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This itinerary includes four world heritage sites, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima. This also includes two popular sites, Takayama and Kanazawa.

We don’t use Japan Rail Pass for the transfer to downtown Tokyo from Narita airport because most of tourists stay in Tokyo for the first several days. You will start to use your pass from Tokyo station. If you want to learn how to use Japan Rail Pass, please refer to How to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum.

Day 1 Tokyo – Nagoya – Takayama

07:33am Depart from Tokyo by Tokaido Shinakansen “Hikari 503″
09:21am Arrive at Nagoya
09:43am Depart from Nagoya by “Wide View Hida 5”
12:13pm Arrive at Takayama
After arriving at Takayama, enjoy sightseeing in very traditional Japanese town.
(Overnight in Takayama)

Day 2 Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa

08:50am Depart from Takayama for Shirakawa-go by Nohi Bus.
*<> don’t forget to make a reservation. This bus is not included in Japan Rail Pass. The bus fare 2,400yen.
09:40am Arrive at Shirakawa-go
Enjoy sightseeing UNESCO world heritage site Shirakawa-go.
16:50pm Depart from Shirakawa-go for Kanazawa by Nohi Bus
*<> don’t forget to make a reservation. This bus is not included in Japan Rail Pass. The bus fare 1,800yen.
18:05pm Arrive at Kanazawa
(Overnight in Kanazawa)

Day 3 Kanazawa – Kyoto

Enjoy exploring downtown Kanazawa in the morning.
13:55pm Depart from Kanazawa for Kyoto by Limited Express “Thunderbird 26″.
16:09pm Arrive at Kyoto
*You can skip free time in Kanazawa and get more time in Kyoto. We have Limited Express “Thunderbird” 07:02am, 08:05am, 08:15am, 09:03am, 09:53am, 10:52am, 11:18am, 11:56am and 12:53pm.
(Overnight in Kyoto)

Day 4 Kyoto

Full day free in Kyoto

Day 5 Kyoto – Shin-Osaka – Hiroshima – Miyajima-guchi – Miyajima

07:39am Depart from Kyoto by Tokaido Shinkansen “Kodama 91″
07:53pm Arrive at Shin-Osaka and transfer to Hikari Rail Star
08:02am Depart from Shin-Osaka for Hiroshima by “Hikari Rail Star 549″
*Don’t forget to reserve a seat for Hikari Rail Star. It has some non reserved seat. But the reserved seat much more spacious than non reserved seat. Please refer to Passenger’s review of Hikari Rail Star.

09:34am Arrive at Hiroshima
09:49am Depart from Hiroshima for Miyajima-guchi
10:17am Arrive at Miyajima-guchi and transfer to the ferry to Miyajima. The ferry terminal to Miyajima is 5 minutes away from the station. Please refer to “How to get Miyajima“.
The ferry takes you to Miyajiam in 10 minutes. This ferry is operated by Japan Railway. You don’t need to pay.
After arriving at Miyajima, enjoy sightseeing in Miyajima rest of the day.
(Overnight in Miyajima)
*Most of the accommodations in Miyajima are not cheap. If you want to save, you can stay in downtown Hiroshima. It’s only 45 minutes away from Miyajima.

Day 6 Miyajiama – Miyajima-guchi – Hiroshima – Shin-Osaka – Tokyo

You can move anytime in the morning to Hiroshima. You can even skip a free time in Hiroshima, if you want to stay in Miyajima more.
18:15pm Depart from Hiroshima for Shin-Osaka by “Hikari Rail Star 574″
19:44pm Arrive at Shin-Osaka and transfer to another Hikari for Tokyo
20:23pm Depart from Shin-Osaka for Tokyo by Tokaido Shikansen “Hikari 532″
23:10pm Arrive at Tokyo
*If you want to arrive Tokyo earlier, we have lots of Hikari earlier.

Day 7 Tokyo – Narita airport

Take Narita Express to Narita Airport.

You may also like these posts:

• How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima by local train. No extra charge for Japan Rail Pass user.
• West Japan (Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kyushu) 7 days sample itinerary by Japan Rail Pass 7 days
• Passenger’s review of “Hikari Railstar”
• How to access to Shirakawa-go. Can we get Shirakawago by Japan Rail Pass?
• Throughout Japan 14 days sample itinerary by Japan Rail Pass 14 days pass

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10 Comments to “Sample itinerary Four world heritage sites (Shirakawago, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima), Kanazawa and Kyoto 7 days by Japan Rail Pass”

1. Jacqui L says:

   April 16, 2013 at 1:14 am

   Hi Takeshi,

   I’ve been trying to work on my itinerary for ages but I am still confused whether or not to get the 7 day JR pass (to be used from Day 5 of my current itinerary). I am leaving in a few weeks. Using Hyperdia, I think if anything, it should be about the same if not cheaper purchasing single tickets. I’d appreciate your opinion and even suggestions if you think my itinerary should be re-arranged.

   Day 1: arrive Kansai pm – overnight Osaka (booked)
   Day 2: Osaka/Kyoto/Arashiyama – overnight Kyoto (booked)
   Day 3: Kyoto/Nara – overnight Kyoto (booked)
   Day 4: Kyoto – overnight Kyoto
   Day 5: Shirakawa-go – overnight Takayama
   Day 6: Takayama/Osaka – overnight Osaka
   Day 7: Koyasan – overnight Koyasan
   Day 8: Osaka/Kyoto – overnight Osaka/Kyoto
   Day 9: Myajima – overnight Miyajima (booked)
   Day 10: Osaka/Kyoto – overnight Osaka/Kyoto
   Day 11: Leave from Kansai early pm

   I would think the Kansai Thru Pass and Koyasan World Heritage Ticket should be purchased before I use the 7 day JR pass, if I were to get.

