Booking trains in Japan

We are going to Japan next month and are seeking a travel agent to help arrange all our train travel reservations in Japan.
We are a couple. The JR rail calculator tells me it is not worth it to get the JR Pass as we are doing this over a 2 week period.

Our itinerary:
Tokyo - Kyoto
Kyoto- Naoshima
Naoshima - Koyasan
Koyasan - Osaka
Osaka - Hakone
Hakone - Tokyo

What do you think?
Any suggestions?
I appreciate the help and thank you!
Caroline

Travel agent :you dont need their help
It is worth to buy JR nationwide pass ,at least 7 days.To ride shinkansen:It is dreams come true.if i board millions dollar shinkansen for minimal price,why i dont board atleast once in my whole lifetime
Kyoto to naoshima : you will go kyoto to uno via okayama,then ship or ferry from uno port

The JR Ticket office staff are amazing.

If the JR Pass calculator does not pay off then dont buy one.

We always have our preferred train names, dates and times printed out and take it to a Ticket office and hand it over.

You can check train times etc on apps such as Japan Travel or Japan transit.

The staff have sufficient English to be able to assist wonderfully well.

Enjoy!

Honestly I don't think there is a travel agency that match your request.

As AusTF says you may better do it by yourself. It is not so difficult. First you should use Google map to find your route. Tokyo to Kyoto is very straightforward with one Shinkansen ride. For Kyoto to Naoshima you must transfer twice (once train to train once train to ferry). If you have further question please do not hesitate to write here.

Why use Google Maps to find all possible train routes?
Why not use a train timetable search tool?

Looks like most of OP's routes can be searched via JRWest, so use
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/timetable/#timetable

If certain routes are outside of JRWest's coverage, then try other tools, such as Navitime, or Jorudan.
https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/

Actually, travel agents can be very helpful if you're not used to or just not the type of person who enjoys planning an original itinerary.

I come from the travel industry, I have helped friends plan their trip, and I very much feel that way. Even my parents who have been traveling around the world for decades prefer to rely on travel agents.

In every country, there are travel agents that specialize specifically in certain countries and areas. Just search the Internet (in your own language) keywords like "japan travel" or go to the book store to buy a travel guidebook or two and narrow down some agents listed on it. Japanese travel agents such as JTB or HIS has branches in some countries too.

I hope you have fun!

Thanks so much for your replies.

I am fine to book the tickets myself and some are easy to book (like Tokyo - Kyoto). I'm having a bit more difficulty with booking from Kyoto to Naoshima and from Naoshima to Koyasan. If anyone has additional links or tools, I'd greatly appreciate. I like the idea of selecting all the trains ahead of time and having a. ticket agent in Tokyo help with all of them. Is this the most economical?

Also, you all seem extremely knowledgeable, do you have suggestions on booking a temple stay in Mt Koya?

And does anyone have recommendations for a ryokan / onsen in Hakone? Is it easy to go on hikes from Hakone? We are wondering if we should spend one or 2 nights there.

Thank you very. much for your replies!

Tokyo - Kyoto

https://smart-ex.jp/en/lp/app/?utm_source=global.jr-central.co.jp%2Fen.....

Kyoto- Naoshima

If you type �gfrom Kyoto to Naoshima�h you can find several tools such as Googlemaps.

Googlemap says if you start at 6:55 you will arrive Miyanoura port at 9:42.

You can double check with Japan Transit Planner.

https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/?p=0&xpd=1&from=Kyoto&to=Naoshima+I...

This site suggest to take JR train to Uno though Googlemaps suggest bus from Okayama to Uno port. The final results are the same since the ferry is the restricting factor. I would prefer JR train.

You may better check with the official websites. JR west (From Kyoto to Uno)

https://mydia.jr-odekake.net/cgi-bin/mydia_ml.cgi?_gl=1*1mhrar6*_ga*MT...

The same results as Japan Transit Planner.

Then the ferry. Type ferry Naoshima. You will find this page.

https://www.shikokukisen.com/en/instant/

Uno-Naoshima 9:22 9:42.

You will find the next ferry will depart 11:00 so you must consider the ferry first. If you want to take 11:00 ferry then you should check the JR schedule accordingly.

https://mydia.jr-odekake.net/cgi-bin/mydia_ml.cgi?_gl=1*1mhrar6*_ga*MT...

Start Kyoto with 8:47 Nozomi.

Probably no one has the timetable in his/her brain. We know how to search. I usually start with Googlemaps since it gives me the rough idea with map. You can set your hotel as the start or destination. However I must admit googlemaps sometimes shows inappropriate route so you should also use other tools.

By the way, for Naoshima travel you may better consider Kansai Wide Area Pass.

https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_wide/

One problem with this pass is that it doesn�ft cover Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka though it covers conventional rail from Kyoto Osaka, So if you take this pass you must take conventional rail to Shin-Osaka and transfer to Shinkansen (for Okayama).