Now have decided to take our Japan trip in March of next year after mulling over the pros and cons of a November trip (thanks for all your input!). I have a very tentative plan for the 3-4 week trip. Some is based on the experience of our daughter's likes from her trip a few years ago.
So far it looks like this: Tokyo (6), Kyoto (6), Miyajima for 1-2 nights before a day in Hiroshima, Kanazawa (3), Takayama (4), Tsumago for a 2-3 night stay for some walking and then on to Tokyo to fly home. Google says a train from Tsumago is 14-16 hours! Could that be accurate? If so I am unsuccessfully trying to fit Tsumago into the trip where it makes more sense logistically. It would be nice to use it as a respite from the two big cities but can't figure out how to do that either. It has been difficult to plan this trip even after forums, etc. Of oourse, I want to see it all but even now this seems like quite a bit of moving around for us. The trip is put together for our interests in history, culture, as well as light hiking. And although we will probably love to go back to Japan our bucket of money and time is getting smaller! Any help is appreciated.

For trains in Japan, use the Hyperdia website.

The nearest station to Tsumago is Nagiso (a short bus ride or perhaps a taxi). From there, south to Nagoya and then the Shinkansen to Tokyo - about 3 hours in total.

There are a few trains that go direct from Nagiso to Nagoya, otherwise change at Nakatsugawa (4 stops south of Nagiso). In the above link, if you click on the “Interval timetable” (underneath the name of the Nagiso - Nagoya train) it will show you the schedule for the trains that go direct. If you’re using a JR Pass, you need to untick the Nozomi box in the search criteria, as you can’t travel on a Nozomi Shinkansen with a JR Pass.

IME, japan-guide.com is a great source of information for logistics and most other things
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6077....tion_get_there

Should be a great trip!

I spent more than 48 very, very busy hours in Nara and could easily have used more. If you go, consider visiting some of the ancient temples just outside of Nara in Ikaruga (e.g., Horyu-ji and Chugu-ji). And Uji, between Kyoto and Nara, is worth some time IMO.

good info, thanks!