Japan Rail/Subway/Pass help!

[may]

Is anyone really familiar with the train system in Japan? i'm so confused.

I will be flying into Kansai airport, going straight to Kyoto for 3 nights, then to Osaka for 2 nights, then back to Kansai to go home. I want to be able to get between Kansai, Kyoto and Osaka AND ride the subway in Kyoto and Osaka. I looked at the Kansai Thru-Pass which lets you ride all private rails, subway and busses in the entire Kansai area, except the Japan Rail (JR) lines. but it's about $60 for the 3-day pass, i'd have to buy 2 of them for my visit. can i get around easily between the airport, kyoto and osaka without using the JR lines? is it even worth the money? the day subway pass is only $8 (x 3 days = $24). why is it cheaper than the Thru-pass? am i missing something?

alternatively, can i just get the JR rail pass, and get by without using the subway and private rails?

or is it just better to buy each ticket individually as i go between cities/airport?

and any links to a comprehensive, easy-to understand map of the rail/subway system in the kansai area? i've yet to find one.

help!

[Robocon^^]

I wish I could help you more...

All my trips to Japan have been for longer stays and go to more cities, so the JR railpass is all I used to get around (and it easily paid for itself on those longer trips on the Shinkansen/ferrys/trains up and down and around the islands)

I just caught as much JR transportation as I could or paid as I went with subways and buses when I explored cities like Osaka Tokyo and Kyoto.

Here's a Kansai guide that won't help you with your original question, but maybe you'll find some of it interesting.

http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/kansai.htm

[Salami Swami]

I just came back from Osaka today actually.
You can take a bus from Kansai Airport into the heart of Osaka for 13 bucks and then from there you can take a train (JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, etc.) to Kyoto for between roughly 5 and 8 dollars.

Robo is right, the JR pass is awesome if you're gonna be going far like on the Shinkansen and whatnot, but it sounds like you're gonna be only in Osaka and Kyoto. This trip I was only there 5 days and used the subways and other lines more than the JR so I just paid as I went, it ain't that expensive actually.

As far as arriving and departing goes, for me the limousine buses are the way to go, they stop at major hotels and right near the JR Osaka Station, they're cheaper than the JR express trains and other trains from Kansai to the city, and the shit takes around the same time. Going from the airport into Osaka it took 50 mins and from Osaka to the airport on the way back it was only roughly 40 mins. Can't beat that for 13 bucks I think.

You're stoked.
Kansai region is my new favorite area of Japan.
Osaka fucking rules in every single way over Tokyo to me.
The people are hella cooler, the food is waaaaay better, taste wise as well as portions.
And the women.
Did I mention the women?

Have a good trip and stay dry, I think the rain started just as I was leaving yesterday. Perfect timing.

[Robocon^^]

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2033.html

Hmm...not a super detailed map, but it looks like you can get around pretty well without having to rely on JR if you have access to the other railways and can subway around Osaka.


edit: Oh, wow...this looks pretty good. Did you check the PDF map on this website?
http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/map.html