This is the itinerary I currently have booked for our Family Japan trip with 2 teenage boys. Im thinking we need to add a night in Kyoto ....should I take a night from Takayama or Tokyo at the end, I think it will be too complicated to make other changes as everything is already booked in this order

5 nights Tokyo - Land at 3:30 in the afternoon night 1 from the US at Narita. -
2 nights Kanazawa -
2 nights- Takayama
5 nights Kyoto - Nara day trip, Hiroshima / Miyajima day trip
2 Night Tokyo (before leaving for home from Narita) - leaving at 4:30PM on last day...

Also..... would love to hear suggestions for itineraries for the 5 days in Tokyo and Kyoto. Especially Tokyo since its massive!! I'm also looking at booking some guides....

Lastly I'm on the fence of the 14 day JR pass since we need 4. I know people say to use the hyperdia to figure out if its worth it - but Im not sure I understand the way the tickets are priced.
On the regular JR pass - so you need to pay for a seat? On hyperdia - the tickets are priced without seats and seats are extra.

Of course it depends on your interests, but you have a LOT of time in Tokyo and comparatively little time in traditional Japan. Many of us find 2, or at most 3, days in Tokyo more than enough (not counting day trips); in contrast, many of us want at least 6 days for Kyoto and Nara.

IMO, the combination of Kanazawa and Takayama are best visited with at least 5 days for the pair. YMMV.

I haven't timed it out, but I honestly cannot imagine it enjoyable to try to visit both Hiroshima and Miyajima on the same day trip from Kyoto. I believe that Hiroshima is at least 2 hours (each way) from Kyoto; Miyajima is at least an hour (each way) from Hiroshima; and both locations are, IMO, best experienced with a bit of time.

If you haven't already booked your flights, consider ways to route into Tokyo and out of Kansai (or vice versa) to avoid backtracking. If you have already booked, consider your options for leaving Tokyo ASAP so you can consolidate all your time in that city in a single stay at the end of your trip.

Consult japan-guide.com for the best on-line information on travel in Japan -- but note that, IME, it's greatest weakness is in time estimates for visiting places: I'd recommend doubling the times the estimate for tours of Kyoto and Tokyo. (At least for Kyoto, I think the estimates cover only walking time, not the time it would take to actually visit anything to which one walked.) You can also consult guidebooks (several are quite good) and read the trip reports and (perhaps especially, given what you have said so far) you might want to consult other planning threads here on Fodor's.

There is no need for you to hire a guide, or – for the destinations you list – join a day tour unless that is your preference. You might, however, consider taking advantage of an occasional local “goodwill guide” – the Japanese National Tourism Organization coordinates free "volunteer guides" who are knowledgeable and happy to guide you in return for practicing their English – which can be excellent!
www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/trav…
You pay any entrance fees and his/her meal if your time with the guide includes one.

Japan is a wonderful destination -- enjoy!

Just an example:
From Shinjuku to Miyajimaguchi, it will cost 18560 yen; 11660 yen for a distance and 6900 yen for a reserved seat on a Hikari-type train on July 11. The latter additive cost depends on the seat type, the train class, and the date.

I do appreciate that teenage boys may find more of interest to them in Tokyo than in Kyoto, so I totally understand giving Tokyo a higher weighting for your family. That said, I'd still take one day off Tokyo and use it to allow for an overnight on Miyajima after a morning in Hiroshima.

2 nights in Kanazawa is tight - there's the famous gardens (which I appreciate aren't that exciting for teenage boys but are certainly one of the most beautiful gardens I've visited on our three trips in Japan), there's a wonderful food market (which, even at its most crowded, is not as tight as Nishiki can be in high season), a modern art museum, a couple of traditional neighbourhoods and the old samurai district, and the recreation castle as well. That's a hell of a lot for just a single day there and while bullet trains are super fast and wonderful, travelling does take a lot of time out of the travel days.

For Tokyo, if they're into Ghibli films, do look at taking them to the theme park - I've still not been but it's still on my wish list!

Kavey....
Would you do the overnight in Miyajima after Takayama (and before kyoto) or after Kyoto (having his go straight to Toyko) based on my itinerary?

On hyperdia, you just need to look at the Total price.

The following is for Tokyo to Miyajimaguchi with reserved seat and without:
Total: ¥ 18,560 (Ticket Fare:¥ 11,660 Seat Fee:¥ 6,900)
Total: ¥ 18,040 (Ticket Fare:¥ 11,660 Seat Fee:¥ 6,380)

The difference of ¥520 is the cost of the reserved seat. That is optional.

