10-Day Highlights Of Japan & China by Intertrips – Tokyo to Beijing Tour: Itinerary & Reviews

This 10-day trip pairs Japan’s fast-moving cities and temple towns with a Great Wall hike and Beijing’s imperial sights. You’ll ride a ropeway above Hakone, cruise Lake Ashi for a chance to see Mount Fuji, then cross the country by coach and train before flying to China.

I like the mix of included highlights and open time: you can add the Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka tours if you want a fuller schedule, or explore independently. I also like that the Tokyo to Beijing flight and daily breakfasts are part of the package, which simplifies a trip across two countries.

The trade-off is that several headline activities cost extra, and airport transport in Japan and your final ride to Beijing airport are on you. The Shinkansen ride is listed as an optional $180 add-on, so confirm what is included for your departure before you book.

• Lake Ashi gives you a scenic Fuji view: The cruise and Komagatake Ropeway are included, but mountain views depend on conditions.
• Kyoto has room for independent exploring: Two nights and an open day give you choices, though the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari tour costs extra.
• Nara and Osaka share one optional day: Deer at Nara Park, Osaka Castle Park and the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi shopping areas are grouped together.
• The Great Wall visit includes a walk at Juyongguan Pass: Bring shoes suited to uneven steps and a day outdoors.
• The package price needs a close look: It starts at $2,199, but international flights to Japan and home from Beijing, several excursions and some transfers are not included.

What the 10-day route delivers

This is a guided group tour for 15 to 40 people, with English-language guiding and a low physical rating. Its central appeal is breadth: you get a short introduction to Japan’s capital, a Fuji-area outing, Kyoto, and a final stretch in Beijing, all within ten days.

That variety comes with a brisk pace. You change hotels several times, cross Japan by road and rail, and switch countries by air. It suits you if you want a practical first look at both countries more than a slow, deeply local stay in either one.

The group format can make the logistics easier, especially on the longer coach days and in Beijing. There is also free time built into the plan, so you are not on a tour bus every hour. But those open periods mean you will need to arrange some sightseeing yourself or pay for optional excursions.

Tokyo: an arrival day and a choice of city tour

On Day 1, you arrive in Tokyo and make your own way to the hotel by Airport Limousine Bus. The bus ticket is not included, and you should check its schedule and purchase details with the hotel or at the airport counter. There is no listed Japan arrival transfer, so plan for that first leg before departure.

The named Tokyo hotel is APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Makuhari, or a similar property. It is used for three nights, including the first two nights and your return night after Kyoto. The exact hotel can vary, so check its location and transport options for your dates rather than assuming you will stay beside central Tokyo’s main sights.

Day 2 is open. The optional Tokyo Discovery Tour costs $99 per person and requires at least four participants. It combines Tsukiji’s food shops and eateries, Odaiba Seaside Park, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and Kabukicho in Shinjuku.

That is a broad sampler, not a deep look at each neighborhood. Tsukiji’s inner wholesale market moved in 2018, but the surrounding businesses remain a draw. At Odaiba, you can look across the bay toward Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge; Sensoji brings you to one of the city’s best-known Buddhist temples and its long approach lined with shops. Kabukicho offers a very different side of Tokyo, an entertainment district that is best approached with ordinary city awareness.

If you skip the excursion, use the day to focus on one or two areas rather than trying to cover the entire city. The tour’s hotel location may make transport planning especially useful. Breakfast is included, but other meals are not specified as included.

Hakone, Lake Ashi and the Fuji-area overnight

Day 3 brings the first major scenery change. After breakfast, you leave Tokyo by coach for Hakone. Lunch is on your own, with a stop at a highway rest area along the way. Japanese service areas can make a useful meal stop, but leave room in your budget for food and snacks.

