Kinosaki Onsen in spring - train tix question

I'm gonna need the experts help again...

I'll be going to Kinosaki onsen during spring on a weekend..

The trains are limited express trains, honestly haven't really take much of these other than buying from the vending machines to go to the airport.

It's a spring weekend:

1. do i need to buy the tix in advance? I'm looking at the 7.32am direct train, but also not sure if i want to book in advance for the return tix since i can't be sure what time to return yet...

2.can i buy from vending machines or preferably from ticket office? if it's not a direct train, ie requires transfer, do i need to specify the transfer station in the vending machine?? Sorry for such noob question...

on a side question:
I'm not using JR pass cuz im spending 8 days in Kyoto (i tot i booked 7 days so that i can use JR pass but anyways it's a mistake and it's done..)

3. Since i'm coming from Tokyo, and using Nozomi, can i buy the shinkansen tix from tokyo - kyoto and the return tix on the day of travel itself? Typically i do buy in advance, but just in case i forget or whatever, is Nozomi easily available since it's not on JR pass, but granted it is spring time..?

3. I am sure that you can buy a Nozomi ticket with no problem. Nozomi runs almost every 10-15 min. some trains depart from Shin-Osaka. they have more vacancies than other trains from Hakata, etc.
you can see the vacancy at :
https://www1.jr.cyberstation.ne.jp/jcs/VacancyInput.do

The Nozomi tickets you can buy until a few minutes before departure.

Thanks guys regarding Nozomi and the vacancy link, that helps a lot!

If anybody else can help me regarding the kinosaki trains, i'll be forever grateful! TIA!

During spring on a weekend? In what month?

I suggest that while you are in Tokyo you purchase

(a) the JR basic-fare tickets
for your ways to and back from Kinosakionsen,
(b) the Shinkansen ticket
for your train ride from Tokyo | Shinagawa to Kyoto
and
(c) the Limited Express reserved-seat ticket
for your Kinosaki train ride from Kyoto to Kinosakionsen,

and when you get to Kyoto Station,
visit the JR Ticket Office near Central Gate (managed by JR-West)
and purchase

(d) the Limited Express ticket(s)
for your train ride(s) from Kinosakionsen to Kyoto
and
(e) the Shinkansen ticket
for your train ride from Kyoto to Shinagawa | Tokyo.

if it's not a direct train, ie requires transfer, do i need to specify the transfer station in the vending machine??

It sounds better to visit the JR Ticket Office.

Regarding your two successive Limited Express train rides
between Kyoto and Kinosakionsen
with one transfer at Fukuchiyama,
JR-West has a unique rule
that the surcharge is calculated through the two train rides.

Attendants of other JR regional companies
may be unfamiliar with this special rule,
and take much time to issue your tickets correctly or,
calculate mistakenly the surcharge separately for each train ride.

So, for your way back from Kinosakionsen,
I recommend that you apply for Limited Express ticket(s)
at a ticket office managed by JR-West.

Please note that ticket offices near Shinkansen gates of Kyoto Station
are managed not by JR-West but by JR-Central.

Enjoy your trips!

@omotenashi omg thank you so much for so much of that information, especially the parts where you mentioned that the kyoto JR ticket office near the shinkansen gates are operated by JR Central instead, and also about the surcharge rule that other regional offices might not be aware of.

With so many train lines and types, sometimes it gets really overwhelming :(

I'll be visiting on the 1st of April, i believe is the peak period for the cherry blossoms in that area..
To make it simpler, i will purchase the kinosaki train tix (basic+limited express) all from kyoto station

- But as i'm only reaching Kyoto on the 30th March, will train tix get sold out so easily if i purchase only then?

At the same time, i'm not sure if i might need more time in kinosaki onsen on the way back.
- If so is it possible to make changes to the ticket on the day of the trip? Or should i just buy the tix on the day i come back (from kinosaki to Kyoto)?

Again, thank you so much for your time to help me out!

will train tix get sold out so easily if i purchase only then?

At the same time, i'm not sure if i might need more time in kinosaki onsen on the way back.

We visited Kinosaki onsen twice, and in both occassions bought the tickets on the day we were travelling, no issues.