I am planning a trip i.e. 24 Oct-8 Nov to tour Tohoku and will be travelling from Osaka. Any suggestions on the best route for me to view the autumn foliage?

I am planning to get the JR East special 3 days pass (probably purchase 2-3 of these) but am wondering if it works exactly the same as the normal JR East pass on the JR network?

I will also be getting the JR pass for use in Tokyo and Osaka towards the later part of my trip. What is the best option for me to move up from Osaka to Tohoku at the beginning of my trip to avoid activating the JR pass (since it has to be used consecutively once activated)? I am doing this to catch the autumn foliage as I would presume the leaves at Tohoku would turn red earlier than those in Tokyo and Osaka.

As for getting to the Tohoku area, it depends on how you want to travel. Do you want to stop at places on the way up or go up and then see the sites on your way down? Also, what city in Tohoku is your actual destination?

If you are going to Aomori, you can actually catch a train directly from Kyoto Station. It's a Sleeper Car (night train) and costs \21420, according to Hyperdia. That is the cheapest option from Kansai, and you'll also save money on a hotel, since you'll be sleeping on the train.

If you are going to Sendai, then you could take a Highway Bus (overnight only) to Sendai from Osaka for 12,230yen:
http://www.bus.or.jp/bus/index_e.html

Yes, I am planning to stop at some of the famous sights while moving up north. Lonely Planet mentioned that the local transport revolves around three major JR lines. Two of these run down the east and west coasts, and the third in the centre. If this is the case, then I could travel up east coast, stop at some of the places then continue my journey all the way up to the north before coming down the west coast in a loop. Is this a feasible route?

Your plan is feasible IF you have the money and the time to do it. Travelling to and from the Tohoku region is expensive (people often complain, because you can go to South Korea or Taiwan for less than going to Tohoku and Hokkaido from Osaka).

Ok, the following are my planned itineraries (I'll be flying in to Kansai Int'l Airport) and most of the trip I will be utilising JR Pass.

Period: 23 Oct to 08 Nov 09
1. Hiraizumi & Geibi-kei
2. Towada-ko & Oirase Valley
3. Hirosaki City Apple Park & Hirosaki Castle
4. Tazawa-ko & Nyūtō Onsen
5. Kakunodate & Matsushima
6. Akiu Otaki & Naruko Gorge
7. Bandai-san
8. Kurobe Gorge Railway
9. Shirakawa-gō: Ogimachi & Gokayama
10. Matsumoto Castle & Tsumago (Nagiso-machi, Nagano) and Magome (Nakatsugawa City, Gifu) �ÈâÄ�E”nâÄ
11. Fushimi Inari Shrine
12. World Heritage Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails

The entire trip is planned along JR line either Shinkansen or JR limited express or JR bus. The probable only place that I will be driving would be Sharakawa-go where transport is limited.

Looking foward to any suggestions/comments.

Many thanks!