narita - nagano - hakuba - osaka - tokyo - narita

Hi daniel,

Please find ny itinerary below with questions.

Day 1: narita to nagano (activate jr pass)
Day 2: nagano to hakuba (jr pass not used)
Day 3: hakuba to osaka - please advise the best way to travel from nagano to osaka (ashiharabashi) that is fully covered by jr pass. Is it better through nagoya or better through tokyo?
Day 4: ashiharabshi to kyoto (day trip) - please advise best route covered by jr pass
Day 5: around osaka
Day 6: osaka to tokyo - please advise best route from ashiharabshi to otsuka covered by jr pass
Day 7: around tokyo (jr pass expires at midnight?)
Day 8: around tokyo (no pass)
Day 9: otsuka to narita - please advise the best route to take that is not super expensive.

Thank you in advance.