China and Japan Express: Beijing to Tokyo (Self-Launched)
16 days · China & Japan
G Adventures charges £2,990
No-markup version: ~£1,935 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 16-day Beijing-to-Tokyo rail-and-ferry adventure. You'll cover the same ground — the Great Wall at Mutianyu, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, Suzhou's classical gardens, Shanghai's Bund, a night in a Mount Kōya temple, Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kyoto's castles and shrines, and a Hakone-onward finish — but booking it yourself: Chinese high-speed rail and sleeper trains, low-cost flights, a Japan Rail Pass, temple lodgings and hostels. Expect roughly a third to half of the group-tour price, with the trade-off being that you handle your own logistics (which is very doable with the notes below). Costs are approximate, per person, and exclude international flights to Beijing and home from Tokyo.
Day-by-day
Arrive Beijing
Beijing, China
Land at Beijing Capital or Daxing, take the Airport Express train or metro into the city (~£4) and check into a hostel or budget hotel near a metro stop in Dongcheng. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card before you go — China is largely cashless now — and grab a VPN before you arrive if you want Google, Gmail or Instagram. Evening: wander a hutong near Nanluoguxiang and eat jianbing or dumplings.
🚌Airport Express train or metro from airport (~£4)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Dongcheng (approx. £14-22/night)
- →Airport transfer by metro
- →Hutong evening stroll
- →Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay and VPN
Great Wall at Mutianyu + Tiananmen Square
Beijing, China
Take an early bus from Dongzhimen long-distance bus station to Mutianyu (~£4, roughly 1.5-2 hrs) or book a shared day-trip shuttle via Klook for ~£15-20 including entry. The wall entrance is ~£5-6; the cable car or toboggan down is ~£12-15 extra. Hike between towers and enjoy far fewer crowds than Badaling. Back in the city in late afternoon, walk Tiananmen Square (free, bring your passport — it's checked at security). Optional: Drum and Bell Tower (~£3).
🚌Public bus to Mutianyu (~£4) or Klook shared shuttle (~£18 return)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Dongcheng
- →Mutianyu Great Wall hike
- →Tiananmen Square
- →Optional toboggan/cable car
- →Optional Drum and Bell Tower
Forbidden City, then fast train to Xi'an
Beijing → Xi'an, China
Book Forbidden City tickets online in advance (they sell out, ~£6, ID required, closed Mondays) and take the metro to Tian'anmen East. Spend the morning in the palace complex. Afternoon: high-speed G-train Beijing West to Xi'an North takes 4.5-5.5 hrs, roughly £55-75 second class — book on the 12306 app or Trip.com. Check into a hostel inside or near the City Wall in the Muslim Quarter area.
🚌Metro (~£1) + Beijing–Xi'an high-speed train (~£65)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Xi'an old town (approx. £12-20/night)
- →Forbidden City self-guided visit
- →Muslim Quarter evening food walk
Terracotta Warriors, City Wall and Muslim Quarter
Xi'an, China
Take the metro/tourist bus (Line 9 to Huaqing Chi then bus 602, or a direct tourist bus from Xi'an railway station, ~£2) to the Terracotta Warriors site. Entry ~£12-14; hire an audio guide or join a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£30-40) to make sense of the pits. Return mid-afternoon and rent a bike on the ancient City Wall (~£6 entry + ~£4 bike hire) for the 14km loop. Evening in the Muslim Quarter for roujiamo and biangbiang noodles. Skip the overnight train: stay a night in Xi'an for comfort, or book a hard/soft sleeper Xi'an–Suzhou if you want to replicate the original.
🚌Local bus/metro to warriors (~£2), bike rental (~£4)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Xi'an old town
- →Terracotta Warriors
- →Ancient City Wall bike ride
- →Muslim Quarter street food
Xi'an to Suzhou — gardens and canals
Xi'an → Suzhou, China
Morning high-speed train Xi'an North to Suzhou (~6-7 hrs, ~£75-90) — scenic and far cheaper than flying. On arrival, taxi or metro to your guesthouse near the Pingjiang Road canal area. Late afternoon at Master of the Nets Garden (~£4-5), one of China's finest classical gardens, then stroll Shantang Street for canal views and snacks.
