Hello,

I'm going to Japan for the first time at the end of March for a week. I have the tentative itinerary below. Please comment!
We have to fly in and out of Narita, so we definitely got the pass.

Thurs - Arrive in Tokyo in afternoon; go directly to Kyoto; spend night at ryokan (would you recommend Hirota or Hiraiwa?)
Fri - wander around Kyoto
Sat - day trip to Nara and maybe Horyuji
Sun - day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima
Mon - early morn back to Tokyo, drop off some luggage and travel to Hakone to spend the night (either in Ishinoyu or Fuyima)
Tues - back to Tokyo and wander around (accomodations at Ryokan Shigetsu)
Wed - day trip to Nikko; back to Tokyo for night
Thurs - leave in afternoon back to States.

Comments? Additions/Deletions? Anything would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

1. Kyoto to Hiroshima is about 100 minutes by the fastest train. And it takes more time to go to Miyajima. I don't think those are "day-trip" destinations from Kyoto. There are plenty of beautiful places near Kyoto and Nara, and you can also go see the Osaka Castle, etc...

2. Why go to Toyko to drop off luggage and back to Hakone? That's wasting many hours of travel time. Just find a hotel in the Hakone area, drop off luggage and then go travel around the area.

I agree with the previous poster. There's no point in going back to Tokyo to drop off luggage. Just drop it off wherever you're staying in Hakone.

Miyajima and Hiroshima are great places to go, but I don't think you have time to visit them on this trip. Spending only 1 day in Kyoto is, in my opinion, a crime. There's so much good stuff there. It seems you want to avoid spending any time in Tokyo -- and that's not necessarily a bad decision -- so I would advise something along the lines of the following:

Thurs: Arrive in Tokyo; go directly to Kyoto

Fri: Kyoto

Sat: Kyoto

Sun: Hakone or day trip to Nara/Horyuji (we LOVED Horyuji; we also loved Hakone)

Mon: back to Tokyo

Tues: Tokyo

Weds: day trip to Nikko or Kamakura

Thurs: return to U.S.

This itinerary is something similar to what I was planning. However, its sounds like a lot of city hopping. Especially if its one's first time. My proposed itinerary is posted on this forum. But I think I might just stay in Tokyo the entire time and travel to the adjacent cities for daily excursions. I really haven't read anyone doing that on this forum.

About staying at ryokan in Kyoto; I am presuming you are eating dinner at ryokan? I hope you have computed the travel time to make sure you arrive at the ryokan before they stop serving the dinner.

I agree that you are trying to squeeze way too much into a week. You've booked yourself into Kyoto and Tokyo but plan to leave those cities nearly everyday. You won't see anything of Kyoto and Tokyo. I would give Kyoto a minimum of 3 days and limit yourself to just one day trip - to Nara on day 4. Then I'd give 3 full days to Tokyo. Otherwise, you'll spend half your week on the train.

Hakone is a disappointment with the exception of the open air scupture museum. Mt. Fuji is covered in smog and not very visable. I wouldn't bother.

yes, i definitely agree that for only 6 full days, you may be trying to accomplish too much. i would split your time between kyoto and tokyo. it really depends on what you'd like to get out of this trip. sounds like you're trying to shy away from the city adventure. i would personally do 3 days in kyoto which would include a day trip to nara. then 3 days in tokyo which would include either a day trip to hakone, kamakura, or nikko. i lived in tokyo and love it!! i think you could easily spend an enjoyable 2 full days in tokyo, you can even venture off into more 'local' areas that may not be as 'tourist infested'. don't know if you'll be there during sakura cherry blossom time, maybe the tale end of it, but that's such a beautiful time to be in tokyo.
there was a day trip to hakone that i often took that you can do on your own which was always very enjoyable. you get a lot out of the day trip and see many interesting things. this is the link to the website http://www.odakyu-group.co.jp/english/ - i think the particular transportation pass is called the "Hakone Free Pass" and it pays for the many modes of transportation that you will take for the day including train, bus, cable car, and boat!!