Another railpass/itinerary question :)

Hello all!

First of all I am sorry for yet
another rail pass question but i'm still unsure what to do. This is my first trip to Japan
and I am taking my little sister so I want everything to go smoothly :P

I was wondering what is the most cost effective way is to travel for the itinerary below? Should we just get a 14 day rail pass and validate it on Day 4?

Also, does my itinerary look achievable?

Day 1
Depart Melbourne 19:30

Day 2
Arrive Tokyo 06:55

Day 3
Tokyo

Day 4
Tokyo

Day 5
Tokyo

Day 6
Tokyo

Day 7
Tokyo to Kyoto

Day 8
Kyoto

Day 9
Kyoto

Day 10
Kyoto to Nara

Day 11
Nara to Osaka

Day 12
Osaka

Day 13
Osaka

Day 14
Osaka to Mount Koya


Day 15
Free day
Ideas: Hiroshima, Himeji, Nikko, Kamakura or Takayama.

Day 16
Free day.
Ideas: See above or do some last minute shopping in Tokyo and stay overnight in a capsule hotel.

Day 17
Depart Tokyo 21:30

Day 18
Arrive Melbourne 11:10

Thanking you guys in advance!
Melodie

With Hiroshima included a 14 day JR Rail Pass makes sense. But rearrange your itinerary:
Himeji and Hiroshima are south of Osaka. Takayama cannot be visited within the balance of a day coming from Mr Koya.
Kamakura is near Tokyo and not necessarily to be visited as you visit Kyoto.
Nikko to be visited from Tokyo.
For Mt Koya include an overnight stay there.
Brother and sister cannot stay in same floor of a capsule hotel. Most capsule hotels in Tokyo are male only.
With the JR Rail Pass it would not be necessary to have accomodation both in Kyoto and in Osaka. Stay in same hotel. ShinOsaka and Kyoto are 15 min train ride by shinkansen.

Day 1
Depart Melbourne 19:30
Day 2
Arrive Tokyo 06:55
Day 3
Tokyo
Day 4
Tokyo start 14 day JR Pass
Day 5
Tokyo day trip to Nikko with JR pass via Utsunomiya overnight Tokyo
Day 6
Tokyo day trip to Hakone with JR Pass via Odawara overnight Tokyo
Day 7
Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 8
Kyoto
Day 9
Kyoto
Day 10
Kyoto to Nara as a day trip evening back to same accomodation. Otherwise you have to bring your luggage all along the way from Kyoto to Nara to Osaka
Day 11
Kyoto to Takayama with one - night bag, main luggage stored in Kyoto accomodation
overnight Takayama
Day 12
Kyoto back from Takayama
Day 13
Kyoto to Himeji and further on to Hiroshima with two - night bag
overnight Hiroshima
Day 14
Hiroshima - ShinOsaka - Mt Koya overnight Mr Koya temple lodging

Day 15
Back from Mt Koya to original Kyoto accomodation
.
Day 16
from Kyoto to Tokyo

Day 17
Depart Tokyo 21:30
Day 18
Arrive Melbourne 11:10

Insteadt of Kyoto you can make all accomodation in Osaka, too.

1) Get an OPEN JAW airline ticket, arrive in Tokyo, return from Osaka, saving the 1/2 trip back to Tokyo.
2) Use local passes around Tokyo.
3) Activate a 7-day JR Pass just before going to Hakone, then get a JR West pass for Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, etc.
4) Forget Nikko. There is much more to see in Kamakura. Get an Enoshima-Kamakura Free Kippu for Y1970. good for one round trip fromTokyo and 2 days if you want to stay overnight. It's only 45 min. from Tokyo.