Scenic Rail Routes in Japan

We are staying in Tokyo for 7 nights and for a few days we wish to use our JR pass to travel away from the City. We are also interested in scenic railway routes. Are there scenic rail trips we can take - up to a maximum of 3 or 4 hours each way that are recommended? Also we are going from Tokyo to both Takayama and Kyoto. From Takayama is the longer route via Toyama scenic? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Toyama is north so I'm not sure where you're heading. The route from Nagoya to Takayama is fairly nice, following the Kiso River above some gorges and fast water. Tea hedges are off to the sides in some of the other rural areas.

Generally, if you take any non-Shinkansen line into the interior, it will be more scenic as it won't have as many tunnels. Around Tokyo you can head toward Mt. Fuji by riding from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, or find a route toward Chichibu National Park.