   Thanks in advance!

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     April 16, 2013 at 10:00 pm

     Hi Jacqui,

     I checked your itinerary. Japan Rail Pass 7 days will be cheaper than total single fares. JR Pass is the right choice.
     I don’t know which part of Osaka you will stay. But if you take Haruka from KIX, ICOCA and Haruka may be your choice.
     http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/

     You can use ICOCA e-money for using not only JR trains but also Osaka subway, Kyoto subway, private railways, like Hankyu, Nanakai.
     Koyasan World Heritage ticket is the best choice to visit Koyasan. But you can use ICOCA to get Nara, sightseeing in Kyoto or Osaka-Kyoto transfer.

     You have already booked hotel for first 3 days. If you can cancel or rebook, you can switch Koyasan and Nara. Because Koysan is not covered by JR Pass, but Nara can be covered by JR Pass. It doesn’t make sense to visit Koyasan in JR Pass 7 days.

     At last, Even though it is very hard to squeeze in your itinerary, Kanazawa is worth visiting on the way to Shirakawago.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. Lakshmi says:

   February 16, 2013 at 4:00 am

   We plan to do the above itinerary without overnight at Kanazawa starting in Kyoto and ending in Tokyo via Hakone sightseeing (no stay ) if possible with 7 day JR pass.Can you help plan the itinerary for us.Thanks in advance.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     February 16, 2013 at 10:31 am

     Hi Lakshmi,

     As I mentioned above, I do not make an itinerary personally. Otherwise everybody might ask me to do same thing. But I think the following post will help you to make a plan:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-get-hakone-from-tokyo-compare-japan-railway-and-odakyu-lines.html
     http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. Dennis says:

   November 28, 2012 at 3:55 am

   You should also consider to use Kintetsu or Hanshin (for example). JR is not the only only.

   I am just planning my trip thru Kansai and I found the “Kansai Thru Pass”. This is a 2day or 3day pass for an area that covers Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Wakayama, Koyasan, Himeji, Nara and … the Kansai airport. The only disadvantage: You cannot use the ticket for JR.

   There are also diffrent Japan Rail Passes available. In the end, it is a lot of work to match your travel plan with the different train tickets.

   And JR has something called “JR Seishun 18 Kippu”. The ticket is not available the whole year. But if it is available it quite a deal: 5days for 11500yen. The five days do not need to be consecutive days. Disadvantage: No Express, Ltd.Express or Shinkasen.

   Here is a side with a list of the major train passes: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

   Dennis

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     November 28, 2012 at 9:23 pm

     Hi Dennis,

     Thanks for your comment.

     I made this sample itinerary for JR Pass user. So I didn’t mention anything about Hanshin or Kintetsu. I wrote about Kansai Thru Pass and Kansai Area Pass at these following post:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-use-jr-west-kansai-area-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html

     We can use Hanshin, Kitetsu or other private lines in Kansai. Kansai Thru Pass may be one of the best choice. But single fare is not so expensive to get private lines. We have to make lots of trips when we use Kansai Thru Pass. Otherwise we get our money worth.

     Seishun 18 kippu is sold at very reasonable price. I think this is a good deal for residence. Overseas traveller can purchase JR Pass 7 days at 28300 yen, JR East pass at 20000 yen, and many more deals. Seishn 18 kippu is still very attractive price. But it might be hard to use for overseas travellers in my opinion.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
4. Benjamin Chew says:

   August 25, 2012 at 10:23 am

   Hi,

   after reading every comment and some of your articles, I’m still not sure if I should get a JR pass.

   My plan is to go from Osaka -> Kanazawa -> Shirakawago -> Takayama -> Kyoto -> Osaka. My whole trip is 15 days.

   These places are overlapping JR West and JR Central. Should I just get a JR pass instead? I’m still not sure which is cheaper… Any ideas?

   Thank you!

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     August 25, 2012 at 10:31 am

     Hi Benjamin,

     Single ticket is cheaper than JR Pass. Purchase single ticket to Kanazawa from Osaka and Takayama to Kyoto. And consider to purchase local area pass in Kansai area. Please read the following post:
     http://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
5. A. Ong says:

   August 2, 2012 at 6:37 pm

   Hello. First of all thank you so much for your help.

   As with many travelers I am confused if i should get a Japan Rail Pass or not.

   This is our planned itinerary.

   Day 1 Arrive Narita then go straight to Kyoto

   Days 2, 3, 4 explore Kyoto (i will still have to research if it’s possible to go to Nara)

   Day 5 Go Back to Tokyo

   Days 6 – 9 in Tokyo

   Day 10 Depart Tokyo

   Thank you very much!

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     August 2, 2012 at 10:21 pm

     Hi A. Ong,

     I recommend you to purchase Japan Rail Pass 7 days. You can use the pass for Day 1 to Day 7. You need to pay some extra for Day 8 to Day 10. The pass still gives you better deal. Please see the following posts. Those will give you some idea about using the pass.

     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/compare-japan-rail-pass-with-regular-fare.html
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-use-japan-rail-pass-to-its-maximum.html
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-use-japan-rail-pass-in-kyoto.html
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/best-way-efficient-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass-in-downtown-tokyo.html
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-to-get-nara-from-kyoto-miyakoji-rapid-service.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply