Itinerary - advice

Hi all, i will be heading to Japan early December with my wife, for a 11 days trip. So i would like to seek some advice from eveyone here. My wife will be about 5 months pregnant then, so it will be a slow and easy trip :)

This is what i have planned so far:

Day 1 - 3: arrival at Narita and make way to kyoto
- any good ryokan to recommend for two persons and easy for a pregnant lady?

Day 4 - 5: Hiroshima and Miyajima (one night each)

Day 6 - 8: no plans yet; any advice?

Day 9 - 11: Tokyo - free and easy;
- any possible day trips that we can go for?

Other question i have is with regards to the JR Pass.
a. How many days should i get? Should i just get the 7 day pass?
b. Does the pass include the Narita Express?

many thanks for your advice and i apologize for asking so many questions.

Ben

How nice of you to be so considerate of your wife. :)

Normally, I'd suggest either Kanazawa/Noto or Nagano for those extra days but since you are going in December, the weather might be an issue. Both Izu & Hakone would be warmer and hopefully sunnier but they are touristy and rather expensive.

Another option is to stay in Kyoto for longer. If you are into temples, shrines, gardens, and nature, you won't run out of things to do there for weeks. If you get templed out, you can always take a day trip to Osaka. Dotonbori is an experience not to be missed if you are into street food.

BTW, Narita express semms to be covered by JR pass:

http://www.gatewaylax.com/narita_express.asp

How many days should i get?

A 7-day pass if you return to Tokyo within 7 days. A 14-day pass, otherwise.

Does the pass include the Narita Express?

Yes!

With all respect, and with knowledge that Japanese women have used futon when pregnant for centuries, I would suggest that perhaps a Ryokan would not be the easiest place for a western woman to stay under that condition without having experienced it before. If there was a Ryokan that had a bed available, that might help, but that seems a contradiction. Anyone with any ideas out there? Uji? Peter? Japan Lady?

Ryokan: Mrs Ben should try it out now at home: a mattress on the floor and sleeping for one night. A meal served on a very low �gcoffee table�h and dined while sitting on the floor. If oK during Japan stay ONE night in a ryokan with Japanese dinner and breakfast, other nights western style hotels.
one recommendation for Kyoto in walking distance to station:
http://www.kyoto-hatoya.co.jp/zuiho/pages/english/english.ht...
7 day JR Rail Pass starting day 3 with long distance travel Tokyo - Kyoto and 7th day back to Tokyo. By this Narita transfer is not included, as it can be done cheaper outside JR Pass and a 14 day Pass would be more expensive. Within the 7 day validity: Himeji castle, Odawara by shinkansen for Hakone one day trip and Nikko. Do not change accommodation between Hiroshima and Miyajima, because of comfort, Miyajima is 30 min JR train ride from Hiroshima. Make only overnight at Tokyo, Kyoto and may be Hiroshima area ( think about: with further different overnights luggage must be packed and moved from hotel to hotel ). Even Hiroshima can be a daytrip from Kyoto, same with Himeji. Hakone and Nikko as day trips from Tokyo.

There are many "ryokans" out there with beds:


http://www.okunikko-yunomori.com/room/jm02/index.php

http://www.mukayu.com/english/top.html

Maybe it's just me but these newer inns look more like hotels with Japanese themed decor...

There are older ryokans with beds as well:

http://www.fujiiso.co.jp/welcome.html

http://www.kinsuikan.jp/waraku.html
(This is in Miyajima)

Thanks for all your response above. I like to find out if there are any areas/shops/department stores that I can go shopping for babies stuff. Nice baby clothes, baby slings etc... thanks!

Hi all, can I check if I purchase the NEX & Surica package, the Surica card can be use on ALL train rides within Tokyo city regardless if its on JR line or not?

Seems to be a pretty good deal as it covers the Narita express and we intend to travel mostly by train within Tokyo.