Japan trip builder
Add your stops and how many nights in each. You get every train and bus between them, how long each takes, whether the JR Pass covers it, and a warning if you travel on a holiday or JR peak day. Share the link with whoever you’re travelling with.
17 places · Times checked 16 Oct 2026 · Fares coming soon
- 1Tokyo4 nights
- 2Kyoto3 nights
- 3Osaka2 nights
- 4Hiroshima1 night
Your route
4 stops, 10 nights, about 4h05 on trains and buses
JR Pass: 1 of 3 legs fully covered, 2 partly. Whether the pass pays off depends on fares, which we are still verifying; see is the JR Pass worth it meanwhile.
Every leg here runs on Google Maps and platform numbers, so have mobile data from the moment you land: Airalo Japan eSIM (affiliate link) or see how much data you need.
- 1. Tokyo4 nights · Most trips start and end here.
Tokyo → Kyoto · Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi)
About 2h10
JR Pass: partly- Hikari and Kodama are covered; Nozomi needs an extra special ticket.
- 2. Kyoto3 nights · Temples, gardens and Gion.
Kyoto → Osaka · JR Special Rapid
About 30 min
JR Pass: covered - 3. Osaka2 nights · Food, nightlife and Universal Studios.
Osaka → Hiroshima · Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka
About 1h25
JR Pass: partly- Hikari and Sakura are covered; Nozomi and Mizuho need an extra special ticket.
- 4. Hiroshima1 night · Peace Memorial Park and okonomiyaki.
How the times work
Every journey time comes from the operator or an official tourism body: JR Central, JR West, Odakyu, Tobu, Fujikyu, Nohi Bus, JNTO and the city tourism boards. Each leg links to its source. “Fastest” is the operator’s quickest train; “about” is their typical figure. Where we could not find an official figure, the leg says so and the Google Maps button gives you live times for your day.
Between places with no direct connection in our list, the planner chains legs through the obvious hub, for example Takayama to Kyoto via Nagoya. Times do not include changing trains, getting to the station or waiting for a connection; allow 15–30 minutes per change.
What’s next
Fares for every leg and a JR Pass verdict for your exact route are next, once each fare is checked against JR’s own fare search after the March 2026 revision. More places, including Himeji, Okayama, Fukuoka and Hokkaido, will follow. Until then, see is the JR Pass worth it and the holiday & crowd calendar.
FAQ
Does the JR Pass cover the Nozomi?
Not on its own. Since October 2023 JR Pass holders can ride the Nozomi and Mizuho by buying an extra special ticket for the trip. The Hikari, Kodama and Sakura are covered without it.
Which trains in this planner are not covered by the JR Pass?
Private railways and buses: the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone, the Tobu limited express to Nikko, Kintetsu trains to Nara, the Fujikyu section of the Fuji Excursion, and the Nohi highway buses to Shirakawa-go, Takayama and Matsumoto.
How do I get from Kyoto or Osaka to Kanazawa now?
Since March 2024 there is a change at Tsuruga: the Thunderbird limited express from Kyoto or Osaka to Tsuruga, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Kanazawa’s official tourism site gives about 45 minutes plus about an hour from Kyoto.