JR National Rail Pass Kyoto & Hiroshima

JAPAN-GUIDE.COM

We are a family of 4 who would like to buy a JR National Railway Pass - for 7 days and will want to
go from TOKYO to HIROSHIMA and another day to KYOTO.

We are aware that we can not use the trains NOZOMI & MIZUHO for this trip - but we are having problems finding a timetable for the period 22 - 25 FEB 2023 showing us trains we can use for the trip using the JR National Rail Pass.

We are trying to find a train from TOKYO STATION - KYOTO 24FEB around 09:00 and return
around 17:30 from KYOTO - TOKYO.

We are trying to find a train from TOKYO STATION - HIROSHIMA 23FEB around 09:00 and return
around 16:30 from HIROSHIMA - TOKYO.

Stay in Kyoto or Hiroshima for the night. Even if you will continue to pay for a hotel room in Tokyo. Traversing most of Honshu 2 days in a row makes no sense.

Regarding time table. For me google maps work. Just look at the list of trains and exclude Nozomi/Mizuho.

from TOKYO STATION - KYOTO 24FEB around 09:00
hikari505 tokyo 9:03 --- kyoto 11:37

around 17:30 from KYOTO - TOKYO on 14Feb.
hikari 660 kyoto 17:33 - tokyo 20:12

You had better stay overnight,
near Kyōto Station, for example.

To make one-day trips from Tokyo
as you currently plan,
you spend more time
just for going between the stations
than for exploring Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Tōkyō -- Kyōto
by Shinkansen HIKARI
: 2 and a half hours per way.

Tōkyō -- Hiroshima
by Shinkansen HIKARI + SAKURA
: 4 and a half to 5 hours per way.

Also, you travel late February,
when Tōkaidō Shinkansen trains might be slowed down
due to the snowfall around Maibara.

Is your Tokyo hotel just near Tōkyō Station?

For your way to Tōkyō Station,
from what station can you take the first train?

Tōkyō Station has two separate Shinkansen zones;
you have to find a correct ticket gate.

Shinagawa Station has one Shinkansen zone;
you just follow signs for the Shinkansen.

At Shin-Kōbe Station,
there is only one Shinkansen track for each direction;
you can change trains via the same platform;
alternatively you can choose Shin-Ōsaka Station,
but you may have to get to another platform.

----

On Saturday, March the 18th,
JR companies will revise train timetables.
Time shown below is based on the current timetable.

As you see,
you cannot have much time for Hiroshima.

Non-recommendable Tōkyō -- Hiroshima day trip:

Tōkyō
(Dep. 09:03) or
Shinagawa
(Dep. 09:10)
| [Shinkansen HIKARI 505 (for Okayama)]
(Arr. 12:11)
Shin-Kōbe
(Dep. 12:19)
| [Shinkansen SAKURA 555 (for Kagoshima-Chūō)]
(Arr. 13:32)
Hiroshima.

Hiroshima
(Dep. 16:49)
| [Shinkansen SAKURA 560 (for Shin-Ōsaka)]
(Arr. 18:14)
Shin-Kōbe
(Dep. 18:34)
| [Shinkansen HIKARI 520 (for Tōkyō)]
(Arr. 21:35)
Shinagawa or
(Arr. 21:42)
Tōkyō.

Plug in your trip into this website: https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/
When you select the result, there is a button "timetable" that shows all the trains for the day. Look for the Hikari services between Tokyo and Kyoto (as an example) - one each half hour.
For Kyoto to Hiroshima, most options require a transfer (easiest is at Shin-Kobe, but many people transfer at Shin-Osaka).
Also, I am assuming you are doing Tokyo to Hiroshima round trip within seven calendar days. If doing the trip within 14 days, the savings are marginal.