Ultimate China & Japan Cruise: Beijing to Tokyo

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). After clearing customs and immigration, our representative will meet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest and adjust to the time zone.

Evening: Welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant, featuring a selection of classic Beijing dishes. Your tour manager will provide a brief program orientation and assist with any immediate needs.

• Airport meet-and-greet with private transfer
• Welcome dinner at Kerry Center
• Program orientation and itinerary review

Morning (08:30): Depart hotel for Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public plaza and the symbolic heart of modern China. Walk across the square to the Meridian Gate entrance of the Forbidden City.

Morning (10:00): Forbidden City — the imperial palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties, home to 24 emperors over 491 years. Explore the grand ceremonial halls, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the imperial gardens, and the Palace Museum's extensive collections of jade, ceramics, and calligraphy. (Approx. 2.5 hours)

Lunch (12:30): Lunch at a local restaurant near the Forbidden City, featuring Beijing-style cuisine.

Afternoon (14:00): Temple of Heaven — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Ming and Qing emperors conducted annual ceremonies of prayer for good harvests. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is one of Beijing's most iconic structures. Walk through the surrounding park, where locals gather for morning exercise, music, and games. (Approx. 1.5 hours)

Evening (18:30): Dinner at a local restaurant. Optional evening stroll along Wangfujing Street, Beijing's premier shopping district.

• Tiananmen Square — world's largest public plaza
• Forbidden City — 600 years of imperial history, UNESCO World Heritage
• Temple of Heaven — Ming dynasty ceremonial architecture, UNESCO World Heritage

Morning (08:00): Depart hotel for the Great Wall at Badaling (approx. 1.5-hour drive). The most well-preserved section of the Great Wall, Badaling offers spectacular views of the wall snaking across rugged mountains. Cable car available for ascent and descent. (Approx. 3 hours on site)

Lunch (12:30): Lunch at a restaurant near the Great Wall.

Afternoon (14:30): Summer Palace — the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk along the Long Corridor (728 meters of painted galleries), visit the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, and enjoy panoramic views from the Tower of Buddhist Incense overlooking Kunming Lake. (Approx. 2 hours)

Evening (18:30): Dinner at a local restaurant. Return to hotel.

• Great Wall (Badaling) — UNESCO World Heritage, cable car available
• Summer Palace — imperial garden, Long Corridor, Kunming Lake

Morning (08:30): Cultural Heritage Restoration Experience — visit a conservation workshop located 10 minutes from Beijing Capital Airport, where 50+ retired master conservators from the Palace Museum and National Museum restore over 10,000 artifacts, including 1,000+ Grade I national treasures. Observe the meticulous techniques used in calligraphy restoration, bronze conservation, ceramic repair, and silk textile preservation. This is a rare behind-the-scenes access not available to the general public. (Approx. 2 hours)

Lunch (11:00): Lunch at the workshop facility.

Afternoon (13:00): Transfer to Beijing Capital Airport (T3) for flight to Xi'an (approx. 2-hour flight).

Afternoon (15:30): Arrive in Xi'an, transfer to hotel and check in.

Late Afternoon (16:30): Xi'an City Wall — the most complete city wall surviving in China, originally built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty. The wall measures 13.7 km in circumference. Optional bicycle ride on top of the wall, or walk along the ramparts enjoying views of the old city. (Approx. 1.5 hours)

Evening (19:00): Tang Dynasty Show — a spectacular performance of music, dance, and costumes recreating the splendor of the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), Xi'an's golden age as the capital of imperial China and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.

Dinner (20:15): Dumpling banquet dinner at the Tang Show theater restaurant, featuring a wide variety of traditional Xi'an dumplings.

Tang Dynasty Show + Dumpling Banquet Dinner

Farewell Peking Duck dinner — iconic Beijing cuisine

Flight Beijing → Xi'an

Xi'an City Wall — 14th-century Ming dynasty fortification

Morning (08:00): Depart hotel for the Terracotta Army (approx. 50-minute drive). Discovered in 1974 by local farmers, the Terracotta Army is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century — over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC). Visit Pit 1 (the largest), Pit 2, and Pit 3, plus the Bronze Chariot exhibition hall. (Approx. 3 hours)

Lunch (12:00): Lunch at a local restaurant near the Terracotta site.

Afternoon (14:00): Stone Stele Museum (Beilin Museum) — housing over 3,000 stone steles dating from the Han dynasty to the Qing dynasty, this is China's premier museum of calligraphy and stone carving. The collection includes the Confucian Classics carved in stone and masterpieces by China's greatest calligraphers. (Approx. 1.5 hours)

Late Afternoon (16:00): Private dining experience at the Stone Stele Museum — an exclusive meal served in a traditional courtyard setting within the museum grounds, offering a unique atmosphere surrounded by centuries of Chinese calligraphic heritage.

Evening (18:30): Return to hotel. Dinner at leisure.

Private dining experience at the Stone Stele Museum

Terracotta Army — 8,000+ life-sized clay soldiers, UNESCO World Heritage

Stone Stele Museum — 3,000+ calligraphic steles, China's finest

Morning (08:30): Giant Panda Experience — visit the Qinling Four Treasures Pavilion to observe giant pandas in a naturalistic habitat. The Qinling Mountains are home to a rare subspecies of giant panda. Learn about conservation efforts and observe the pandas during their morning feeding. (Approx. 2 hours)

Lunch (11:00): Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon (12:30): Transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport for flight to Shanghai (approx. 2-hour flight).

