Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo

Hi there,

As a rule of thumb, a 7 day japan rail pass starts to become economical if you do at least 1 return trip between Tokyo and Kyoto. Travel between Kyoto, Nara and Osaka is done using local trains, and typically is not more than ¥400-800 each way. It is on the longer bullet trains between cities where the ticket costs can rapidly grow, and so it is in these itineraries that the rail pass starts to make sense.

As you'll be doing a single one way trip on the bullet between Kyoto and Tokyo, you will be better off buying individual tickets, unless you are planning on other day trips on the bullet from either Tokyo or Kyoto, such as short hops to Takayama or Nikko.

Hope this helps!