Help with itineraries and JR Pass

carrie

We will tour Osaka,Nara and Kyoto, Japan next year (from April 1 to April 10,2018). Can you help us what type of train pass and for how many days shall we buy online? Also, can you suggest what amazing place in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara are must to see or visit? Any suggestion on where is the best place we can stay. Thank you for your kind assistance.

Tenjin

It's actually very hard to make one of the Kansai area passes pay off without a huge amount of travel. You might however look at the Icoca & Haruka discount ticket.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_icoca_haruka.html
If you're flying in/out of KIX, you can save some money.
If you're willing to take a day trip to Himeji for Japan's best castle, then a 1 day Kansai Area Pass would pay off.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_03.html
There are other places you could see as well - like Kobe, Koyasan, ans Hikone Castle.

You will likely be in Japan for cherry blossom season, so places will be more crowded but there will be some great scenery.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos