Golden Week in Kansai

I'm planning to go to Kansai from 2-9 May 2017. Understand that it's during Golden week and it will be crowded mostly everywhere.
I'll be getting 5-day Kansai wide area pass and maybe just Osaka amazing pass.
So far, I'm only planning to have trip to Okayama. Is there any other area beside Osaka/Kyoto worth visiting which won't be as crowded? :)

What are your preferences?
Traditional gardens? Historical castles?

The 8th and the 9th of May 2017 will be normal weekdays.
From the holiday, 3 May to Sunday, 7 May, in some major tourist spots and popular theme/amusement parks there may be many visitors; but I do not say it would be super-crowded almost everywhere.

Will you fly into and fly out from Kansai Airport [KIX]?
Where do you plan to stay overnight?

The former parts of your dates are actually in the Golden Week, but not for the latter.

I expect during the Golden Week, the country side would be more crowded. So, it would be better to do Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto at first, then move on to the suburbs later.

I just pick up some places for Kansai Wide Area Pass.
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_wide/#routes

Takamatsu http://www.art-takamatsu.com/access/
Kurashiki https://www.kurashiki-tabi.jp/for/en/
Himeji http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/
Kinosaki Onsen http://www.kinosaki-spa.gr.jp/global/
Shingu https://www.shinguu.jp/en
Nara https://www.visitnara.jp/
Kobe http://plus.feel-kobe.jp/

See also for these.
http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/cruise/cruise.html
http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/model/model.html
http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/