Japan & China Culinary Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Beijing, Xi'an & Chengdu - 14 Days

End your day by exploring the vibrant Akihabara, known as "Electric Town," Japan's pop culture capital. Here, you can immerse yourself in the world of manga, animé, and gaming. Or, you might like to soak up the atmosphere of Tokyo's Old Town, Yanesen, on a private food tour. Stroll the streets, meet the locals, sample street food, visit traditional shops, and stop for a drink in a Japanese izakaya pub while learning about local culture and history from your guide.

Day 3: Train to Kyoto, Maiko Dinner Show

Check out of your Tokyo hotel and catch a 2.5-hour bullet train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital. Kyoto is alive with history and is home to numerous shrines, temples, palaces, and gardens. Once checked in at your ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), explore the Gion neighborhood. Admire the traditional wooden houses and observe colorful, kimono-clad geisha as you wander through its streets to find many shops selling sweets and Japanese crafts.

In the evening, you're in for a treat. Enjoy a maiko show (which includes singing, musical, and dance performances) with dinner in a tatami room of a traditional teahouse designed in Japanese style and lined with mats. Immerse yourself in the world of geisha (female Japanese performing artists) and maiko (geisha in training) while tucking into a multicourse kaiseki dinner, which usually includes a fish course, a rice course, and a local dessert. Afterward, return to your Kyoto ryokan.

Day 4: Kyoto Highlights Tour with Saké Brewery & Sakura Ice Cream Tasting

This morning, meet your guide for a tour of Kyoto's highlights, starting with a formal exploration of Gion. See the stone street of Hanami-koji, bordered by traditional machiya (wooden townhouses) and shops. At the corner of Shijo Street and Hanami-koji, you'll find the legendary Ichiriki Ochaya Teahouse, the 300-year-old establishment that is invite-only. Next, head to the 400-year-old Nishiki Ichiba Market. Mingle with the locals doing their food shopping as you walk among the 100 stalls, local favorites like yu dofu (boiled tofu), nishin soba (noodles with dried herring), or delicious soy milk doughnuts.

Afterward, enjoy an insider's visit to the Gekkeikan Okura Saké Museum in Kyoto's famous Fushimi Brewing District. See the traditional rice-based brewing processes and listen to recordings of ancient brewing songs once sung by master brewers, then top it all off with a visit to the tasting room, where you can sample different kinds of saké, ranging from dry to sweet and fruity. After your saké tour, taste locally made sakura (cherry blossom) ice cream, one of Kyoto's specialties.

End your day at the famous shrine of Fushimi Inari-taisha, beginning with an enchanting hike through the 10,000 red torii gates. Follow the torii-lined route up to the observation deck for panoramic views of the gates and the surrounding forest. Walk back through the forest, discovering smaller shrines, moss-covered animal statues, and ancient stone tablets. Tonight, relax at your Kyoto hotel or explore more of the city on your own.

When it's time, meet your driver for a quick transfer to Osaka's Kansai International Airport, where you'll catch a 3.5-hour flight to Beijing, the capital of China. Once you land, your driver will be waiting to whisk you off to your hotel in the city center.

For lunch, head to a nearby restaurant for a traditional Peking duck meal. This royal dish, consisting of slow-roasted duck served with pancakes and scallions, has been a staple in Beijing cuisine for centuries, popular with locals and visitors alike. In the afternoon, rest your legs with a 30-minute pedicab tour through the historic hutongs of Beijing. As you ride along, witness the traditional Chinese folk culture of the area as you pass the old gray stone houses that line the labyrinthine network of alleyways. At the end of the tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening free.

Day 8: Beijing's Ancient Wonders: Temple of Heaven & the Great Wall of China

After breakfast, follow your guide to the Temple of Heaven, a historic 13th-century complex comprising several buildings. The temple sits on 670 acres (271 ha) and was the principal imperial temple where emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties up until 1900 CE prayed to heaven for a good harvest. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and other iconic buildings, including the Circular Mound Altar, the site of winter solstice ceremonies, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. This circular building housed the stone tablets used in the harvest prayer ceremonies.

