Nara to USJ

Pls help. I was going from Gakuenmae stn in Nara to USJ. I used Google maps, but I still got confused. So I asked the Gakuenmae stn manager, and he gave me a slightly cheaper and different route (10 yen cheaper than the Google map recommendation) to go on, but then I still got semi-lost.

Then on the return trip back to Gakuenmae, I again misunderstood which train to take and it took me to Nara, but not via the Gakuenmae route, so it cost me more time and money to get back to Gakuenmae.

I plan to go again soon. What is the route I should take?

Thank you for any advice!

From kintetsu gakuen mae station you will go nishi kujo st,then you board JR train bound for USJ universal city station,cost 920 yen

It's not the cheapest way, however I recommend the following:

JR Universal City Station---(JR Yumesaki Line)---JR Nishikujo Station---(walking)---Hanshin Nishi Kujo Station---(Kintetsu/Hanshin Railway)---Kintetsu Gakuenmae Staion

It takes about 58 minutes and costs 920 yen.

If you have JR Pass, I recommend the below:

JR Universal City Station---(JR Yumesaki Line)---JR Nishikujo Station---(JR Osaka Loop Line)---JR Tsuruhashi Station---(walking)---Kintetsu Tsuruhashi Station---(Kintetsu Railway)---Kintetsu Gakuenmae Station

The above route takes one hour and eight minutes and costs 740 yen.

Thank you for your very quick reply. Why is it that, if you have a JR pass, the 2nd route is recommended? I don't travel by train much, so pls excuse my ignorance.

Oh, sorry for the post just above. I think I figured out what you mean. Again, thank you.