How to improve proposed itinerary?

We are considering the itinerary towards the end of November:
Day 1: Arrive Narita
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Hakone
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Nara - Osaka
Day 8: Miyajima
Day 9: Osaka via Himeji
Day 10: Kanazawa
Day 11: Shirakawago
Day 12: Takayama
Day 13:Tokyo

Would you add or remove any of the cities?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Hi. If you are a really fast traveller that itinerary would be fine and you would see a lot. Personally I would skip Osaka altogether and I would only go to Miyajima if you were wanting to see Peace Park and the dome along the way. It isnt that I dont like Miyajima, it is actually a great place though the deer are mangey compared to Nara deer - it is just I wouldnt travel that far just to go there especially when you are coming from Nara which is prettier and with more to see IMO.

I'd also wonder whether Hakone is more trouble than it is worth. Hakone is nice enough but I wouldnt go wild for it, maybe drop that but stop in at somewhere like Bessho Onsen for a night on the way back from Takayama?

Day 1: Arrive Narita
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Hakone
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Nara - Osaka
Day 8: Miyajima
Day 9: Osaka via Himeji
Day 10: Kanazawa
Day 11: Shirakawago
Day 12: Takayama
Day 13:Tokyo


Man that's a fast pace with virtually no time in Tokyo that isnt spent at parks. I'm with @Lazy Pious about Hakone. How about:

Day 1: Arrive Narita
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Kyoto
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto -Nara -Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto -Osaka
Day 8: Osaka - Himeji -???
Himeji as a stop/day trip
and then depending on your tastes
Day8: Himeji - Hiroshima/Miyajima
Day9: Hiroshima/Miyajima
Day 10: Hiroshima - Kanazawa
Day 11: Kanazawa - Takayama -Tokyo (That's a long day)
Day 12: Tokyo
Day 13:Tokyo

Which still seems too rushed for me, or :
Day8: Himeji - Osaka
Day 9: 0saka - Shirakawago or Takayama
Day 10: Shirakawago or Takayama
Day 11: Shirakawago or Takayama - Tokyo
Day 12: Tokyo
Day 13:Tokyo

I really must learn to remove the aide memoir before I post my replies. I wish there was say, a 5 minute edit window, apologies :)

Thanks for the great suggestions.
We have visited Tokyo and Osaka previously.
Why skip Kanazawa?
Any advantages to visiting Shirakawa go and Takayama after the parks or keep towards the end?
Would you add Nikko?
Which castles Nijo or Osaka are must see?

That's an amazing itinerary you got there. I think you should add Hiroshima, since you're going to Miyajima. I would rather choose Kamakura instead of Nikko.

I was considering Lazy Pious suggestions to remove Miyajima and Hakone because we already visited Hiroshima on a cruise.

Change of Plans
A proposed itinerary for 12 days with the 7 day JR Pass
Day 1: Tokyo: Arrive at Narita
Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Takayama
Activate JR Pass
Day 5: Kanazawa
Take Nohi bus to Shirakawago*, leave your luggage at the bus center and explore the World Hereitage Village for a few hours. Then, come back and pick up your luggage, and take the next bus to Kanazawa. Explore the city including Kenrokuen Garden.
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto
Day 8: Kyoto
Day 9: Himeji/Hiroshima/Miyajima Day.
Go to Himeji from Kyoto by Shinknsen Hikari Superexpress and visit Himeji Castle*, then go to Hiroshima by Shinkansen Hikari again. Then, move to Miyajima, visit Itsukushima Shirine*, and then take Miyajima Ropeway to the top of Mt. Misen to see the wonderful view of Setonaikai (Seto Inner Sea). http://miyajima-ropeway.info/en/mirac... Stay at Miyajima.
Day 10 Hiroshima - Tokyo
Day 11: Hakone day trip
Day 12: Go to Narita Airport and return to your country.
Is this itinerary doable or too hectic?
Please suggest changes if too hectic.