The Fare of ¥11,660 is the cost of traveling the distance, as LuisJp mentioned. It is the fare you would pay if you took only ordinary trains (with no reserved seats). That trip on ordinary trains would typically involve 8 transfers and 15 hours.

The Seat Fee:¥ 6,380, shown on the unreserved line, is actually a limited express surcharge. It is not optional and it is charged on shinkansen as well as limited express trains.

>>Would you do the overnight in Miyajima after Takayama (and before kyoto) or after Kyoto (having his go straight to Toyko) based on my itinerary?

After Kyoto (or return to Kyoto from Miyajima). I strongly recommend not going from Takayama to Miyajima for a 1-night stay.

mrwunfl - I read with the JR pass you dont pay for the reserved seat - but you can reserve one....IS that true?

Also - you think it makes sense to go to Kyoto and stay 3 nights, then go to Miyajima and stay one night and then go back to Kyoto for 2 nights?

Im guessing the hotel could hold our bags?? And we can just bring a small carryon?

Definitely yes to all of those questions.

What MrWunrfl said - you want time to spend in Hiroshima ahead of crossing to Miyajima mid-afternoon for the overnight, so you really don't want to be coming all the way from Takayama. Do it from Kyoto.

And yes, you can absolutely split your Kyoto stay. You can even use it to your favour - book 3 nights in a hotel and the other 2 night segment in a ryokan or minshuku. We split our 5 nights this way on our first Kyoto trip and am so glad we did.

On your last day in Japan you could travel from Kyoto to Narita Airport in about 4 hours. Add 1 hour if you travel from Nara to Narita Airport.

Thinking about reserving 4 seats. There will be two seats on either side of an aisle. I would want to book them in consecutive rows on the same side of the aisle. The seats typically face forward, but you might see a pedal that release the bench so that you can turn it around so that the two pairs of seats could face each other.

Hi. I was in Japan last summer with teenagers. Tokyo is a great place for them. So many interesting, wonderful, weird sights along with the beautiful temples and gardens. Consider the robot restaurant (quirky fun!), a cat cafe, Harajuki, sushi making, and the area with all the gaming. Consider mixing these types of things with the traditional sights. 5 nights (4 days) was perfect for us as we did not have to rush, I wasn't stressed when the kids were tired and we hit everything. We went from Toyko to Hiroshima for 2 nights on Miyajima. Kids had studied Hiroshima so perfect visit. We left in the morning and spent the afternoon including lunch in Hirshima. Then boarded a quick ferry to Miyajima. Enchanting stay in a Ryokan, lots of nice walks, traditional meals where we dressed up in traditional clothes and loved by all. Sent luggage straight to Kyoto from Tokyo and traveled with backpacks. Japan has excellent luggage forwarding that can be arranged by any hotel. Kyoto was great, though the kids did get a bit templed out. But there are just so many and they are too beautiful for words, so you have to see them. Nara is a great day trip that the kids will love. Quick train ride, impressive sights, nice interaction with the deer. A great day. Break up temples with gardens, Philosophers Path, just strolling and stopping spontaneously, and the great food. We also had a great family day at a samarai performance where we also got to dress up and learn how to use the sword. Great family picture! Oh, try the fire ramen restaurant -- a blast!!!! We used a guide for two days in both cities and it was a great addition for us. We were met at our hotel and we went by foot, subway and taxi depending on where we were going and our timing. It was very reasonable.

Hope you have a great time.

Lola....How did you find your guides? Do you have contact info? How long did you stay in Kyoto?

Hi. I used Chris Rowthorn Tours. The website is http://www.chrisrowthorn.com.

I had 5 nights, four full days in Tokyo. Used guides for 2 days.

I also used a guide for our half day in Hiroshima. Not essential but I wanted to optimize the time and feel at ease getting to the boat to Miyajima. Absolutely no issue getting back to the station ourselves and transferring a couple of times to Kyoto. We were experts by then!

We also spent 5 nights, four full days in Kyoto. Used the guide for one full day in Kyoto and one half day. Also had the guide take us to Nara. Chris Rowthorn also set up a private dinner for us with a Giesha and Maiko. This was extraordinary once in a lifetime experience.

The other thing I will share because I planned this trip myself is that I really, really utilized the hotel concierge prior to traveling. Never before in my life have I dealt with better concierge who are attentive, thorough and kind. I'm used to getting to a hotel and asking concierge yo make dinner reservations, give me directions, make spa appointments, etc. But the concierge went well above this in terms of research, providing choices and booking activities of all kinds, as well as train tickets. I began with them about three months before traveling. They did an incredible amount of legwork based on everything I asked of them. It was truly great service. So keep this in mind.

