China & Japan Express: Beijing to Tokyo (Self-Launched)
16 days · China & Japan
G Adventures charges £2,850
No-markup version: ~£2,340 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 run: imperial Beijing, Xi'an's warriors, the water towns of Suzhou, Shanghai's Bund, then temple stays on Mount Koya, Hiroshima and Miyajima, Kyoto's shrines, a Hakone onsen night with Fuji views, and Tokyo. You book everything yourself — hostels and business hotels, night trains and high-speed rail, and GetYourGuide/Klook day tours for the big sights. Costs are rough per-person estimates at backpacker-to-midrange rates; Japan is the expensive half, so be flexible on dates and grab early Shinkansen/JR deals.
Day-by-day
Land in Beijing & hutong wander
Beijing, China
Fly into PEK or PKX and take the Airport Express (¥25, ~£2.70) plus metro to a hostel near Dongsi or Nanluoguxiang. Get a Chinese SIM/eSIM and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card — almost nothing in China runs on cash now. Evening stroll the hutongs, dinner of jianbing or dumplings for under £4.
🚌Airport Express + metro, ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Dongsi/Nanluoguxiang (£12–18)
- →Hutong wander
- →Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay
- →Local noodle dinner
Mutianyu Great Wall & Tiananmen
Beijing, China
Skip the group bus: take the 916 Express bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou (¥12) then a shared minivan to Mutianyu (¥40 return) — or pre-book a GetYourGuide Mutianyu shuttle with entry included (~£30). Walk the wall for 2–3 hours (toboggan down ¥100 optional). Late afternoon return and walk Tiananmen Square and the surrounding gates (free, bring passport — you need to book the square slot online a day ahead).
🚌Public bus + shared minivan, ~£11
🛏Same hostel (£12–18)
- →Mutianyu Great Wall hike
- →Toboggan descent (optional ¥100)
- →Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City to Xi'an by night train
Beijing → Xi'an, China
Book Forbidden City tickets online (¥60, released 7 days ahead, sells out fast — passport required). Spend 3–4 hours inside, then climb Jingshan Park (¥2) for the palace roof view. Evening: overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an (Z-train, ~11–12 hours, ¥260–280 in a 4-berth soft sleeper) — a comfortable, cheap way to cover the distance and save a hotel night.
🚌Overnight sleeper train Beijing–Xi'an, ~£30
🛏Overnight train, soft sleeper berth
- →Forbidden City
- →Jingshan Park viewpoint
- →Overnight train
Terracotta Warriors, city wall & Muslim Quarter
Xi'an, China
Arrive early, drop bags at a hostel by the South Gate. Take bus 306/游5 from the train station to the Terracotta Warriors (¥120 entry, ¥8 bus) and rent an audio guide rather than a private guide. Afternoon: rent a bike on the Ming city wall (¥45, 2 hrs) for the classic 14km loop. Evening eat your way through the Muslim Quarter — roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, yangrou paomo for under £8 total.
🚌Local bus + metro, ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm near South Gate, Xi'an (£10–14)
- →Terracotta Warriors
- →City wall bike ride
- →Muslim Quarter street food
High-speed to Suzhou & water-town lanes
Xi'an → Suzhou, China
Morning G-train from Xi'an North to Suzhou North (~6 hours, ¥580–640 second class, book on Trip.com or 12306 an app in advance). Check in near Pingjiang Road. Late afternoon wander Shantang Street's canal lanes and pay the small entry fee for the Master of the Nets Garden (¥40–50) rather than a guided tour — signage is in English and the audio guide is ¥20.
🚌High-speed rail Xi'an–Suzhou, ~£65
🛏Guesthouse near Pingjiang Road (£15–20)
- →Shantang Street canals
- →Master of the Nets Garden
- →Pingjiang Road evening stroll
Suzhou gardens to Shanghai
Suzhou → Shanghai, China
Morning at the Humble Administrator's Garden or the quieter Couple's Garden (¥40–70), then a 25-minute G-train to Shanghai Hongqiao (¥40). Metro into the city and check into a hostel near People's Square or the Bund. Sunset walk along the Bund and Nanjing Road — free, and the best introduction to Shanghai.
🚌High-speed train + metro, ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm near People's Square (£14–20)
- →Humble Administrator's Garden
- →The Bund at sunset
- →Nanjing Road
Shanghai museums, French Concession & acrobats
Shanghai, China
Free entry to the Shanghai Museum (book the free timed slot online) — brilliant bronzes and calligraphy. Afternoon: Yuyuan Garden (¥40) and the surrounding bazaar, then walk the leafy former French Concession and Tianzifang. Evening: Shanghai Acrobatics or ERA show tickets from ¥180 (~£20) via Klook or the box office.
🚌Metro day, ~£3
🛏Same hostel (£14–20)
- →Shanghai Museum
- →Yuyuan Garden
- →French Concession walk
- →Chinese acrobatics show
Fly Shanghai to Osaka
Shanghai → Osaka, Japan
Book a low-cost flight Shanghai–Osaka (Spring Airlines/Juneyao via Trip.com, typically £70–120 one way with a checked bag). Kansai Airport to Namba on the Nankai Rapi:t or the cheaper Nankai Express (¥970, ~£5). Settle into a hostel or capsule hotel in Namba/Shinsekai and eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki in Shinsekai for around £8.
