Getting tickets in Osaka and Tokyo shouldn't be too difficult, even without Japanese language capability.

For the long haul between the two cities, I would say going with the shinkansen will be worthwhile, both from the time and experience aspect. Even the slower Kodama trains are faster than the regular Tokaido line trains, even the express ones. It is too bad that the rail pass doesn't quite work into your schedule. Really - unless you are riding trains all over creation every day and make 4+ shinkansen runs, the price doesn't justify it. The first time I visited Japan, I got a rail pass, but that was a Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo-Sapporo-Tokyo trip, so we were on trains pretty much every day of two weeks!

Depending on where you staying within Tokyo and Osaka, the subway stations may be closer and more convenient. Those don't take the JR rail passes.

Another small tidbit - the shinkansen run out of Ueno station in Tokyo. That's on the Yamanote loop line, so it's as easy to get to as Shin-Osaka is in Osaka.

Hope everything works out!

You can take a bus as well, its much cheaper but of course takes longer

Actually, an overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo is not a bad idea. Saves you on a hotel room for one night if nothing else, and you wake up at your destination in the morning. Definitely cheaper.

Everyone has to experience the bullet train at least once though...

and sleeping on a bus is not one of life's little pleasures! In fact there's so little pleasure in it that I'd definitely pass ion that one. Maybe that's just me, but! (BOF 'n' all as I am)

I can only do it when I take a sleeping tablet, but I am a light sleeper.

Papa and the kids can sleep on a bus, plane, train or automobile! LOL So we are planning on doing that a few times on our Europe trek this January - better renew the prescription for me so I can sleep too!!

True, the Shink is a nice ride and if you are just visiting then its good to ride it. I don't mind the bus TBH, as long as you don't get the very front seat, as you can't get your legs stretched out due to the partition

you guys are gonna kill me... LOL!!

i was looking at our accommodation bookings and have noted that we are not actually in tokyo for 7 nights but 6 nights.. the reason being is that the booking details were weird.. it says that 29/10 - 4/11 but then below that it says 7 nights check in 29/10 check out 5/11..
so the jr pass would be sufficient for our timeframe but...

anyways.. we've decide to give the jr pass a miss as we'll have more than enough to do in a new place.. and we'll probably give the artificial snow a miss too.. makes me sad!!

i think i'll give the bus trip a miss too.. had a bad experience which i do not want to repeat again anytime soon..

thank you for all your help and advice guys!! it is much appreciated..

are you not going to Osaka then?

Hope your trip goes smashingly well, bubz!

Tubby Beaver - we will be in osaka at the beginning and end of our trip, tokyo is in between..

Ezorisu - thank you.. im so excited and scared at the same time!!

still counting down..

bubz,
Don't sweat it! The Japanese rail system is Soooo far ahead of anything nwe have in OZ! Unless WA is better than the rest of the country (which I doubt).

You will have a great time, the natives are very friendly, If you don't know exactly which train to get, ask someone (anyone!) they will welcome a chance to practise their english, almost with out exception.

For example, We had an old bloke come up to us on the station (even though we said we had it worked out) and insist that we follow him, down the escalator and onto the train. "OK, sit" he said "now 3 stop, change, OK, 3 stop change!" We said yes, OK. then he left and went back up the escalator.

All will be good, trust me!