10-Day Shoestring Budget Itinerary for Tokyo and Kyoto

1. Day 1: Tsukiji Fish Market
   1 hour (8.5 miles) from Narita Airport

   Watch the tuna auction and indulge in fresh sushi for breakfast. Explore street food and kitchenware stalls.

2. Day 2: Sensoji Temple
   1 hour (5 miles) from Tsukiji Fish Market

   Visit the oldest temple and take a stroll at nearby Asakusa traditional market for souvenirs and street food.

3. Day 3: Shibuya Crossing and Harajuku
   30 minutes (3.5 miles) from Sensoji Temple

   Experience the world-famous scramble crossing, explore youth culture and vintage shops, and visit the Meiji Shrine.

4. Day 4: Meiji Jingu Gaien Park and Shinjuku Gyoen
   40 minutes (4 miles) from Shibuya Crossing

   Take a stroll and enjoy autumn foliage at free-entry parks. Visit Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory for a panoramic view.

5. Day 5: Tokyo Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine
   30 minutes (3 miles) from Shinjuku Gyoen

   Learn about Japan's history and visit war memorial. Take a bike ride or walk around the Imperial Palace East Gardens.

6. Day 6: Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Hills
   30 minutes (3 miles) from Yasukuni Shrine

   Observe Tokyo from the landmark tower and Ukiyo-e finishing exhibition. Visit art museums, shopping complex, and enjoy nightlife.

7. Day 7: Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
   2 hours 20 minutes (320 miles) from Tokyo Tower

   Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. Check into a hostel or guesthouse.

8. Day 8: Fushimi Inari Shrine and Gion District
   1 hour (3 miles) from Kyoto Station

   Hike through the famous orange torii gates and visit a fox shrine, then visit traditional tea houses and geisha culture around Gion.

9. Day 9: Arashiyama and Nijo Castle
   1 hour (4 miles) from Fushimi Inari Shrine

   Take a bamboo forest walk, then go bouldering or paddle boat ride. Visit Nijo Castle and experience shogun-era architecture and ninja performers.

10. Day 10: Kinkakuji Temple and Kyoto Station Building
    1 hour (5 miles) from Arashiyama

    Visit the Golden Pavilion and experience Zen Buddhism. Finish the trip with lunch and souvenirs at Kyoto Station's Southern Tower 11F.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Tsukiji Fish Market (2 hours, $20)
• Sensoji Temple (1 hour, free)
• Shibuya Crossing and Harajuku (3 hours, $10)
• Meiji Jingu Gaien Park and Shinjuku Gyoen (4 hours, free)
• Tokyo Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine (3 hours, free)
• Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Hills (4 hours, $30)
• Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto (3 hours, $90 via Japan Rail Pass)
• Fushimi Inari Shrine and Gion District (4 hours, free)
• Arashiyama and Nijo Castle (6 hours, $20)
• Kinkakuji Temple and Kyoto Station Building (4 hours, $20)
Total Estimated Costs: $190

Useful Tips

For more time, consider adding a day trip to Hakone or Nikko from Tokyo, or Nara or Hiroshima from Kyoto. For less time, eliminate Gion District and Roppongi, or skip Nijo Castle and Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto. Avoid weekends and holidays to reduce crowds and costs.