We will be arriving NRT at 3:55pm March 30 and leaving NRT April 11 at 5:30pm. My planned itinerary right now is to go from NRT to Kyoto on our arrival day

March 30 - April 4th Kyoto - 5 nights

April 4th - 5th Hiroshima/Miyajima Island (staying overnight Miyajima Island) - 1 night

April 5 - 9 Tokyo - 4 nights

April 9 - 11 Hakone (Gora) 2 nights

April 11 5:30pm fly out of NRT

I have two questions at the moment:

1. I can get a Jetstar flight from NRT-KIX but doesn't leave until 8:40pm so 4hr 45min layover in NRT and then 1h 30min flight to KIX and then 80 min train to Kyoto. I checked and I can't find any earlier flights from NRT to KIX that I could make after landing at 3:55pm. So the question is should we just wait in airport or take the train to Kyoto? We have never been to Japan but are fairly seasoned travelers. Seems as though we could get to Kyoto a bit faster by taking the train??

2. I see that going Miyajima - Tokyo - Hakone is backtracking a bit, but I was hoping to break up our stays in ryokans with our stay in Tokyo, but would you recommend going Miyajima - 2 nights in Hakone and then the 4 nights in Tokyo so no backtracking? I have booked all hotels/ryokans but I think easy to change the Tokyo - Hakone hotels to different dates.

Thanks for your input

BTW, I have not actually purchased the plane tickets yet, but this would be a nonstop PDX-NRT which is really what we want. If we flew directly to KIX would have to fly through HNL and the tickets would be $600 more per person. Jetstar or train would be much cheaper.

I take it you cannot fly directly into KIX? If you have to fly to NRT then you want to connect to ITM (Itami, the Osaka domestic airport), not KIX. JAL has flights at about 5pm and 6:30 and ANA at 5pm and 6pm.

Thank you! I was not aware of ITM. I checked and those flights are available. Also, closer ride from that airport to central Kyoto.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

I haven't looked up the prices of Jetstar but just to advise you that there are special discount fares if you fly in on an international ticket....may be of some help....

ITM to Kyoto by train is quite complicated (monorail then local then express). I'd be inclined to take the bus: http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/index2.html

Where are you staying in Tokyo?

"would you recommend going Miyajima - 2 nights in Hakone and then the 4 nights in Tokyo so no backtracking?" -- personally, I hate backtracking, BUT I'm willing to do it for a good reason. I think this one is a toss-up: It really depends on YOUR preferences. Enjoy!

Thank you this information has been helpful. I looked up the ANA Japan Airpass and the Japan Airlines OneWorld pass. Unfortunately I won't be eligible for either one. We will most likely be flying Delta but possibly United. Neither one is a OneWorld member so that one is out. United is a Star Alliance Japan Air Pass member but the dates March 13-30 are not allowed and the date we will be traveling is March 30. I can still fly on either airline, just won't get the lower fare.

Darn, jgg - We're missing you by several days.

soletraveler - Does the mifi you recommend work all over Asia? I need a device for Hong Kong, China and Korea as well as Japan.