By the way, I'm going to copy your Peru trip! Fantastic report!

Oh, I second not doing a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima from Kyoto. You will not have enough time. Try to see if you can get to Hiroshima by 11:00 am at the latest, tour the complex, eat lunch and catch the late ferry to Miyajima. Settle into a Ryokan, take a nice walk, come back for the extraordinary Kaisaki dinner and settle in. Get up early, have breakfast and explore half a day. Get your bags and move onto your next locale. If your itinerary allows this, I think you and your family will be happy.

There should always be pros and cons in everything. A JR pass does include the right to sit on a reserved seat. But, in order to specify the seat, you should line up at a ticket counter at a station with the cost of a precious time in travel. Avoid a large station including at one at an airport with a possible long queue. Even when you just get on board on a non-reserved seat car without dropping by a ticket counter and unfortunately find no seats there, there could be a chance to find seats in a reserved car. Just ask a conductor on board showing your JR pass in this case.

Consult with the calendar below. If your date happen to drop on a day colored in blue, the chance of finding an empty seat on a non-reserved car is high. If in red, especially with an underline, definitely you need to reserve a seat some days before your travelling date. It is not so simple, though, departing time in a day, a local festival,... Note you will lose a right to take a fastest Nozomi/Mizuho train with a JR pass. In a sense, you could not take any brand-new 787, but a 777 with an air pass.
http://www.rosenzu.com/kikaku/cal2016.pdf

Your original itinerary could work, but a day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima is not comparable to your time in Kanazawa and Takayama. Hyperdia, without a check for Nozomi, gives similar times to Hiroshima/Miyajima and to Kanazawa/Takayama from Kyoto.

Kyoto Kanazawa 127 min
Kyoto Hiroshima 133 min
Kyoto Miyajimaguchi 178 min
Kyoto Takayama 189 min

With a Nozomi, Hiroshima would get closer in time.
Kyoto Hiroshima 101 min
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kyot...shima+station/

In this sense, and more satisfactory ratings for Hiroshima and Miyajima in japan-guide.com, one of the minimum change to your itinerary would be just changing the last 2 nights in Tokyo to those in Hiroshima or Miyajima. If you could take a 5:37 train at Miyajimaguchi, or a 6:00 train at Hiroshima, you would arrive at Narita airport at 12:58. With a Nozomi, 7:21/Miyajimaguchi, 8:00/Hiroshima - 13:23/NRT could be possible.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Miya...i+station/NRT/
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que....html?0+133997

If you dare to, or it seems to have been already considered, you could do Hiroshima/Miyajima before Kyoto, i.e., Tokyo-Kanazawa/Takayama-Hiroshima/Miyajima-Kyoto-NRT. It is a long move from Kanazawa/Takayama to Hiroshima/Miyajima, but the departure time on the last day could be more reasonable; 9:33/Kyoto-13:27/NRT with a JR pass, or 9:53/Kyoto-13:27/NRT with a Nozomi.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kyoto+station/NRT/

However, I do not fully support these plans. The air fare could usually cost the most. Staying the last night at the departing city would be more ideal. So, placing the all nights for Tokyo at the last would be better. Arriving at 3:30 pm at NRT, it would be OK to stay one night at Tokyo, but move on to the next destination on the following day, e.g.,

7:20 Tokyo (Toyama) 11:23 Takayama
7:23 Takayamna (Toyama) 9:31 Kanazawa
6:45 Kanazawa (Shin Osaka) (Hiroshima) 12:13 Miyajimaguchi
7:21 Miyajimaguchi (Hiroshima) (Shin Osaka) 10:28 Kyoto
7:32 Kyoto 10:10 Tokyo

As in the above, Toyama could be a base for Takayama and Kanazawa. If you do not mind to finish Takayama and Kanazawa as day trips, it could be possible to save 1 night by solely assigning 3 nights for Toyama.

Backtracking might be messy some time. Non JR companies could make your exposure to Japan more, such as Nohi bus (Takayama - Kanazawa) and Spring Airlines (Hiroshima - NRT, > 5690 yen).
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/
http://jp.ch.com/

IMO, Lolazahra has given you some GREAT ideas!

I still think you can manage most places with Goodwill guides, but Lolazahra makes some very worthy points about maximizing efficiency. Of course, with the benefit of her insights you might not need to rely on private guides or hotel concierges! ;-)

Thanks!!! Working on my updates!!!!
I contacted Chris as well!!