Afternoon (15:00): Arrive in Shanghai, transfer to hotel and check in.

Late Afternoon (16:30): The Bund — walk along Shanghai's iconic waterfront promenade, lined with 52 buildings of varied architectural styles (Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Art Deco) from the 1920s–1940s. The Bund offers the classic view of the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. (Approx. 1.5 hours)

Evening (18:30): Dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Bund, featuring Shanghainese cuisine.

• Giant Panda Experience — Qinling Four Treasures Pavilion
• Flight Xi'an → Shanghai
• The Bund — historic waterfront, Pudong skyline views

09:00 Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar (about 2 h);

12:00 independent lunch;

14:00 transfer to Shanghai Baoshan Cruise Terminal;

16:00 embark Spectrum of the Seas.

At Sea

Kumamoto is known for its iconic castle, one of Japan's three premier castles, and as the gateway to Mount Aso, one of the world's largest active volcanoes. The port of Yatsushiro is approximately 40 minutes by coach from Kumamoto city center.

Duration: Approx. 7 hours    |    Group Size: Min 20 / Max 40 pax

Explore Kumamoto's rich samurai heritage with a visit to the magnificent Kumamoto Castle, recently restored after the 2016 earthquake. Stroll through the serene Suizenji Jojuen Garden and experience the atmosphere of a samurai district at Sakuranobaba Josaien.

Highlights:

• Kumamoto Castle — one of Japan's three premier castles
• Suizenji Jojuen — Edo-era landscape garden
• Sakuranobaba Josaien — samurai district atmosphere

Itinerary:

  08:00  Disembark ship, meet guide at port

  08:30  Depart for Kumamoto city center (approx. 40 min)

  09:30  Kumamoto Castle — guided tour of castle grounds and towers

  11:30  Suizenji Jojuen Garden — stroll through Edo-era landscape garden

  12:30  Lunch at local restaurant (Kumamoto cuisine)

  14:00  Sakuranobaba Josaien — samurai district walk

  15:30  Depart for port (approx. 40 min)

  16:30  Arrive at port

  17:00  Return to ship

Kagoshima, often called the "Naples of the Eastern World" for its bay-side location and active volcano, is the southern gateway to Kyushu. Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, overlooks the city across Kinko Bay.

Duration: Approx. 7 hours    |    Group Size: Min 20 / Max 40 pax

Experience the dramatic volcanic landscape of Sakurajima by ferry, visit the historic Sengan-en Garden with views of the volcano, and explore the Shimizu Park area.

Highlights:

• Sakurajima Volcano — ferry crossing and lava field walk
• Sengan-en Garden — 17th-century Shimazu clan garden
• Kagoshima city highlights

Itinerary:

  08:00  Disembark ship, meet guide at port

  08:30  Ferry to Sakurajima (approx. 15 min)

  09:00  Sakurajima lava field walk and observation point

  10:30  Ferry return to Kagoshima city

  11:00  Sengan-en Garden — Shimazu clan garden tour

  12:30  Lunch at local restaurant (Kagoshima cuisine)

  14:00  Kagoshima city highlights drive

  15:30  Return to port

  17:00  Return to ship

Kobe is a cosmopolitan port city nestled between mountains and the sea, famous for its international atmosphere, Kobe beef, and proximity to Kyoto and Osaka. The overnight stay allows for an in-depth exploration of the Kansai region.

Duration: Approx. 8 hours    |    Group Size: Min 20 / Max 40 pax

Full-day excursion to Kyoto — Japan's ancient capital (794–1868), home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit the golden Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermilion torii gates, and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple with panoramic views of the city.

Highlights:

• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — Zen Buddhist temple, UNESCO World Heritage
• Fushimi Inari Taisha — thousands of vermilion torii gates
• Kiyomizu-dera — hillside temple with city views, UNESCO World Heritage

Itinerary:

  08:00  Disembark ship, meet guide at port

  08:30  Depart for Kyoto (approx. 75 min)

  10:00  Kinkaku-ji — Golden Pavilion tour

  11:30  Fushimi Inari Taisha — torii gate walk

  12:30  Lunch at local restaurant in Kyoto

  14:00  Kiyomizu-dera — temple and city views

  15:30  Free time in Higashiyama district

  16:30  Depart for Kobe (approx. 75 min)

  18:00  Return to ship

Duration: Approx. 7 hours    |    Group Size: Min 20 / Max 40 pax

Explore Kobe and Osaka — visit the Kobe Port Tower, walk through the historic Kitano district with its Western-style houses, and continue to Osaka Castle, one of Japan's most famous landmarks. Conclude with a stroll through Dotonbori, Osaka's vibrant entertainment and food district.

Highlights:

• Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park
• Kitano Ijinkan — historic Western-style houses
• Osaka Castle — 16th-century landmark
• Dotonbori — Osaka's food and entertainment district

Itinerary:

  09:00  Disembark ship, meet guide at port

  09:30  Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park

  10:30  Kitano Ijinkan district walk

  11:30  Depart for Osaka (approx. 45 min)

  12:00  Lunch at local restaurant in Osaka

  13:30  Osaka Castle — castle grounds and museum

  15:00  Dotonbori — food district walk

  16:00  Depart for Kobe port (approx. 45 min)

  17:00  Return to ship

At Sea

At Sea

At 7:00 AM, Spectrum of the Seas arrives at Yokohama Port, Japan. After disembarkation, your unforgettable journey comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful memories of China and Japan.