The Komagatake Ropeway carries you above the Hakone and Lake Ashi area, followed by a cruise on the lake. These are included activities, and together they offer two different views: one from above and one from the water. Mount Fuji is visible in the distance when conditions cooperate, but no itinerary can promise clear skies. Keep your expectations flexible and enjoy the lake and surrounding scenery even if the peak is obscured.

You spend the night in the Mount Fuji area or in Shizuoka or Aichi Prefecture, depending on local traffic. The listed hotel is Hotel Crown Palais Hamamatsu or a similar property. This flexible overnight location is practical for the route, but it means you should not count on a particular Fuji-view hotel or an evening in a specific town.

Kyoto: temples, shrines and a free day

On Day 4, the coach takes you to Kyoto, Japan’s former capital and a major center for temples, shrines, palaces and gardens. You have two nights at Ariston Hotel Kyoto Jujo or a similar hotel. The exact property matters: check where it is and how you will reach the areas you plan to visit.

The optional Kyoto Discovery Tour costs $89 per person and requires at least four participants. It includes Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. Kinkakuji’s gold-leaf-covered upper floors make it one of Kyoto’s most recognizable sights. Fushimi Inari is known for its long paths beneath rows of vermilion torii gates.

Both are major attractions, so expect them to be popular. The advantage of the excursion is that it connects two important sights without leaving you to plan the transport. The drawback is that you may want more time at either place than a group schedule allows.

Day 5 is free in Kyoto unless you choose the full-day Nara and Osaka excursion. At $130 per person, it requires at least ten participants and includes lunch. In Nara, the route visits Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Nara Park, where you can buy shika senbei to feed the deer. Treat the deer respectfully and keep food secure; they are accustomed to people and can be persistent.

The Osaka stops contrast with Nara’s historic setting. Osaka Castle Park offers a green pause in the city, while Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi are known for shopping, restaurants and oversized signs. This excursion packs several stops into one day, so it works best if you want a sampler of both cities. If you would rather spend time in Kyoto, the free day is valuable. The tour information also confirms that you can use it to visit Hiroshima, but you would need to arrange that independently.

Shinkansen back to Tokyo: check the extra charge

On Day 6, you return to Tokyo after breakfast. The itinerary describes the Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed bullet train, with a top speed of 189 miles per hour, reclining seats and food options. It lists the Shinkansen experience as an optional $180 add-on, however, while the transport section also describes the return journey by train.

That mismatch is important. Confirm whether the rail fare is included in your exact booking or whether the $180 charge applies before you commit. If included, the train saves a long road journey and gives you a chance to see the countryside from your seat. If it is extra, include it in your real trip budget rather than treating it as a small incidental.

After arriving in Tokyo, you have free time and stay again at the Tokyo Bay Makuhari hotel. This is a useful chance to revisit an area you missed, but your evening plans depend on the hotel’s location and the time you arrive.

Beijing: an included flight, but two transfers to plan

Day 7 shifts the tour from Japan to China. You check out before noon and arrange your own Airport Limousine Bus ride to the airport. The Tokyo to Beijing flight is included, and a representative meets you after customs and immigration to take you to the hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

The arrival transfer in Beijing is included; the departure transfer at the end of the tour is not. This distinction is easy to overlook when comparing package prices. The three Beijing nights are at Beijing Chun Hui Yuan Resort or a similar property.

Day 8 is open, with two optional ways to add structure. The Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour costs $70 per person, includes lunch and requires at least six participants; advance booking is required. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for Ming and Qing rulers from 1420 to 1912, and its extensive wooden buildings make it a major draw. The tour also visits Tiananmen Square.

The other option is a Peking Duck dinner with wine for $40 per person, also requiring at least six participants. Duck served with pancakes, spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce gives you a chance to try a dish closely tied to Beijing. The dinner is paid locally, so bring that cost into your planning.

You can instead rest at the resort or explore nearby on your own. The freedom is welcome after the Japan travel days, though it means the day’s sightseeing is not included unless you book an excursion.