🚌Xi'an–Suzhou high-speed train (~£80)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel near Pingjiang Road, Suzhou (approx. £12-20/night)
- →Master of the Nets Garden
- →Shantang Street canal walk
Suzhou to Shanghai
Suzhou → Shanghai, China
Short 25-30 minute bullet train to Shanghai (~£5-7, frequent departures). Drop bags at a hostel in the French Concession or near People's Square. Walk the Bund at dusk for the classic skyline view, then loop through nearby Nanjing Road. Optional evening: Shanghai Acrobats at the Shanghai Circus World (~£20-30 via Klook) — book ahead.
🚌Suzhou–Shanghai bullet train (~£6) + metro (~£1)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Shanghai (approx. £15-25/night)
- →The Bund sunset walk
- →Nanjing Road
- →Optional Chinese acrobatics show
Shanghai museums and Yu Garden
Shanghai, China
Free day in Shanghai. The Shanghai Museum (free, book online) is excellent; Yu Garden and the surrounding bazaar cost ~£4. Alternatively explore the French Concession's plane-tree streets, Tianzifang lanes, and the West Bund art museums. Get a foot massage and eat xiaolongbao at a local chain like Jia Jia Tang Bao.
🚌Metro (~£2)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Shanghai
- →Shanghai Museum
- →Yu Garden
- →French Concession walk
- →Xiaolongbao dinner
Fly Shanghai to Osaka
Shanghai → Osaka, Japan
Book a budget airline (Spring Japan, Peach or Juneyao) Shanghai Pudong to Osaka Kansai — around £70-110 one way if booked early. Land at Kansai, take the Nankai Rapi:t or regular Nankai line into Namba (~£8-12). Settle into a hostel in Namba or Shinsaibashi and spend the evening in Dotonbori: takoyaki, okonomiyaki and neon.
🚌One-way flight (~£90) + Nankai airport train (~£10)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Namba/Shinsaibashi (approx. £18-28/night)
- →Dotonbori street food crawl
- →Shinsaibashi shopping arcade
Osaka to Mount Kōya temple stay
Osaka → Kōyasan, Japan
Take the Nankai Koya Line from Namba to Gokurakubashi (~£10-12), then the funicular and cable car up to Kōyasan at 800m. Book a shukubo temple lodging direct (many list on Japanese temple-stay aggregators; ~£45-70 per person including dinner and breakfast) — shojin ryori vegetarian dinner and morning prayers are the highlight. Spend the afternoon walking Okunoin cemetery and the Danjo Garan complex.
🚌Nankai train + cable car (~£12)
🛏Temple lodging (shukubo) on Kōyasan, shared facilities (approx. £50-70 incl. meals)
- →Okunoin cemetery walk
- →Danjo Garan temples
- →Shojin ryori dinner
- →Morning prayers
Kōyasan to Hiroshima
Kōyasan → Hiroshima, Japan
Attend morning prayers and breakfast, then descend by cable car and train to Osaka, connecting by Shinkansen to Hiroshima (~4 hrs total, covered by your Japan Rail Pass). Check into a hostel or business hotel near Hiroshima Station or in the Peace Park area. Evening: okonomiyaki (Hiroshima-style, with noodles) at a local counter.
🚌Cable car + trains + Shinkansen (JR Pass)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hiroshima (approx. £18-28/night)
- →Morning temple prayers
- →Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki dinner
Hiroshima Peace Park and Miyajima Island
Hiroshima, Japan
Morning at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum (museum ~£1-2 entry). Afternoon: JR Sanyo line to Miyajitsuguchi then the JR ferry to Miyajima (both covered by JR Pass). See the floating torii gate, wander Omotesando, and if you're energetic, ride the ropeway or hike up Mt Misen for views over the Seto Inland Sea (~£10 ropeway one-way). Time your visit around the tide tables for the classic 'floating' shot.
🚌JR train + JR ferry to Miyajima (JR Pass)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hiroshima
- →Peace Memorial Museum and Park
- →Miyajima floating torii gate
- →Optional Mt Misen ropeway or hike
Hiroshima to Kyoto — Nijo Castle and Gion
Hiroshima → Kyoto, Japan
Shinkansen to Kyoto (~1hr 40, JR Pass). Check into a hostel or guesthouse near Kyoto Station or in Gion-adjacent Higashiyama. Afternoon: Nijo Castle and gardens (~£6). In the evening, walk the Gion geisha district — Shirakawa canal, Hanamikoji street — and finish at Yasaka Shrine. Book a Kyoto cooking class or tea ceremony on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25-45) if you want a structured cultural activity.
🚌Shinkansen Hiroshima–Kyoto (JR Pass) + city bus (~£2)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Kyoto (approx. £20-30/night)
- →Nijo Castle and gardens
- →Gion evening walk
- →Optional tea ceremony
Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and ryokan night
Kyoto, Japan
Start early (7-8am) at Fushimi Inari Taisha — free, and the torii tunnels are magical before the crowds. Then take the JR Nara Line to Inari and continue to Arashiyama for the bamboo grove and Togetsukyo Bridge. Consider a day trip to Nara (deer park and Todai-ji, ~£4 entry) if you want more. Tonight, splurge on a traditional ryokan or minshuku — book well ahead in Kyoto, ~£60-100 per person with kaiseki dinner and breakfast.
🚌JR trains (JR Pass) + local buses (~£3)
🛏Traditional ryokan/minshuku, Kyoto (approx. £60-100 incl. meals)
- →Fushimi Inari torii walk
- →Arashiyama bamboo grove
- →Ryokan kaiseki dinner
Kyoto to Hakone — Mt Fuji views
Kyoto → Hakone, Japan
Shinkansen to Odawara (~2 hrs, JR Pass), then the Hakone Tozan railway and cable car to Lake Ashino-ko (a Hakone Free Pass ~£40 covers the loop; the cable car and boat are partly outside the JR Pass). Cruise Lake Ashino-ko for Fuji views, ride the Owakudani ropeway over the volcanic vents, and stay overnight in Hakone or nearby Yumoto in a guesthouse with an onsen (~£30-45).
🚌Shinkansen to Odawara (JR Pass) + Hakone Free Pass (~£40)
🛏Guesthouse with onsen, Hakone/Yumoto (approx. £30-45/night)
- →Lake Ashino-ko boat cruise
- →Owakudani ropeway
- →Onsen soak
Hakone to Tokyo — Meiji Shrine, Asakusa and Senso-ji
Hakone → Tokyo, Japan
Return to Odawara and take the Shinkansen or Odakyu Romancecar into Tokyo (~1 hr, JR Pass or ~£12). Check into a hostel in Asakusa or Shinjuku. Afternoon: Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park (free), then Harajuku's Takeshita Street. Evening: Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple, lit up after dark, and dinner at an izakaya.
🚌Odawara–Tokyo Shinkansen (JR Pass) + metro (~£3)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Tokyo (approx. £22-35/night)
- →Meiji Shrine
- →Harajuku walk
- →Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa
Tokyo — depart
Tokyo, Japan
Morning free for last-minute shopping in Ginza, Ueno Park museums (many free), or a Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast. Take the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner to Narita (~£18-22), or the Keikyu line to Haneda (~£3-6) for your flight home.
🚌Airport train (~£20)
🛏—
- →Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
- →Optional Ueno Park museums
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,935 | £2,990 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,055 per person (35%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,935
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does China and Japan Express: Beijing to Tokyo (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,935 per person for 16 days in China & Japan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,990 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,935 — a saving of roughly £1,055 (35%) per person.
How long is the China & Japan trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through China & Japan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, adventure trip through China & Japan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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