Resources: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4006.html


So how do I get to Osaka City?
From Kansai International Airport

1)Nankai Raiway
The most popular way would be taking the Nankai Railway to Nankai's Nanba Station. The Limited Express trains cost 1390yen and takes 30mins. The Express trains costs 890yen and takes 45mins.
If your accommodation is not in Nanba, you can walk easily to the Nanba Subway station that's located nearby and take the subway to your destination.

2)Airport Limousine bus
If you have lots of luggage, a good way would be to take the airport limousine bus. It stops and picks up passengers from various Hotels in Osaka, as well as JR Osaka Station, JR Nanba Station and Itami airport.
Charges varies according to stop-off location.
Information about pickup/drop-off locations and charges can be found here.

3) JR lines
For JR pass holders, The Haruka Ltd Express trains stops at JR Tennoji station and JR Shin-Osaka Station. To Tennoji Station it costs 1760yen for an unreserved seat or 2100yen for reserved seat and takes 30mins, to Shin-osaka station it costs 2470yen for an unreserved seat or 2800yen for a reserved seat and takes 50mins.
Not exactly the most cost effective way, but its good if you have the JR pass you can take this to save time..

Another route called the JR Airport Rapid service stops at JR Tennoji Station and JR Osaka station. To Tennoji costs 1030yen and takes 50mins and to Osaka station it takes 70mins and cost 1160yen. From both stations you can take the subway. This route would be the cheapest to both Nanba and Umeda area.


Itami Domestic Airport
Though closer to Osaka city, there isn't exactly a direct train line though the train method is more economical.

via train, From Itami, take the Osaka Monorail to Hotarugaike Station. From here transfer to the Hankyu Railway Takarazuka line to Umeda station. From Umeda you can take the subway to other locations in Osaka. For the first leg it costs 200yen and takes about 2mins (as it's only 1 stop away), the subsequent leg to Umeda costs 220yen and takes 18mins.

Itami has airport bus service as well. Pick ups are available from Osaka Station, Nanba OCAT building, etc. Check out this link for pricing and locations.

Tokyo

1)Shinkansen
This is the most popular option, especially if you have a JR pass. You can board at either JR Tokyo Station or JR Shinagawa station for the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
>> Via nozomi, it takes 155mins and costs 13800yen for a reserved seat and 13500yen for non-reserved seat (Note, not valid for JR pass).
>> Via Hikari, it takes 180mins and costs 13500yen for a reserved seat and 13240yen for non-reserved seat.

2)Highway bus
This is my favourite option.
It's cheap. From 123bus company, it costs 4100yen to 8500yen depending on the type of bus chosen and date of departure.

For JR bus company, tickets can be bought just before departure from JR Tokyo Station (near Minami Yaesu Exit).

Pickup locations are usually at JR Tokyo station, Shinjuku bus station, Disneyland Resort, Ikebukuro or Shinagawa.
Dropoff locations are usually JR Osaka station, JR Nanba station, JR Tennoji station or Universal Studios.

Generally night sleeper buses take about 9-10hrs.

3)Domestic Flights
Will do a writeup on Domestic flights seperately. look out for it.

Narita airport
Read here for method of travel to Tokyo City, and from there you can pick from the 3 methods above for travel from Tokyo to Osaka.

Kyoto
1)JR
JR Kyoto Line connects JR Osaka station to JR Kyoto station and vice versa. Costs 540yen and takes 30mins. Valid on JR pass.

2)Shinkansen
Only if you are on the JR pass, if not it's not worth it.
It takes 15mins and costs 1380yen via Shin-Osaka station using the Kodama or Hikari trains.

3)Hankyu railway
The Hankyu Kyoto line from Karasuma or Kawaramachi Station to Hankyu Umeda stationtakes 40mins and costs about 400yen. Good way if your accommodation in Kyoto is located in that area, and you stay in Umeda area.

4)Keihan raiway
Keihan Main line Ltd Exp from Sanjo Station to Yodoyabashi (somewhere in between Nanba and Umeda on the Midosuji line) takes 50mins and costs 400yen. Good way if your accommodation in Kyoto is in Central Kyoto and you stay in Nanba.

Resources: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/

Tokyo is generally a good introduction to Japan, but it is not all that Japan can offer :)
It's mainly a metropolitan city good for shopping, dining and a little culture on the side.

What's the local transport like?
Generally, you can get anywhere you need to go via the complex but comprehensive train system.
You can divide them accordingly to the following categories:
1) Railway lines owned by Japan Railway (or JR in short)
2) Tokyo Subway Lines
3) Toei Subway Lines
4) Private Railway companies

Tokyo is one of the few cities where JR lines pretty much brings you anywhere and everywhere in the city. It's pretty much catered for tourists, making it easy to travel around mostly on the JR local lines.
I find that the subway lines tend to cater more for locals, stopping at more residential areas.
But subway lines can offer good shortcuts and access to places without any JR stations such as Asakusa and Tsukiji.

The main JR line that any tourist in Tokyo would take is the JR Yamanote line.

You can find the JR route map here http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
And the subway route map here http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/service/pdf/routemap_en.pdf

Private railway lines tend to lead to the outer parts of Tokyo and to other prefectures or cities.

Should I get a pass?
I get this question very very frequently.