Juyongguan and the Great Wall

Day 9 is the tour’s main included Beijing outing: a visit to the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass, followed by time to walk and take in the views. The Wall is not a single smooth path, and the visit involves hiking, so wear shoes you trust on steps and uneven surfaces. The trip is rated low intensity, but your own comfort with walking should guide how far you go.

The day also includes visits to a Jade Museum and a Traditional Chinese Medicine Center. These add cultural context, though they are not the same as free time at a historic site. If you prefer to spend longer on the Wall, ask how much time is allocated before departure.

For the evening, you can pay $55 locally for the Golden Mask Dynasty Show, subject to a minimum of six participants. It features more than 200 performers, with dance, acrobatics, costumes and stage effects. It is an entertainment option, not an included part of the tour.

Day 10 is departure day. You check out in the morning and arrange your own ride to the airport. The tour does not include your flight home from Beijing, so you will need to book that separately and coordinate your transfer.

Is $2,199 good value?

The starting price of $2,199 covers nine hotel nights, daily breakfasts, an English-speaking guide, listed coach transport and activities, the Tokyo to Beijing flight, and the Beijing airport arrival transfer. That is a useful bundle for a two-country trip, especially if you value having hotels and the cross-border flight organized.

Still, the advertised starting price is not the whole cost. Your flight to Japan and flight home from Beijing are excluded, as are travel insurance, visas, personal expenses, Japan airport transfers, the Beijing departure transfer and the optional excursions. The paid activities listed add up to $683 if you choose all of them, including the Shinkansen, and some have minimum group numbers.

The accommodation is described as four-star hotels or similar, with a resort in Beijing. The accommodation category rating is 4.0, while the tour operator’s overall rating is 4.1 out of 5. Two published tour ratings are five stars, but that is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than conclusive.

Past participants specifically named Japan guides May and Ayako and Beijing guide Yan. Their care and attention were praised, which matters on a trip with several transfers and language changes. Guide assignments can vary by departure, so ask who is scheduled for your dates rather than assuming you will have the same team.

Who should book this Japan and China tour?

I would consider this tour if you want a structured introduction to Japan and Beijing, value having hotels and the Japan to China flight arranged, and are comfortable with a brisk pace. It can suit families too: the minimum age is eight, the activity level is low, and the itinerary mixes city stops with scenic outings.

It is less suited to you if you want a slow stay in Kyoto, detailed guided touring every day, or a package with all transfers and sightseeing bundled into one price. Before booking, confirm the Shinkansen fee, hotel locations, which optional tours will operate, and the total cost after international flights and transfers. If those details work for your plans, this is a practical way to link Mount Fuji, Kyoto and the Great Wall in one trip.

FAQ

Is the flight from Tokyo to Beijing included?

Yes. The Tokyo to Beijing flight is included. Your flights to Japan and home from Beijing are not included.

Are airport transfers included?

The Beijing airport transfer on arrival is included. You pay for the Airport Limousine Bus to the airport in Tokyo, and you arrange your own transport to Beijing airport on departure.

Is the Shinkansen included in the tour price?

The Shinkansen is listed as an optional $180 add-on, although the itinerary also describes the Kyoto to Tokyo return as a train journey. Confirm the arrangement and price for your departure before booking.

Which optional excursions are available?

Options include Tokyo Discovery for $99, Kyoto Discovery for $89, the Nara and Osaka day tour for $130, the Shinkansen experience for $180, the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour for $70, Peking Duck dinner for $40, and the Golden Mask Dynasty Show for $55. Minimum group sizes apply to several excursions.

What meals are included?

Daily breakfasts are included. The Nara and Osaka excursion includes lunch, and the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour also includes lunch. Other meals are not listed as included. Vegetarian food can be requested.

What is the group size and activity level?

The group size is 15 to 40 people, the tour is guided in English, and the physical rating is low intensity. The Great Wall visit includes time for hiking.