JR pass check

Hi
Sorry to ask the dreaded JR pass question!
I'm trying to use the calculator websites but still not getting a clear answer.
Would you mind checking our itinerary and giving a guestimate as to whether we should buy a pass or not?
4 nights Tokyo (train from Narita)
4 nights Hakone/Lake Kawaguchiko (renting a car while there, but train to and from)
4 nights Kyoto
3 nights Takayama
1 night Magome
2 nights Tokyo (inc day trip to Kamakura)
train back to Narita.
18 nights all up.
If we didn't buy a JR pass - do we buy a train ticket at the station EVERY time we catch a train?
Many many thanks for your time!

No need.

I guess that it will be cheaper to make it a ticket to return to Australia(?) from KIX.

If we didn't buy a JR pass - do we buy a train ticket at the station EVERY time we catch a train?

No, you can buy them all in one batch, at least the long-distance ones (Shinkansen and limited express). For short trips, use an IC card when possible (when it's not possible it means you are out in the sticks and buying a ticket takes about 10 seconds).

By the way, if you don't use a JR Pass you can look into cheaper options than regular train tickets for each indiviual trip (check the "Access" pages of this website). For example an overnight bus from Kawaguchiko to Kyoto will be much cheaper than train tickets plus a hotel night in Kyoto.