Does a JR pass cover this itinerary?

Shall I buy a JR pass for this itinerary:
Osaka - Fukuoka - Yufuin - Fukuoka - Osaka - Kanazawa - Osaka ?

And any suggestion of a better route to cover these places?

And how many days in total do I need to cover these places?

Many thanks.

Does a JR pass cover this itinerary?

Yes, all major train journeys are covered.

Shall I buy a JR pass for this itinerary

The cost of regular train tickets is about the same as the cost of a 7-day pass.

And any suggestion of a better route to cover these places?

There is no need to return to Fukuoka after (or before) Yufuin. Just head from Yufuin straight back to Osaka (via Kokura) and beyond to Kanazawa actually.

And how many days in total do I need to cover these places?

It depends on the person, interests and travel pace. At the minimum, I would allocate 1-2 days to Fukuoka, an overnight stay to Yufuin and 2 days for Kanazawa. 2+ days for Osaka.

For your itinerary,

Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass

https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/ssnk/

might be a better choice. Though it does not cover Tsuruga-Kanazawa section, it is much cheaper than the Nation-wide Japan Rail Pass (50000 yen vs 26000 yen) while Tsuruga-Kanazawa return trip is about 10000 yen. Another plus is that you can take Nozomi and Mizuho for free.

Both passes have the same validity period, 7 calender days.

JR West all area pass might be better.

https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/all/

It covers all the way to Kanazawa but you must pay additional fare from Hakara (or Kokura) to Yufuin.

Hi Uji and frog1954,

Many thanks for your prompt response and advice.

I've just searched the flights from Sydney, Australia to Japan and Tokyo seems to be the first stop. So, I've revised my itinerary and will appreciate your further advise please:

- Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda)
- same day from Tokyo to Fukuoka (stay 2 days)
- Fukuoka to Yufuin (stay overnight)
- Yufuin to Kyoto via Fukuoka (stay 2 days) / (via Kokura to Osaka seems to have multiple transfers..)
- Kyoto to Kanazawa (stay 2 days)
- Kanazawa to Osaka (stay 2 days)
- Osaka or Tokyo to Sydney

I'm 68-year-young and travelling alone first time in Japan, so I'm looking for the shortest travel time and with the least transfers of transportation between the cities.

Also, I'm kind of confused and overwhelmed by the various type of trains, would I (and should I) be able to travel with a JR West all area pass for most of the stops please (not including the flights only routes, of course)? I'm trying to keep things simple for myself as a non-travel-savvy person. I would like to travel on the shinkansen whenever available because I was told that they have more comfortable seats and space.

Your advice will be much appreciated. : )

Jetstar does Brisbane to Kansai

And

China Airlines does Brisbane to Fukuoka via Taipei

What time does your flight into Haneda land?

If you plan to train on to Fukuoka, be aware it is a six hour or so train trip, and the trains don't run all night. So, you would need to be on your way out of Haneda by late afternoon at the latest ie before 6pm or so.

If your flight lands in the evening, you will want to have booked a connecting flight from Haneda to Fukuoka.

Enjoy your time in Japan!

What make a first timer wanna go to Yufuin and Kanazawa? Travelling to two ends of the country is time consuming and expensive.

Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda)
- same day from Tokyo to Fukuoka (stay 2 days)
- Fukuoka to Yufuin (stay overnight)
- Yufuin to Kyoto via Fukuoka (stay 2 days) / (via Kokura to Osaka seems to have multiple transfers..)
- Kyoto to Kanazawa (stay 2 days)
- Kanazawa to Osaka (stay 2 days)
- Osaka or Tokyo to Sydney

This is not a reasonable itinerary. Have a look at a map but you are zipping around all the country going back and forward.

If you want to keep all these places (I strongly advise against this) the reasonable thing would be :
- Fly to Fukuoka
- Fukuoka - Yufuin - Kyoto - daytrip to Osaka - Kyoto - Kanazawa - Tokyo - leave back home

You have 9 days. Keep it simple: Tokyo & Kyoto with daytrip to Nara and Osaka.

If you arrive in Tokyo, I would then fly to Fukuoka, rather than take a 6 hour train trip straight after arriving. However, from Sydney, I would recommend simply flying into Fukuoka with China Airlines (short stopover in Taipei). You can fly back to Sydney on China Airlines from Osaka, again with a short stopover. I wouldn't bother with Tokyo at all on this trip, as you don't have very much time, but of course that's up to you.
ps: you can book China Airlines flights through the Qantas site if you're collecting FF points or want to use some. They're a partner airline.

I've noted everyone's advice, many thanks again.

One more question please. I'm considering to travel in March or April, when does the rainy season generally start?

It starts in June.
March is supposedly more expensive and crowded (cherry blossoms) than April, if that can make a difference.

Thanks again.

One final question, which IC card can be used in all the cities on my itinerary? Suica, Pasmo or Icoca?

All three cards have the same coverage areas.
For urban transportation, they can be used on most of the trains and buses in all the cities; however, some of the buses in Kanzawa (mainly the Hokutetsu buses) cannot be used (note that the tourist loop bus CAN be used).

Great, thanks again Uji. : )

[IC cards]

which IC card can be used in all the cities on my itinerary?

Yufuin Station seems to be outside the usage area.
https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/railway/routemap/rootmap_num.pdf

Suica cards and PASMO cards
are issued by Tokyo-based companies.

Due to shortage of chips,
currently the sales of Suica and PASMO cards
are basically suspended, practically limited.

ICOCA cards are issued by JR-West.
You can get one at a JR-West ticket counter
of stations such as Kansai-airport, Ōsaka, Shin-Ōsaka and Kyōto.

(In Shin-Ōsaka Station / Kyōto Station,
JR-Central manages the Shinkansen zones and counters;
there is a JR-West ticket counter
near East Gate / Central Gate.)

[Rainy season]

I'm considering to travel in March or April, when does the rainy season generally start?

In May or June.

Usually it's not constantly rainy through the rainy season.

[Routes]

I've just searched the flights from Sydney, Australia to Japan and Tokyo seems to be the first stop.

I'm looking for the shortest travel time and with the least transfers of transportation between the cities.

There seem to be connections
five days a week
to Kansai Airport [KIX]
with one transfer at Cairns Airport [CNS] in your country.

Compared to going via Tokyo Haneda [HND],
this sounds more suitable for your purposes;
the first flight is much shorter,
and you, regardless of companies of your fights,
make a transfer without getting through the immigration control.

i- Fukuoka to Yufuin (stay overnight)

In Fukuoka City you make railway transfers
at Hakata Station.
Please don't search for Fukuoka Station there....

- Yufuin to Kyoto via Fukuoka (stay 2 days)

That requires about 5 to 5 and a half hours.
It sounds better to plan to stay somewhere in the middle.

Even the Shinkansen may be delayed, depending on weather conditions.

- Yufuin to Kyoto via Fukuoka (stay 2 days) / (via Kokura to Osaka seems to have multiple transfers..)

The both routes have Kokura Station.

On the former route, at Kokura you are already on your Shinkansen train.

On the latter route, you make a transfer at Kokura to the Shinkansen.
: Yufuin -- Ōita -- Kokura -- Shin-Ōsaka.

Shinkansen trains run not via Ōsaka Station;
they use Shin-Ōsaka instead.

今晩は omotenashi さん,

Many thanks for your comprehensive information and advice. Much appreciated. 🙂