Then, travel with your driver and guide 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Wall of China. First constructed in the sixth-century before being rebuilt in 1368 CE by the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, this ancient fortification is separated into various sections open to visitors. You'll be visiting Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved portions of the Great Wall.

When you arrive, take the cable car to the top of the wall and walk along the cobblestones, peering out through the battlements at the far-reaching views. Enjoy a moderate hike along the wall for two to six hours, depending on your chosen route. This section of wall stretches for 13 miles (22 km), with 22 stone watchtowers sitting atop steep hills blanketed in rich green pines and cypress trees. Take your time and soak in the views, which are nothing short of spectacular on a clear day, before returning to Beijing.

Day 9: Visit the Summer Palace, Train to Xi'an

Spend your last morning in Beijing exploring the UNESCO-listed Summer Palace, nestled on the shores of Kunming Lake. Discover the intricately designed halls, pavilions, and temples to understand the opulence enjoyed by emperors during the Qing dynasty. Enter the Longevity Hall for panoramic views of the glittering lake and the surrounding gardens, then head outside to stroll over traditional bridges, including the beautiful Seventeen-Arch Bridge, to see the colorful pagodas dotting the landscape.

After exploring the palace on foot, you'll hop on a boat for a relaxed sail across the lake, where you can soak up the panoramic views of the surrounding hills, historic bridges, and iconic pavilions, such as the Marble Boat. In the afternoon, transfer to the station to catch a 4-5-hour bullet train southwest to Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and the capital of several of China's most significant dynasties. When you arrive, find a local restaurant to try authentic dishes like biang biang noodles.

Day 10: Discover the Terracotta Army & Xi'an's City Wall, Muslim Quarter Food Tour

This morning, meet your driver at your hotel for a half-day excursion east of Xi'an to Mount Li, home to the Terracotta Army Museum and the famous life-size warrior sculptures. When you arrive after one hour's drive, view the massive collection of incredibly detailed, life-size clay sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China, reigning from 221 to 210 BCE. 

Walk around the outer edge of the excavation pits, marveling at the various warriors, chariots, and cavalry horses, each with different hairstyles and facial expressions. This enormous site covers approximately 38 square miles (98 sq km), and its discovery in 1974 CE represents one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. Spend hours discovering the secrets of the army, who were created to be symbolic guardians of Qin's burial tomb and thus protect his spirit in the afterlife, then head back to Xi'an, stopping for lunch on the way. 

Spend your afternoon exploring the Fortifications of Xi'an. Commissioned in the late 14th century by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, they run 8.7 miles (14 km) around the historic old city. Later, visit the historic Muslim Quarter in the center of Xi'an. The old buildings lining the narrow streets are home to Xi'an's Muslim, or Hui, community. The quarter is a popular area with many shops, restaurants, and street food vendors. Make sure to sample the typical halal food of the district, like yangrou paomo (lamb stew) and roujiamo (lamb burgers). 

Day 12: Chengdu Panda Experience, Sichuan Cuisine Museum & Workshop

Besides the spiciness of its food, Sichuan is also known for giant pandas, whose native environment is the highland bamboo forests of central China. Just outside Chengdu, you'll find the Chengdu Panda Base, the world's largest nonprofit panda research and breeding facility. Wake up early for a transfer by car to the base, about 6 miles (10 km) outside the city. The goal of this nonprofit is to replicate the living conditions of giant pandas and facilitate breeding. It also doubles as a zoo, with various enclosures and habitats home to many giant pandas and other rare animals, like the red panda.

On your half-day tour, you'll see adult and baby pandas as you learn about the facility and the breeding program. Then, you'll view the newborns in the delivery room. Watch the little ones frolic around the "panda kindergarten," see pandas in their natural habitat (usually napping, as they have evolved to save energy), and discover China's dedication to protecting these wonderful, endangered creatures.

In the afternoon, you'll return to Chengdu and join your guide at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum. Learn about the evolution of Sichuan cuisine, pick organic vegetables and make chili bean paste or powder, and taste various Sichuan flavors throughout the museum. Later in the afternoon, a professional chef at the museum will demonstrate how to cook three typical Sichuan dishes, and you'll learn regional techniques, spices, cooking processes, and secret tips. Your dishes may include kung pao chicken, mapo tofu, and dan dan noodles.

 

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