Kyoto itinerary
 

Would anyone comment on the rough itinerary for our trip- (just ignore my pitiful Japanese spelling)

Leave on a wednesday
arrive KIX
Thursday 4:30 PM
MK Limo reservations to Hyatt Regency

Friday 8:30 AM Sunrise half day tour

afternoon- visit train station-exchange voucher and pick up 3 day JR Passes. Explore central Kyoto

On the way back to hotel, visit Sanjusan temple, and if not too exhausted try to visit Gion in the evening

Saturday- Train to Nara in AM
Explore more of Kyoto

Sunday- Early start with train trip to Himanji castle, on to Hiroshima and island if we have time

Monday- Train to Aryoshima and explore that grid of Kyoto

Tuesday- late check out- see what ever we may have missed in AM
Depart for KIX for a late evening flight

Cut out one of the day trips to Nara or Himeji and spend more time in Kyoto itself.

You're considering a 3-day JR Pass. Then you must be looking at the JR West Kansai Area Pass. Is that right? I think that is the only 3-day pass offered by JR that would include Himeji. It does not include the shinkansen. It can't be used to go to Hiroshima or Miyajima.

For Hiroshima you'd want the Sanyo Area Pass, a 4-day pass. But it does not include Kyoto to/from Osaka and does not include Kyoto to/from Nara.

In either case, I would not get a voucher for either of those passes. They are different from the regular all-Japan JR Pass. And I would not go to Kyoto station day(s) in advance to buy it. It is a big place. Maybe a travel agent in/near your hotel can sell it otherwise I'd wait until I was at the station ready to travel.

That Saturday is the latest date to decide on whether or not to go to Hiroshima. If you get a Kansai Area Pass that day but next day decide to go to Hiroshima then it will cost you 16000 more yen per person (for Himeji-Hiroshsima-Himeji). I suggest deciding now.

I agree with WillJame who posted while I was composing. (and just save Hiroshima for your next trip to Japan)

Cut out Nara, IMO it simply does not compare with all there is to see in Kyoto (we were there for 5 days and still did not have enough time!). Also, you should check ou the situation at Himanji, I really liked it, but I had read somewhere on this forum that it was undergoing a major restoration.