public was forbidden for centuries. For 500 years, this place where Chinese emperors lived and ruled the country is the largest palace complex in the world with approximately 980 buildings and over 8,700 rooms. At the end of our tour, we move to a local restaurant for our lunch. After lunch, we transfer to the train station. We arrive at Shanghai Train Station via a high-speed train journey of approximately 5 hours. From there, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete our check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. We will spend the night at the 4* Starr Hotel Shanghai (or similar) in Shanghai.
Day 5 | Shanghai | [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our Shanghai tour. Our first stop will be the Jade Buddha Temple, the most important Buddhist temple in Shanghai. Founded in 1882, the temple takes its name from two valuable white jade Buddha statues, one seated and one reclining. The temple holds special importance because these statues were brought to Shanghai from Myanmar. The temple architecture is in the traditional Chinese Buddhist style and is still an active monastery used by monks. After our visit here, we will go to Yu Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty, located in the Old City area of the city. The garden was built between 1559–1577 by an official named Pan Yunduan as a peaceful retreat 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 will continue our tour with The Bund, the famous waterfront located on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Known for its early 20th-century European-style colonial buildings, it offers the city's most iconic view together with the modern silhouette of Pudong across the river. The final stop of our tour will be the Shanghai Tower. Completed in 2015, the tower stands out with its rotatable spiral design. With a height of 632 meters, it is one of the tallest buildings in the world and the tallest in China. It contains offices, hotels, and some of the fastest elevators in the world. After viewing the panoramic view of the city from the observation decks on the 119th floor, we return to our hotel. We will spend the night at the 4* Starr Hotel Shanghai (or similar) in Shanghai.
Day 6 | Shanghai – Osaka | [B, L]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue our Shanghai tour. First in our tour, we will visit Xintiandi, a stylish living and entertainment area where old Shikumen houses have been restored in a modern way. This elegant and touristy area, where historical texture is blended with modern architecture, is filled with 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 studios, design shops, and small cafes, the final stop of our tour is Nanjing Road, Shanghai's most famous shopping street. The street, which has a wide range of shopping options from luxury brands to affordable stores, is also known as "China's Fifth Avenue." At the end of our tour, we will have our lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we transfer to Shanghai Airport. After our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Osaka with Local Airlines. We land at Osaka Airport. After passport and baggage procedures, we transfer to our hotel from the airport via our vehicle. We complete our check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. We will spend the night at the 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) in Osaka.
Day 7 | Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our Kyoto tour. After a journey of approximately 1 hour, our first stop will be the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf is one of the most famous and well-known historical structures in Kyoto and is recognized worldwide as a perfect example of Kitayama garden landscaping art. Due to these features, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 as an important cultural asset of the former 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 colorful seas of cherry blossoms and maple trees blooming in spring and autumn, as well as beautiful views of the distant Kyoto city. The main hall, built without using nails along with the stage, houses the temple's main object of worship, a small statue of the thousand-armed, eleven-faced Kannon. After free time given for lunch, we will walk through the Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets leading up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sannenzaka is a cobblestone pedestrian path and a tourist attraction. The road, surrounded by traditional buildings and shops, is generally used together with a similar road called Ninenzaka. Sannenzaka is a narrow, sloping road filled with about 60 shops and restaurants selling Kyoto's traditional products and foods. Additionally, there are important shops where visitors can experience Japanese culture up close, including Ochaya (tea houses) where tea ceremonies are held, and shops related to Geiko (the name given to Geishas in Kyoto) and Maiko (Geiko apprentices) makeup. In the final part of the tour, we will visit Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district. At the end of the tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. We will spend the night at the 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) in Osaka.
Day 8 | Osaka – Kobe – Nara – Osaka | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our Kobe tour and Nara tour. In our Kobe tour, our first stop will be the Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum (subject to opening status). At Kiku-Masamune, which has adhered to the tradition of producing only dry sake since the Edo Period, we will see the stages of sake production and taste it. Almost all equipment found in the museum is classified as "national tangible folk cultural property" and allows visitors to learn more about the lives and work of sake producers. Then we continue our tour with the Kobe Nunobiki Botanical Gardens, Japan's largest botanical garden with seasonal flowers and magnificent mountain views. After the park, we will go to the Kobe Harborland Umie shopping mall, where we will have free time for lunch. After lunch, we move to 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. Established in 1880, it is one of Japan's oldest parks. There are over 1,200 wild Sika deer roaming freely in the park. Because of these deer, Nara is also known as the Deer Park. After the park, we will continue with the Todai-ji Temple. Todaiji, in addition to being the largest wooden structure in the world, also houses the world's largest Buddha statue, known as Daibutsu in Japanese. At the end of our tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. We will spend the night at the 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) in Osaka.
