Kyoto, Japan
Free morning in Shinjuku or optional quick revisit (Akihabara or Shibuya)
Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station
Check in near Kyoto Station, quiet evening around station area
Shinjuku -> Tokyo Station (IC), then Shinkansen ticket (No JR Pass)
Buy individual Shinkansen tickets; full JR Pass usually not worth it for your route
Fushimi Inari Taisha (early, hike partway up the mountain through torii) Return via Kyoto Station, lunch
IC card, local JR/bus Use morning for Fushimi Inari before crowds; afternoon is modern art + architecture in Okazaki
Arashiyama riverside + park walk (optional short hike to viewpoints) Return to Kyoto Station area for JR: individual tickets or JR West Kansai Area Pass day Round-trip via JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station; bamboo, river, bridge and small hills make a strong park/nature day
Gion chopsticks workshop (e.g., Gion Chopstick Making Class or Ohashi-no-Ohshita) then evening in Gion/Pontocho IC card/bus/taxi in Kyoto Visually dense day: hillside temple + old streets + hands-on chopstick craft in Gion
Return to Kyoto in late afternoon IC card or regional pass day (JR or Kintetsu, choose one system) Classical temple + park day; treat as slower nature/cultural loop