Hi Alexander. If you complete the following parts of the trip in a 7-day window the JR pass would be good value for you, Tokyo to Kyoto (Y14050), Kyoto to Nagoya return (11800) and Osaka to Hiroshima return (Y21240), for reference the price of JR Pass in yen is currently Y29650. These trips alone would mean it more than pays for itself with a 58% discount, the convenience, and free bookings will be useful during the sakura season. You may also use JR for additional trips like getting from Kyoto to Osaka. Mt Fuji from Tokyo uses both JR and private trains, or you could use the coach so it's less beneficial to have that in the JR pass period.

In Osaka, we have stayed in both the Osaka station and the Namba/Umeda area. The bullet trains go from Shin-Osaka so you will use a connector train or subway from either and both have easy access to airport trains if you do fly from Osaka. Both have attractions nearby but recently we prefer Namba for the restaurants, Kuromon market and it's a nice area to wander down by the river in the evening.

We like both Nara and Uji for side trips from Kyoto and both are good for cherry blossom (or you could do them from Osaka). Any of our favourite day trips from Kyoto can also be done from Osaka.

Have a fabulous trip and enjoy the planning process. Cheers, Toni.

We are flying in and out of Japan from Tokyo Narita, but we might change out of Japan from Osaka.
Is JR pass a good value for us? We would like to do some out trips of Tokyo to Mt Fuji, Out of Kyoto to Nagoya, out of Osaka to Hiroshima

Thank you for your time and suggestions.

Absolutely, we cover Yushima Tenjin Shrines and the plum blossom festival in our 50 top things to do in Tokyo article, the taiko drummers in the feature photo are part of the festival. There are similar plum blossom (ume) festivals and sites in Osaka and Kyoto too that make a good alternative if you are there during late winter.

It's too early yet to have accurate forecasts of the 2020 sakura season yet so the alternative is to use the average dates. Based on average dates you will miss full blooom by the 20th in most places around Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. That doesn't mean none are around but the intense display is usually over by then. As you head north toward Aomori you will have more success, Aomori itself has average bloom from late April until the beginning of May. Of course, this may change based on seasonal conditions between now and then. I'll update this article with the average dates but we use the Kyuhoshi forecast as we get near our travel dates which updates based on temperatures and other conditions in the lead up to the cherry blossom season There are parts of each city known for early and late blooms so you may be able to adjust your daily itinerary slightly to incorporate those too.

Hi Jill. Yes these places are good in all seasons, something I do love about Japan is that you can have a very different but equally fabulous experience at a different time of year. By August it will most likely be quite hot and humid but also vibrant and green, gardens are beautiful and passing through areas with rice paddies are at their most attractive. I do also enjoy areas like Nikko in the summer because it's a little cooler than Tokyo but still very close. I'd pick based on your interests and what you want to see but I'd definitely do this route in summer myself.

Is this itinery good if visiting outside of cherry blossom season? We are going late August and early Sept, 15 days, arriving and departing in Tokyo. (2 females aged 60 plus)
Do you have any suggestions, very worried about transport and accommodation,

Many Thanks