Note: For this morning tour, when leaving the hotel, we must leave a small overnight bag in our room. Large suitcases left at the hotel will be transferred to our hotel in Tokyo before us and will reach us the next day.
Day 9 | Osaka – Tokyo | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue our Osaka tour. Our first stop will be Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and playing an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation. The castle is located within a park covering an area of approximately two square kilometers, containing abundant green spaces, sports facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall), and a mausoleum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park becomes one of Osaka's most popular spots during the cherry blossom season, which usually occurs in early April. After free time given for lunch, we will see Dotonbori, which has become Osaka's entertainment center. After visiting Dotonbori and the city's main shopping area Shinsaibashi, we transfer to Shin-Osaka Train Station. We arrive at Tokyo Shinagawa Station via a journey of approximately 3 hours on the Shinkansen, the world's first high-speed train. From there, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete our check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. We will spend the night at the 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) in Tokyo.
Day 10 | Tokyo | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be the Asakusa Temple, also known as the 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 that survived the bombing attacks in the final year of World War II, and for this reason, the original structure of the building remains intact. Built in 1649, according to legend, the temple was built to honor three brothers who deified themselves after finding a statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. We will also see the shopping street called Nakamise in the area. After free time given for lunch, we will visit the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. After this, we will tour the Shibuya district, one of Tokyo's busiest areas. The Shibuya district, one of the most important places in the city for young people, stands out with its developed infrastructure, cafes, and world-famous shops. After our tour, we return to our hotel. We will spend the night at the 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) in Tokyo.
Day 11 | Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our Mount Fuji and Hakone tour. We will start our tour with Mount Fuji, located 2.5 hours away. Mount Fuji, which earned the right to be on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2013, is the highest mountain in Japan and is considered the sacred symbol of the country. Although Mount Fuji is generally thought to be a single mountain, it actually consists of three separate volcanoes. Located on Honshu island and positioned as a border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, Mount Fuji is only 100 kilometers from Tokyo and can be seen even from tall buildings in Tokyo on cloudless days. After the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, we will head towards Hakone town. We begin our Hakone tour with the Owakudani Valley, a volcanic formation. Owakudani is a valley located around a crater formed during the last eruption of Hakone Mountain approximately 3000 years ago. Today, a large part of the area is an active volcanic region with sulfur fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers. We will take a cable car up from Togendai to enjoy the view of this magnificent valley. After free time given for lunch, we will move to Lake Ashi. After a pleasant boat trip lasting approximately 30 minutes on the lake with a wooden pirate ship, we will return to Tokyo and our hotel by vehicle. We will spend the night at the 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) in Tokyo.
Day 12 | Tokyo – Istanbul | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and continue our Tokyo tour. The first place we will see in our tour will be the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the Main Palace, 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 resided in the 15th century. In the 19th century, when Emperor Meiji moved the royal house from Kyoto to Tokyo, this place also became the property of the royal family. Since most of the buildings were destroyed during World War II, the oldest items remaining from the palace today are only 50 years old. Then we will continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo's most famous neighborhoods worldwide. Akihabara is an extremely crowded shopping area famous for electronic stores of different types, from small market stalls to very large shopping malls. After our tour in Akihabara, also known as the Electronics City, we give free time for lunch. After free time, we will continue our tour with the Ginza area, 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 move to Tokyo Haneda Airport. After our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK0199 at 21:45. We will spend the night on the plane.
Day 13 | Tokyo – Istanbul
We arrive at Istanbul Airport at 05:05 local time and conclude our tour. We say goodbye until we meet again on our next distinguished and enjoyable trip.
Abbreviations explanations: [B] = Breakfast, [L] = Lunch, [D] = Dinner
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class air tickets on Turkish Airlines scheduled flights for the IST-PEK and HND-IST routes
- One-way economy class air ticket on local airline flights for the PVG-KIX route
- Airport taxes
- Economy class high-speed train ticket between Beijing and Shanghai
- Economy class high-speed train ticket between Osaka and Tokyo
- 2 nights accommodation with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Beijing
- 2 nights accommodation with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Shanghai
- 3 nights accommodation with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Osaka
- 3 nights accommodation with breakfast in a 3* hotel in Tokyo
- 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 (200 EUR)
- Exit tax
- All museum and historical site entrance fees not specified as included
- Meals and beverages in meals not specified as included
- Optional tours as indicated
- Personal expenses
- Tour guarantee and travel health insurance
- All services not clearly 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)