
Light-up at Kiyomizu-dera temple
This itinerary includes four world heritage sites, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima. This also includes two popular sites, Takayama and Kanazawa.
Do not 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 when you leave from Tokyo. There are lots of deals available for Narita to Tokyo.
The list of deals for Tokyo to/from Narita airport
Day 1 Tokyo ā Nagoya ā Takayama

Tanabata festival decoration in Takayama Ā©Y.Shimizu/Ā©JNTO
07:33 Depart from Tokyo by Tokaido Shinakansen āHikari 503ā
09:17 Arrive at Nagoya
09:39 Depart from Nagoya by āWide View Hida 5ā
12:23 Arrive at Takayama
After arriving at Takayama, enjoy sightseeing in very traditional Japanese town.
(Overnight in Takayama)
Day 2 Takayama ā Shirakawa-go ā Kanazawa

Doburoku Matsuri (Matsuri means festival) in Shirakawa-go.
08:50 Depart from Takayama for Shirakawa-go by Nohi Bus.
*This bus is not covered by Japan Rail Pass. The bus fare 2,470 yen. Reservation is not required.
09:40 Arrive at Shirakawa-go
Enjoy sightseeing UNESCO world heritage site Shirakawa-go.
12:20 Depart from Shirakawa-go for Kanazawa by Nohi Bus
*Reservation is required to take Shirakawago to Kanazawa bus. Donāt forget to make a reservation. This bus is not covered by Japan Rail Pass. The bus fare 1,850 yen.
13:35 Arrive in Kanazawa
After arrival in Kanazawa, enjoy exploring in Kanazawa city

Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa. This is one of three most famous gardens in Japan.
(Overnight in Kanazawa)
Day 3 Kanazawa ā Osaka
You can depart for Osaka anytime. In this sample, I pick an early departure train because I try to maximize the time in Osaka.
Enjoy exploring downtown Kanazawa in the morning.
08:05 Depart from Kanazawa for Kyoto by Limited Express āThunderbird 26ā.
10:35 Arrive at Shin-Osaka
Enjoy sightseeing in Osaka after arrival.
(Overnight in Shin-Osaka)
Day 4 Shin-Osaka ā Hiroshima ā Miyajima-guchi ā Miyajima ā Hiroshima

Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
08:04 Depart from Shin-Osaka for Hiroshima by Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura 547
*Donāt forget to reserve a seat for Sakura. It has some non reserved seat. But the reserved seat is much more spacious than non reserved seat. Please see the link below to learn more:
Kyushu Shinkansen N700 series for Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame image gallery
09:33 Arrive at Hiroshima
09:50 Depart from Hiroshima for Miyajima-guchi by local train
10:18 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 the link below to learn more.
How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima by local train. No extra charge for Japan Rail Pass user.
The ferry takes you to Miyajima in 10 minutes. This ferry is fully covered by JR Pass.
After arriving at Miyajima, enjoy sightseeing in Miyajima until dusk.
Take ferry and local train to go back to Hiroshima.
(Overnight in Hiroshima)
Day 5 Hiroshima ā Shin-Osaka ā Kyoto

A-Bomb dome
JR pass covers sightseeing bus, āMeipuru-puā. You can visit most of places in Hiroshima by this bus.
Meipuru-pu official site ā Chugoku JR Bus
14:22 Depart from Hiroshima for Shin-Osaka by Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura 544
15:48 Arrive at Shin-Osaka and transfer to another Hikari for Kyoto
15:33 Depart from Shin-Osaka for Tokyo by Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama 670
16:07 Arrive at Kyoto
You can depart of Kyoto anytime you want. You can even skip a free time in Hiroshima if you want to have more time in Kyoto.
Day 6 Kyoto

Togetsukyo bridge is the highlight in Arashiyama. Ā©Akira Okada/Ā©JNTO
You may explore Kyoto until taking the last Shinkansen to Tokyo.
20:53 Depart from Kyoto to Tokyo by Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 538
23:26 Arrive at Tokyo
*You may stay in Kyoto and move to Narita airport on day 7 if your flight departure time is late afternoon or evening.
Day 7 Tokyo ā Narita airport
Take Narita Express to Narita Airport.
Comments
Hi takeshi, i will be travelling to japan 1April- 16April
This is my itinerary
1 Apr: Arrive at tokyo
2 Apr: Tokyo to Hakodate by Shinkansen
Mount Hakodate
3 Apr: Hakodate (Morning Market, Fort Goryokaku, Bay Area)
4 Apr: Hakodate to Sapporo by shinkansen (Shiroi Koibito Park, Sapporo beer museum)
5 Apr: Sapporo to Otaru (1 day Trip) (stay at Sapporo)
6 Apr: ?
7 Apr: ?
8 Apr: Tokyo (Fujiko Fujiyo, Shibuya Street)
9 Apr: Tokyo (Tsukiji fish market, Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara,Tokyo Sky tree)
10 Apr: Disney sea Tokyo
11 Apr: Tokyo to Mount Fuji ( Lake Kawaguchi, Gotemba)
12 Apr: Tokyo to Kyoto by shinkansen
(Fushiminari,Kiyomizudera, Gion)
13 Apr : Kyoto to Osaka (Kinkakuji Temple ā> go to Osaka by shinkansen) (Stay at Osaka) Dotonburi
14 Apr: Universal Studio
15 Apr: Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, Shinsaibashi
16 Apr: Flight back to my country
Would you mind advise me which pass i must use? Is it worthed if i buy JR Pass for 14days. Or Just buy 7days and use JR at Hokkaido?
Do you have reccomended places at Hokkaido or somewhere else to fill my itinerary at 6-7April.
Is it still snowing at early April? I want to go to Alpine route to see snow but unfortunately it will be open at mid April.
Thankyou very much for your help
Hi Ovilie,
First of all, JR pass 14 days is the best option for you. You may use it for day 1 to 14.
In early April, it may be snowing in Hokkaido. Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Asahikawa and Furano/Biei are popular places. These are easy day trip place from Sapporo.
Alpine route is usually open on April 10. You can visit this as day trip from either Tokyo or Osaka if you like.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-tateyama-kurobe-alpine-route-from-nagoya-and-osaka-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kurobe-tateyama-alpine-route-from-tokyo.html
You can use Osaka amazing pass on day 15 and find other deal for day 16 in the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com