🚌Flight ~£95 + airport train ~£5
🛏Hostel or capsule hotel, Namba (£18–25)
- →Dotonbori evening stroll
- →Shinsekai street food
Osaka to Mount Koya temple stay
Osaka → Koyasan, Japan
Buy a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket (~¥3,400) covering the Nankai line from Namba plus the cable car and buses. Stay in a shukubo temple lodging — book directly with a temple like Sekishoin or via Japanese Guest Houses; expect £45–70 per person half board with a shojin ryori vegetarian dinner and morning prayers. Afternoon walk the Okunoin approach by lantern light.
🚌Nankai line + cable car + bus, ~£17
🛏Temple lodging (shukubo) with dinner and breakfast (£45–70)
- →Koyasan temple stay
- →Shojin ryori dinner
- →Evening Okunoin walk
Okunoin cemetery & on to Hiroshima
Koyasan → Hiroshima, Japan
Morning prayers and a traditional vegetarian breakfast, then walk the full Okunoin cemetery to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. Descend and take trains via Osaka to Hiroshima (¥8,500–9,000 if bought individually — check whether a regional JR West pass works out cheaper for your dates). Check into a business hotel near Hiroshima Station.
🚌Trains Koyasan–Hiroshima, ~£50
🛏Business hotel near Hiroshima Station (£30–40)
- →Okunoin cemetery
- →Morning temple prayers
- →Travel day
Peace Memorial Park & Miyajima Island
Hiroshima, Japan
Start at the Peace Memorial Museum and Park (¥200 museum), then take the JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi and the ferry (¥200, or covered by JR pass) to Miyajima. Time it for high tide at the floating torii. Optional: ropeway up Mt Misen (¥2,000 return) or hike up free in about 90 minutes. Oysters and momiji manju for lunch.
🚌JR train + ferry, ~£6
🛏Business hotel (£30–40)
- →Peace Memorial Museum
- →Miyajima Island
- →Itsukushima floating torii
- →Mt Misen hike or ropeway
Hiroshima to Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Gion
Hiroshima → Kyoto, Japan
Shinkansen to Kyoto (¥11,000, ~1h40 — or a slower, cheaper highway bus at ¥4,500 if budget matters). Check into a hostel or guesthouse near Sanjo/Kawaramachi. Afternoon Nijo Castle and its nightingale floors (¥1,300), then an evening walk through Gion and Pontocho alley — free, and the best atmosphere in the city.
🚌Shinkansen or highway bus, ~£22–60
🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Sanjo (£20–30)
- →Nijo Castle
- →Gion evening walk
- →Pontocho alley
Fushimi Inari at dawn & Arashiyama
Kyoto, Japan
Get to Fushimi Inari by 7am to have the torii tunnels nearly to yourself (free). Ride the JR Nara line back, then take the Randen tram to Arashiyama for the bamboo grove and the Tenryu-ji garden (¥500). Optional: the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji (¥600). Evening izakaya dinner in Nishiki Market's backstreets.
🚌JR + tram + bus, ~£7
🛏Same guesthouse (£20–30)
- →Fushimi Inari Taisha
- →Arashiyama bamboo grove
- →Tenryu-ji garden
- →Ryoan-ji (optional)
- →Nishiki Market
Kyoto to Hakone: Lake Ashi & kaiseki
Kyoto → Hakone, Japan
Shinkansen to Odawara (¥11,500) then the Hakone Tozan line and bus, or buy the Hakone Free Pass from Odawara (~¥5,000 for 2 days) covering the ropeway, pirate ship and buses. Cruise Lake Ashi and ride the ropeway over the sulphur vents if the weather is clear. Stay in a budget ryokan or guesthouse (book well ahead) and eat a kaiseki-style set dinner.
🚌Shinkansen + Hakone Free Pass, ~£85
🛏Budget ryokan/guesthouse in Hakone (£35–50)
- →Lake Ashi boat cruise
- →Hakone ropeway
- →Onsen soak
- →Kaiseki-style dinner
Hakone to Tokyo: neighbourhood crawl
Hakone → Tokyo, Japan
Morning onsen, then Odakyu Romancecar to Shinjuku (~¥2,300, 85 mins). Check into a hostel in Asakusa or Shinjuku. Afternoon and evening on foot and metro: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Ueno Park, Akihabara's electronics shops, Harajuku's Takeshita Street and Meiji Shrine, finishing with yakitori under the tracks in Yurakucho. Almost all free.
🚌Romancecar + metro day pass, ~£20
🛏Hostel dorm or capsule, Asakusa/Shinjuku (£18–28)
- →Senso-ji Temple
- →Ueno Park
- →Akihabara
- →Harajuku & Meiji Shrine
- →Yurakucho yakitori
Tokyo farewell
Tokyo, Japan
Morning at Tsukiji Outer Market for tamagoyaki and sushi breakfast, a last wander through Ginza or the Imperial Palace East Gardens (free), then head to Narita (Keisei Skyliner ¥2,570, ~£14) or Haneda (¥500 monorail) for your flight home.
🚌Airport train, ~£14
🛏None (departure day)
- →Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
- →Imperial Palace East Gardens
- →Ginza shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,340 | £2,850 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £510 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,340
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 & Japan Express: Beijing to Tokyo (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,340 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 £2,850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,340 — a saving of roughly £510 (18%) 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, city-breaks, foodie 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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