Day 1, March 21: Travel on board United Airlines to Shanghai (crossing the International Date Line, you lose one calendar day)
Day 2, March 22: Arrive Pudong Airport, Shanghai; overnight at Hotel Equatorial
Day 3, March 23: Sightseeing in Shanghai; visit Bund, Putong District, and Shanghai Museum; flight from Shanghai to Xi'an, overnight at Grand New World Hotel
Day 4, March 24: Sightseeing in Xi'an, lunch at local restaurant; see old city wall, former imperial complex, first emperor's tomb and pottery warriors; overnight at Grand New World Hotel
Day 5, March 25: Flight to Beijing; lunch at local restaurant; visit Great Wall and Old Summer Palace; dinner at dumpling restaurant at Silver Ingot Bridge; overnight at Peace Hotel
Day 6, March 26: Sightseeing in Beijing; visit Forbidden City (Palace), Confucian Temple, Imperial Academy, Prince Gong Garden, and Hutong district; lunch at local restaurant; overnight at Peace Hotel
Day 7, March 27: Visit Tiananmen Square; take United flight from Beijing to Tokyo; Sightsee in Tokyo: visit Imperial Asakusa district, Kannon Temple and Tokyo National Museum; overnight at Shiba Park Hotel
Day 8, March 28: Take super express train from Tokyo to Kyoto; box lunch on train; visit Heian Shrine, Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto Handicraft Center, and Old Imperial Palace; overnight at Gion Fukuzumi Ryokan (traditional inn); dinner at ryokan
Day 9, March 29: Sightseeing in Kyoto and Nara; visit Kasuga Shrine, Deer Park, Todai-ji Temple, Nijo castle, and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple; overnight at Fujita Nara Hotel
Day 10, March 30: Sightseeing at Nara and Mt. Koya; visit Horyu-ji Temple in Nara; visit Okuna and Mt. Koya; overnight at Japanese-style monastery (rooms lack bath and toilets); dinner at monastery
Day 11, March 31: Visit Kongo-buji Temple and Reihokan Treasure House; overnight at monastery
Day 12, April 1: Depart Kansai International Airport in Osaka; travel on board United Airlines to Appleton via Chicago (crossing the International date line restores lost day)