Can I look up JR train times online?

Hi there, I am planning some trips from Kyoto and would like some advice.

I have seen a JR Timetable for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, but am confused as there do not seem to be any direct trains from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Could you tell me the times of a few trains for each of the following journeys?

19/11 Kyoto to Hiroshima arriving 12pm
19/11 Hiroshima to Kyoto arriving 8pm
22/11 Kyoto to Tokyo arriving 4pm
25/11 Tokyo to Kyoto arriving 7pm

I agree that some of the timetables can be confusing so I hope I can answer your questions here! There are some direct trains for these routes, but the more frequent train journeys require a quick change. I have given the best options for each of your journey requests with all times in 24 hour clock. There is also a great online resource mentioned at the end!

Depart from Kyoto station platform 13 on the 10:21 Shinkansen Hikari 363 to Okayama. After a five minute wait, transfer on to the 11:51 Shinkansen Hikari Railstar 461 which arives in Hiroshima at 12:33.
Leave Hiroshima station from platfrom 13 again on the 18:50 Shinkansen Hikari Railstar 476 to Shin-Osaka. After 13 minutes at 20:33, get the Shinkansen Kodama 592 back to Kyoto to arrive at 20:48.
The 13.00 Shinkansen Hikari 372 leaves from platform 12 and travels directly to Tokyo to arrive at 15:43.
For your final journey, catch the 16:06 Shinkansen Hikari 419 from platform 18 directly back to Tokyo which arrives at 18:43.

I hope that this helps to plan your trip. Also, these times, although likely to be exact, may differ slightly and it may be worth arriving in good time at the station to make sure of the depature times.

Great online Japan Rail train timetable (in English!!)

If you are looking for more train timetables for your trip to Japan, there is a very useful website called Hyperdia that allows you to search all the times! Hyperdia also lists the cost of each leg so you can see how much you save with a Japan Rail Pass