19 Oct 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£7,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £8,660
Escorted tour
Ancient Empires of China & Japan with Flights – 20 Days
Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin and Shanghai, then Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo, with flights and all meals.
20 days
From £7,390 incl. flights
Tour overview
This 20-day escorted tour combines the great sights of China and Japan in one journey, with return flights, internal flights and bullet trains, and breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. A tour director travels with the group throughout. You stay eighteen nights in three- and four-star city hotels, with a night in flight on the way out.
In Beijing you walk on the Great Wall and explore the Forbidden City before taking the bullet train to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors. A flight brings you to Guilin for a four-hour cruise on the Li River among karst peaks to Yangshuo, and a visit to the Reed Flute Caves. In Shanghai you visit the Yu Garden and stroll along the Bund.
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Flying to Japan, you explore Osaka Castle, then take the bullet train to Okayama’s Kōraku-en garden and the old merchant town of Kurashiki. In Hiroshima you visit the Peace Memorial and take the ferry to Miyajima and its floating torii gate. Kyoto brings Fushimi Inari and its thousands of torii gates, and after a boat trip on Lake Ashi in Hakone you end in Tokyo, a city of contrasts.
The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want to see the highlights of both countries in comfort, with everything included.
Trip highlights
-
The Great Wall (Day 3)
-
The Terracotta Warriors (Day 6)
-
A Li River cruise (Day 8)
-
Hiroshima and Miyajima (Day 15)
-
Fushimi Inari in Kyoto (Day 17)
-
Hakone and Tokyo (Days 18–19)
Your route
14 stops from Beijing to Tokyo
- Beijing Days 1–4
- Great Wall of China Day 3
- Xi'an Days 5–6
- Guilin Day 7
- Yangshuo Day 8
- Guilin Day 9
- Shanghai Days 10–11
- Osaka Days 12–13
- Kurashiki Day 14
- Hiroshima Days 14–15
- Miyajima Day 15
- Kyoto Days 16–17
- Hakone Day 18
- Tokyo Days 18–20
Why choose this tour
China and Japan in one journey, with all meals. Flights, bullet trains and internal flights included.
Best suited to
- First-time visitors to Asia
- Travellers who value comfort
- Culture and history lovers
- Couples and solo travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
20 days from United Kingdom to United Kingdom
-
Day 1 · United Kingdom Fly to Beijing
Depart for China.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
-
Day 2 · Beijing Beijing
Arrive in the capital.
- Hotel
- Mercure Beijing Downtown
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 3 · Great Wall Great Wall
A walk on the Wall.
- Hotel
- Mercure Beijing Downtown
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square Forbidden City
The imperial palace.
- Hotel
- Mercure Beijing Downtown
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Xi’an Xi’an
By bullet train.
- Hotel
- Dajing Castle Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Terracotta Army Terracotta Warriors
The buried army.
- Hotel
- Dajing Castle Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Guilin Guilin
Fly south.
- Hotel
- Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Li River, Yangshuo Li River
A river cruise.
- Hotel
- Elite Garden Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Yangshuo, Reed Flute Caves Reed Flute Caves
Countryside and caves.
- Hotel
- Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 · Shanghai Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai.
- Hotel
- Hongqiao Jinjiang Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Yu Garden, The Bund Shanghai
Old and new Shanghai.
- Hotel
- Hongqiao Jinjiang Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Osaka Osaka
Fly to Japan.
- Hotel
- Respire Osaka
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 13 · Osaka Castle Osaka
A castle and a river cruise.
- Hotel
- Respire Osaka
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Kōraku-en, Kurashiki Okayama
A garden and a merchant town.
- Hotel
- Grand Prince Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 15 · Hiroshima, Miyajima Hiroshima
Peace Park and Miyajima.
- Hotel
- Grand Prince Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 16 · Kyoto Kyoto
By bullet train.
- Hotel
- Rihga Gran Kyoto
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 17 · Fushimi Inari, Kyoto Kyoto
Torii gates and temples.
- Hotel
- Rihga Gran Kyoto
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 18 · Hakone, Lake Ashi Hakone
A lake cruise and on to Tokyo.
- Hotel
- Sunshine City Prince Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 19 · Tokyo Tokyo
A city of contrasts.
- Hotel
- Sunshine City Prince Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 20 · Tokyo Fly home
Fly back to the UK.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Beijing (3 nights) Mercure Beijing Downtown
- Xi’an (2 nights) Dajing Castle Hotel
- Guilin (1 night) Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
- Yangshuo (1 night) Elite Garden Hotel
- Guilin (1 night) Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
- Shanghai (2 nights) Hongqiao Jinjiang Hotel
- Osaka (2 nights) Respire Osaka
- Hiroshima (2 nights) Grand Prince Hotel
- Kyoto (2 nights) Rihga Gran Kyoto
- Tokyo (2 nights) Sunshine City Prince Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Return flights, internal flights and bullet trains
- Accommodation 18 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
- Meals 18 breakfasts, 17 lunches and 18 dinners
- Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors
- Li River cruise and Reed Flute Caves
- Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and Hakone
- Tour director throughout
Not included
- Meals not included 1 lunch
- Visas where needed
- Drinks
- Tips
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a small group
- You want free evenings to dine out
- You want to stay longer in each place
- You want an active holiday
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 3–20 · Lunch: Days 3–19 · Dinner: Days 2–19
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £7,390 per person, including flights. 32 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
02 Nov 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,190pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,460
08 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,190pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,630
15 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,790pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,230
22 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,790pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,230
29 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,290pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,730
05 Apr 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,790pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,230
03 May 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,590pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,030
10 May 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
06 Sept 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
13 Sept 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
20 Sept 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
11 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,590pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,030
18 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
25 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
01 Nov 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,090pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,530
06 Mar 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,490pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,080
13 Mar 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,590pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,180
20 Mar 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,590pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,180
27 Mar 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,590pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,180
03 Apr 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,490pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,080
10 Apr 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,490pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £10,080
08 May 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
15 May 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
04 Sept 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
11 Sept 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
18 Sept 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
09 Oct 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
16 Oct 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
19 Oct 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
30 Oct 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
06 Nov 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,390pp
Flights from UK airports
Single from £9,980
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Are flights included?
Yes, return flights, internal flights in China and the flight to Japan.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day from arrival.
Do I need a visa for China?
UK citizens can currently visit China visa-free for short stays. Check the latest advice before travel.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
UK citizens don’t need a visa for Japan for short stays.
How much walking is there?
Moderate sightseeing walks, including on the Great Wall.
Is there free time?
A little, but most days are fully guided with all meals included.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary