Revised itinerary :)

I'd be very surprised if your hotel in Kyoto wouldn't allow you to leave your bags there overnight, perhaps for a small fee (the place I usually stay at in Kyoto charges 100 Yen for this service).

I've never been to Osafune. Indeed, I had to look it up. Okayama's main sight is the extensive gardens which used to belong to the Daimyo, considered one of the best in Japan. It's attached to Okayama's castle, which is okay for a visit: the main keep was destroyed in WWII, but one original side building survives (you can't go inside). If the idea of a large Japanese garden appeals, you might want to look into it for your stopover in Okayama. There should be something beautiful blooming in the garden in any season.

Hikone is one of the loveliest castles in Japan, and could easily be visited on the way between Tokyo and Kyoto (assuming you're traveling by Shinkansen). If you want to fit in another castle...

You have a fair amount of time in Hiroshima. For me, Miyajima can easily eat up a whole day (if you want to hike around the island, and see some of the fabulous viewpoints), but the atomic sights in Hiroshima only really take up a half day, if that. You might consider spending the morning in Hiroshima on Day 11, and then heading to Miyajima that afternoon. Having the late afternoon and the next morning on Miyajima, and then traveling in the afternoon/evening somewhere else. And then spending time there on Day 13 before catching your flight.

Or maybe that would be too rushed for you.... Anyway. My thoughts.

I went to Osafune in 2013. It did take a fair amount of time to get there: local train from Okayama to a Kagato station (which is actually closer to the museum that Osafune station) and then a taxi from there. The taxi driver was helpful, gave me his card so I could ring to get picked up again. Trains ran around every hour and the Kagato/Osafune was around half an hour out of Okayama. Pretty much filled in most of the afternoon with travel (I stayed in Okayama)

I would do Himeji as a stop between Hiroshima and Osaka or Kyoto and Hiroshima. Really no need to do it as it's own trip.

I would travel to Kyoto in the early evening or your day 4 rather than the morning of day 5. More Kyoto time, less daylight wasted on the train. I'd like to see at least 3 sold days of Tokyo and Kyoto.

I agree with Giora, you really dont need long in Hiroshima. Miyajima maybe, but Hiroshima proper can be done in a couple hours.

Nope, not too rushed at all- wonderful thoughts, I'll have a more detailed look this evening - thank you!

Thank you! Great suggestions :)

Good to know it mightn't be as straight forward as I thought to get there - I'll make sure to give us majority of the day there, as at this stage we are still just passing through!

AS above...Himeji is easy to fit in on the way,for a few hours.

More time in Kyoto..if you travel evening day 4 that is easily done.

Hiroshima depends what you want to see there,but I agree half a day for the atomic stuff is enough,plus a day for Miyajina (if you like walking..many tourists only go there to see the famous toeii and stay a couple of hours).

Tsuyoi8 - may I ask, did you enjoy Osafune? Did you find it worthwhile?

Hi adele_h837,
I did enjoy it and glad I made the effort. While it is interesting, there are more comprehensive blade collections (Oyamazumi on Omishima island, Tokyo Sword Museum). This is one of the few places where they still make blades. It was pretty quiet when I was there and while they weren't actually producing swords at the time they did have a video. It probably took me longer to get there than to look around but I'm still glad I did it.