Maybe I try to help since I notice no one reply to you ... check the cost of the train tickets (basic fare + limited express)
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/

Also, I suggest you stay at Osaka for the last night (or the last few days), so you can do final shopping and pack the bags, rather than carry the stuff you buy at Osaka on arrival, all over Kansai area.

e.g.
D1/2 - ICOCA & Haruka package one way to Kyoto (2000 + 1600) = 3600 yen. Buy at JR Kansai office, now got Hello Kitty edition.
D3-4 Check train cost to Nara. Else get Kansai Thru Pass 2 days.
D5-9 - use the Kansai Wide Area Pass

The Wide Pass is 8500 yen book online, which you can buy in KL for RM340 in Nov'16. Bring receipt and claim the ticket at JR Kansai office. You need to plan well, as JR will print the ticket with the dates for the 5 days.

Also, the Wide Pass is inclusive of Shinkansen, manage to ride the Nozomi 700.

Since the pass is expensive, why not choose further distance to explore ? e.g. Himeji took 27 minutes using Shinkansen, while rapid train will take ~60+ minutes.
Next trip, then only stay in Osaka/Kyoto for shopping and don't wander out.

Kinosaki Onsen is the furthest, there is single train going direct without the need to change train or carry luggage around (e.g. Fukuchiyama). Check the timetable Kyoto-Kinosaki (3 trains per day) or Osaka-Kinosaki.

I would recommend going in a loop such as KIX - Kyoto (Nara) - Kinosaki direct - Himeji - Kobe - Osaka (day trip to Wakayama. Or you can even stay in Osaka and take day train to Himeji, Kobe & Wakayama for half-day, then come back to Osaka for shopping and meals in evening/night.

ICOCA you can imagine like HK Octopus or SG EZLink, can use in a lot of places, trains, convenience store, departmental store food stalls, restaurant, etc. So you don't get pocket full of 1/5/10 yen coins.

Suica or ICOCA or other IC cards are quite similiar. As long got the logo at payment kiosk / transport, then can use.

Come out into Kansai airport arrival hall, at the centre is a tourist information, show your receipt there to claim the ticket.
If it is JR Rail, then have to exit the arrival hall, cross to next building in front and JR Office is there.

Try calculate the cost if 1500 yen is worth daily pass or not, depending what area/places you want to visit. For me, my average daily transport is 600-900 yen only if within the city itself. I'm using ICOCA card.

I can only advise Day 1 there when arrive KIX, exit arrival hall into JR office, purchase the ICOCA & Haruka Express one way (2000 + 1600) = 3600 yen.
That's the cheapest rapid train from KIX to Kyoto, that I know.
ICOCA costs 2000 yen and consist of 1500 amount inside, can use at convenience store, transport, some restaurants, etc. Something similiar like TnG, HK Octopus, SG EZLink, etc.

Day 2, check the locations you want to go and the cost of bus/train. It maybe cheaper if use the IC card (ICOCA/Suica/Pasmo/etc.)

Day 11, check the Haruka express cost from Shin-Osaka / Tennoji / etc. to KIX. Should be 1600 yen as well. You can purchase at day 1 there.


Edit: 2000 + 1600 = 3600 yen (failed math)

This post has been edited by cute_boboi: Dec 26 2016, 06:17 PM

Refer above in blue.

Depends on your itinerary. If you are not going other intra-city (e.g. Kobe/Himeji/Nara/etc.), most likely you will not purchase any JR Pass, hence, just use Icoca to travel between Kyoto-Osaka using normal rapid trains.

Otherwise, for example, if you purchase 2 day JR pass (there are varieties of passes), then 1st JR day pass you travel to Nara. Then 2nd day to Osaka.

Tokaido-Sanyo is shinkansen and is the most expensive, but fastest. There are other rapid trains (JR and non-JR) or slowest but cheapest using bus as well.
Also depends which station in Osaka is your next destination hotel/hostel.

Here's a link after quick search.

Kansai One Pass is an ICOCA card as well. The condition for Haruka discounted ticket is to present an IC card with ICOCA logo. Hence, it is valid.

It depends, there is no right/wrong answer. Check and compare the normal vs Kansai One Pass ICOCA and see which you will utilize.

e.g. Kansai One Pass may have more benefits but will you utilize the benefits ? What if you or your partner wants to collect the Hello Kitty design ?
What if later on, Kansai One Pass promo over ? What if later got better promo ?

First, do a total daily fare to-and-fro for the places you want to go using prepaid icoca and the Kansai <xxx> pass suggested. I believe your cost will not be higher than daily pass, since you only go 1-2 places a day and not doing amazing race on every stop, hence better to just use icoca/suico/pasmo/etc. prepaid cards.

Other than central Kyoto city area, there's nothing much once you get further outside like Arashiyama, unless you know the specific place you want to go.

It's easier to explore within central Kyoto city area, e.g. you walk from Kyoto station to Kiyomizu Dera, that's like 2-3km, and along the way there are some shops/restaurant which might be interesting.
Then walk all the way from Kiyomizu Dera to Gion area.
Some people may think it's crazy or wasting time, but walking is the best way to explore places, rather than amazing race as much pit stops as possible.

Another e.g. if you travel from Kyoto Central to Fushimi Inari, there's nothing much along the way. Unless you know or already plan to go, for example, Tofukuji temple, then it's somewhere in the middle of the route, but you can't view it when riding bus/train.

Therefore, think again about your plans, to decide day pass or prepaid card.