In regards to the JR Japan-wide pass:
If you are travelling just to Tokyo and probably doing day trips to close-by areas, No.
If you have an open jaw ticket and planning to take the shinkansen for a long haul trip once, No.
If you are planning to take a long haul trip on the shinkansen at least twice, maybe.
Why maybe? Go read my JR pass section :)

In regards to the passes offered by Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway:
This is a little complicated.
I would say no. why?

Before I start, I tend to keep to 2 major areas in a day in my sightseeing plans. Which is also probably why i don't pay as much as the passes are worth.
So my views are based on what I feel it's the best for me. Your itinerary might be different, especially if you like to travel to many places in a short a time as possible.

Lets take the example of the Tokyo Metro pass.
It's 600yen for 1 day and 980yen for 2 days
I generally feel it's not as easy to get around using only Tokyo Metro subway lines (means NO Toei subway lines as well!), you either use JR or it's a mix.
And it's hard to chalk up enough rides to justify the cost, but then again I'm a slow sightsee-er.
As i always advise, calculate your actual costs before you commit to a pass.
Sometimes it's better to pay as you go. I personally like flexibility in travelling routes.
BUT.... the tie-in offers with the Keisei trains and Airport limousines make it a very attractive offer. I'll explain in detail later.

There is also the Tokyo Metro and Toei One-day Economy pass that costs 1000yen.
Unless you are really rushing around and trying to soak up the entire of Tokyo in 1 day. It's a hard to chalk up 1000yen. BUT, if you can actually spend more than 1000yen in 1 day on the subway.. by all means :)

What about the Suica?
I love the Suica.
It's convenient, accepted on JR lines, Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines.
You can always easily top it up at any JR station, and the amount balanced is refundable.
PLUS.... you can use it for purchases!

Only thing about the Suica is that it DOES NOT have any discounts on travel.
*there is the Suica-N'ex package thing... click on link to read further
It comes at a great deal in the Suica-N'ex package, which i highly recommend getting.

do read my Suica post for more info http://nexasjapan.blogspot.com/2008/10/suica-and-suica-nex-package.html


To round off...
for all train changing and train costs and details... Use this website http://www.hyperdia.com/
Will also dedicate a post on that. Look out for it!

Resource: http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html

What is this pass for?
It's more of a pass for people who wish to see as much of Japan in a short time. Which translates to shinkansen rides.
The Shinkansen is the fastest long distance transport in Japan, thus the costs are somewhat related to the number of Shinkansen rides.

It's benefit is that when you take valid lines you don't have to bother with buying tickets.
Another benefit would be that you get to reserve seats without paying an extra surcharge.

It's valid for:

1. All JR company's Train lines and shinkansen lines throughout whole of Japan. EXCEPT Tokaido Line Shinkansen Nozomi train.
   
   • Do note as well it only partially covers night trains
   
   
   • For some limited express lines you may need to pay a surcharge topup


2. JR company's Local bus lines


3. The following highway bus routes
   
   • Sapporo, Hokkaido <-> Otaru, Hokkaido
   
   
   • Morioka, Tohoku <-> Hirosaki, Tohoku
   
   
   • Tokyo, Kanto <-> Nagoya, Chubu
   
   
   • Tokyo, Kanto <-> Kyoto, Kansai
   
   
   • Tokyo, Kanto <-> Osaka, Kansai
   
   
   • Tokyo, Kanto <-> Tsukuba Center in Ibaraki, Kanto
   
   
   • Nagoya, Chubu <-> Kyoto, Kansai
   
   
   • Nagoya, Chubu <-> Osaka, Kansai
   
   
   • Osaka, Kansai <-> Tsuyama, Chugoku
   
   
   • Osaka, Kansai <-> Kasai Flower Center in Kasai, Hyogo


4. JR Miyajima Ferry

How much?
There is Ordinary and Green car passes. As i doubt anyone would really buy the Green car passes, I'll just have the Ordinary passes prices

7 day = 37800yen (Worth slightly less than 3 long shinkansen rides)
14days = 61200yen (Worth slightly more than 4 long shinkansen rides)
21 days = 79600yen (Worth slightly more than 6 long shinkansen rides)

How to buy?
You can only buy it via authorised agents in your own country. You cannot buy inside Japan. Plus only foreign passport holders can use this.
Here's a list of Authorised agents http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en005.html
They will give you an Exchange order where you change for the JR pass in Japan.

Where to change for a JR pass?
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en009.html

Who should buy?
Definately not for budget travellers.
Basically if you forsee yourself taking enough Shinkansen rides to justify the cost, it's a convenient way to pay for your rides.
As I'm a fan of travelling cheap, Highway buses are still a good and very cheap way to travel long-distance in Japan.

If you are considering a pass, here's my tip...
Calculate the Actual cost of your total train rides in Japan and note which trains you are taking.
If your JR lines and Shinkansen line cost justify the cost of the pass.. by all means.

A reserved seat Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari train to Osaka from Tokyo is 13800yen, a 2 way ride is 27600yen.
It's still 10200yen more than the 7-day JR pass. So unless you are ABLE to spent at least 10201yen on other JR transports... please don't bother.

If you are just travelling within Tokyo or any single City in close quarters to the airport (and not anywhere else), you definately do not need a JR pass.