JRPass

Hi Cath!

Your route seems really great, and all legs wil be fine to do using the JR Pass including the Takayama-Kanazawa leg, which should take around 1.5hrs (sample itinerary - best to go via Toyama). You could take a bus using the Nohi bus company for this, but as it is non-JR (and so you will have to pay) and will take longer than the train I list I recommend using the JR Pass.

The Hiroshima - Okayama - Kyoto leg will be fine, though you should expect to arrive in Kyoto in the late afternoon, early evening. Make sure you take advantage of the short term coin operated lockers at Okayama station to store luggage as you walk around the gardens!

Hope this helps!