Arrive at Narita or Haneda and take the airport limousine, Narita Express or Keikyu + train to central Tokyo; settle into a hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya for easy connections.
Walk through the historic village and visit an open gassho house; visitor centres and the observation deck offer great views (villages open throughout the day).
Short ferry from Miyajimaguchi; arrive early to see the floating torii gate at low tide and explore Itsukushima Shrine (shrine roughly open 6:30–17:30).