We have our itinerary and need info on purchasing a train ticket. I find the trains to be very confusing as to what I need to buy. And do we need to buy tickets before we get to Japan? If so where?
This is our plan:
1)Train from Kansei airport to Kyoto station 11/24
2) Train from Kyoto to Hakone 11/27
3) Train from Hakone to Keio Plaza Shinjuku Tokyo 11/28
4) Day trip to Nikko 11/30
5) Keio Plaza to Narita 12/2
What kind of train tickets do we need? Thanks in advance.

If I were doing this I would take the Airport limosine bus from KIX to Kyoto station

http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/index_e.html

Then I would take the Shinkansen from Kyoto station to Odawara(Hakone)

http://www.japanrail.com/

http://www.hyperdia.com/

use the English link

then take the Odayaku train to shinjuku station with your Hakone Free Pass which you should purchase

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

To get to Nikko you can do the Tobu Nikko pass

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

or maybe the JR Kippu from Shinjuku station

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_016.html

Then take the airport limosine bus to Narita from the Keio Plaza

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

Aloha!

Thanks for the reply.

Do I need to buy the JR pass before coming to Japan? Or can I buy it at Kansei/Kyoto station (which would be our starting point)?

What about the JR Suica card?

Since we arrive on 11/24 is that a holiday? Are trains/buses following regular schedule?

If you are going to use my suggestions above you do not need a JR pass.

If you want a JR pass you need to purchase one BEFORE you get to Japan. You CANNOT purchase a JR pass in Japan.

JR Suica card and other pay card information

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html

Yes, you are arriving on their Labor Day Holiday. Maybe one of the Japanese locals will answer you question regarding stores being open or closed

Aloha!

ht gave you great directions and he is right about you not needing a JR Pass with your itinerary.

1) you could take a JR Haruka limited express train to Kyoto station. Then walk or bus from there.

2) be careful and get a Hikari shinkansen from Kyoto to Odawara. There are a few of these each day (most don't stop there). None of the Nozomi stop there.

Your second choice would be to taka a Nozomi shinkanen to Yokohama and then backtrack to Odawara.

Your third choice would be to get a Hikari or Nozomi to Nagoya and then a Kodoma shinkansen to Odawara. This would almost surely be the slowest way to go (via shinkansen).

3) Hakone Free Pass and then Odakyu Romance Car to Shinjuku, as suggested above.

4) There are a few options. I saw one which took a JR local north and then connecting to a Tobu local train. Only 2500 or so one-way and not that much extra time. A more expensive option but 35 minutes or so shorter is a JR limited express train from Shinjuku to Utsunomiya and then JR local to Nikko.

5) as ht suggested, take an airport bus. One leaves from the west side of Shinjuku station.

Don't buy JR Pass. It will cost you almost double the shinkansen fare.
If you buy the Hakone 2 day Freepass at Odawara, then, you need to buy the ticket to Shinjuku. You can go by Romancecar(850yen + 870yen surcharge).
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.html
Or take a Tokkyu which take a few min. longer & free seating but no surcharge. Ask at ticketing.
For Nikko:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
For Narita, limo. bus, JR NEX or Keisei line from Ueno depending on your schedule, luggage and cost saving desire.

Thanks for great info. Sounds like I should buy the Hakone 2 day free pass which will include my trip to Tokyo on the romance car. I understand that I cannot buy the 2 day pass at Odawara. Where do I buy the pass? I am coming from Kyoto.
Also, how do I see time schedules for the Kyoto to Hakone (JR Tokaido - odawara) train?

yes you can buy the Hakone Free Pass at Odawara station and just about any along the way. If you have a travel agent in your Kyoto hotel that would be a good place to purchase also. See here for more information about the purchase and uses of the pass

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

use this site for your train times and info

http://www.hyperdia.com/

when you get to the hyperdia site, press the english button and you will see the search from station name screen. Then use Kyoto as your starting point station and Odawara as your destination station. Follow the prompts and you will get the times and fare info you need

Aloha!

There seems to be a misunderstanding.
The two day Hakone free pass you can buy at Odawara (3,900 yen) DOES NOT include the train ride(Tokkyu or Romancecar) to Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Please read my post.

I hope you don't mind labern but I'm also needing some advice on JR passes as we will be traveling around Japan for 2 weeks this month.

Can someone tell me the difference between the green and regular seats? I know Green is suppose to be better but is it really and is it worth the $?

Not worth it to me. I once rode in a green car on a shinkansen from Sendai. The seats were a bit more comfortable, and the car was empty except for me and a couple of British soccer hooligans. So it seems that the benefit of a green car is that there is more seat availability. Most people travel in the regular cars and they can fill up.

Seating in the regular cars is comfortable.

But I would never get a green car pass for the simple reason that it was boring. Riding in regular cars gives you a better chance of meeting people and/or is a great opportunity for people watching.

thanks! we are off to buy our regular JR passes today