20-Day China, South Korea & Japan: East Asia Grand Tour

Tour Overview

Days 1-3: Shanghai & Hangzhou, China

• The Bund — Shanghai’s iconic waterfront promenade with colonial architecture and Pudong skyline views
• Yu Garden — 16th-century classical Chinese garden in the Old City
• Shanghai Tower — China’s tallest building, observation deck at 632m
• Nanjing Road — China’s premier shopping street
• West Lake, Hangzhou — UNESCO World Heritage site, boat cruise on the legendary lake
• Lingyin Temple — One of China’s largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples (328 AD)
• Longjing Tea Plantation — Visit the source of China’s most famous green tea

Days 4-6: Seoul & DMZ, South Korea

• Gyeongbokgung Palace — Royal palace of Joseon Dynasty, changing of the guard
• Bukchon Hanok Village — Traditional Korean houses dating back 600 years
• Insadong & Myeongdong — Art, culture, shopping, and street food
• DMZ Tour — 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory overlooking North Korea, Dorasan Station
• N Seoul Tower — Panoramic views from Namsan Mountain
• Korean BBQ Dinner — Authentic samgyeopsal experience

Days 7-9: Tokyo, Japan

• Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple — Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple
• Meiji Shrine — Serene forest shrine in the heart of the city
• Shibuya Crossing & Harajuku — Tokyo’s youth culture epicenters
• Tsukiji Outer Market — Fresh sushi and seafood
• Akihabara — Electric Town for anime, manga, and electronics
• Shinjuku — Tokyo’s entertainment capital by night

Day 10: Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi

• Mount Fuji 5th Station — Ascend to 2,300m for spectacular views
• Lake Kawaguchi — One of Fuji Five Lakes with the iconic reflection view
• Chureito Pagoda — The famous pagoda with Mount Fuji backdrop
• Onsen Hot Spring — Traditional Japanese bath experience

Day 11: Nikko World Heritage

• Toshogu Shrine — Tokugawa Ieyasu’s lavishly decorated mausoleum, UNESCO site
• Kegon Falls — One of Japan’s three great waterfalls (97m)
• Lake Chuzenji — Scenic alpine lake created by volcanic eruption

Days 12-14: Kyoto — Japan’s Cultural Heart

• Fushimi Inari Shrine — Thousands of vermilion torii gates
• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — Gold-leaf covered Zen temple
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple — Wooden terrace with city views
• Ryoan-ji Zen Rock Garden — Japan’s most famous karesansui
• Nijo Castle — Shogun’s residence with nightingale floors
• Gion District — Geisha culture and traditional tea houses
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — Towering bamboo forest paths
• Tea Ceremony & Kimono Experience

Day 15: Nara Day Trip

• Todai-ji Temple — World’s largest bronze Buddha in the world’s largest wooden building
• Nara Park — Sacred deer roaming freely among ancient temples
• Kasuga Taisha Shrine — 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns

Days 16-17: Osaka

• Osaka Castle — One of Japan’s most famous landmarks
• Dotonbori — Neon-lit food paradise: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu
• Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower
• Kuromon Market — Fresh seafood and street food
• Umeda Sky Building — Floating Garden Observatory

Day 18: Hiroshima & Miyajima

• Peace Memorial Park & Museum
• Atomic Bomb Dome — UNESCO World Heritage site
• Miyajima Island — The famous floating torii gate and Itsukushima Shrine
• Momijidani Park — Scenic maple valley

Day 19: Free Day Osaka / Return to Tokyo

Free day for last-minute shopping, exploration, or optional activities. Evening bullet train to Tokyo for departure preparation.

Day 20: Departure from Tokyo

Transfer to Narita or Haneda Airport. End of your epic three-nation East Asian journey.

Inclusions

• ✅ 19 nights hotel accommodation
• ✅ English-speaking guides in all 3 countries
• ✅ Flights: Shanghai → Seoul, Seoul → Tokyo
• ✅ All bullet trains (Tokyo → Kyoto, Osaka → Tokyo)
• ✅ All sightseeing and entrance fees as listed
• ✅ Airport transfers throughout
• ✅ Daily breakfast
• ✅ DMZ tour
• ✅ Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi day trip
• ✅ Nikko day trip
• ✅ Nara day trip
• ✅ Hiroshima & Miyajima day trip
• ✅ Tea ceremony experience