If you only have two weeks time, consider doing a little bit less travelling around. Consider not going to Mijajima: itfs really far out of your way if youfre not in the Hiroshima area. While it is very pretty, itfs gonna cost you two days instead of one because of the distance, so thatfs one day less you can spend sightseeing.
I would suggest the following:

Day 1: Arrive Narita
Day 2: Disneyland (day trip from Tokyo)
Day 3: Disneysea (day trip from Tokyo)
Day 4: Hakone (day trip from Tokyo)
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Nara (day trip from Kyoto)
Day 8: Himeji (day trip from Kyoto)
Day 9: Kanazawa
Day 10: Shirakawago (day trip from Kanazawa)
Day 11: Takayama (day trip from Kanazawa)
Day 12: Tokyo
Day 13: Tokyo (consider a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura, unless your leaving this day)

Personally I would also skip either Shirakawago or Takayama for an extra day in Tokyo: you can do a trip to Nikko or Kamakura from there and both are worth the trip.
You can also consider skipping one (or both) of the Disney parks in favor of this.
Best advise I can give though: donft travel around too much, especially if you have the JR rail pass. Himeji, for example, can be reached in 30 minutes from Kyoto. No need to pack your bags and switch hotels, just go there in the morning and return in the evening. This will save you a lot of time checking in and out of hotels and carrying luggage around.

Christine, your suggestions are great but my wife loves DL and she doesn't even do any of the rides!
She loves the atmosphere, parades and shows.
Can you suggest an itinerary using the 7 Day JR Pass and include Miyajima if possible?
Or is it too far and not doable?

Day 1: Arrive Narita
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Disneysea
Day 4: Kyoto
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto - Nara as a day trip from Kyoto.
Day 8: Hiroshima - visit Himeji on the way.
Day 9: Hiroshima - personal choice is if you stay at Miyajima or avoid the hotel change.
Day 10: Kanazawa (the train Hiroshima to Kanazawa is quite simple.)
Day 11: Takayama
Day 12: Takayama - visit Shirakawago as a 1/2 day tour. It doesn't need more than that.
Day 13:Tokyo

The above does not suit the 7-day JRP, but the 14-day pass will cover the whole trip with savings.
Deliberately skipped Hakone as it consumes too much time for limited pay-off (that's the consistent feedback I get - there are lots of other/better places you can go).
If you wanted to drop a Kyoto day and add another in Tokyo, that also works.
BTW, the pacing of the trip is hardly rapid/fast once you get more two-night stays.

Thank you for your proposed itinerary.
The cost for the 7 Day JR Pass is $263 and the 14 Day JR Pass is $420.
I was planning to take the Limousine Bus directly to the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay
which is not covered by the JR Pass.
The cost for the Hakone Free Pass is $47 to do the day trip from Shinjuku r/t.
Transportation cost would be a minimum days 2 - 3.
Isn't this good value?
How is this itinerary?
Land Tour Japan Options
Day 1 Arrive NRT
Day 2 Tokyo Disneyland
Day 3 Disneysea
JP1Day 4 Tokyo to Kanazawa
JP2Day 5 Bus to Shirakawago, spend a few hours continue to Takayama
JP3Day 6 Takayama until noon and continue to Kyoto.
PM: Arashiyama, Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle
JP4Day 7 Kyoto
Enjoy 1 Day Tour in Kyoto and Visit Historical Sites!
JP5Day 8 Nara day trip
PM: Arashiyama, Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle
JP6Day 9 Kyoto to Miyajima
JP7Day 10 Himeji castle until noon and continue to Tokyo.
Day 11 Hakone day trip
Day 12 - Depart Tokyo

14 day jr pass would be worth for the flexibility.
Remember this itinerary can be changed at your leisure. Also, in case of bad weather you can rethink you plans.

Buying one-off tix can get expensive too.

Have a great trip.