Itinerary check!

Hi, I've noticed that the people on this forum are very helpful with itinerary advice. I would like to know if my itinerary is reasonable or too rushed! Also I have some random questions in it for anyone who might know the answers...
If anyone has some advice or suggestions please let me know.

Sunday 02-Dec

Arrive into Kansai Itl Airport at 5am! Need to get JR pass validated – do we need to wait until 9am?

Haruka train to Shin-Osaka - Leave bags at hotel

Train to Osaka Castle, peace museum etc. Explore surroundings, if not too tired! Check in to hotel officially before going for dinner. Hotel has curfew of 1am unless otherwise notified!

Monday 03-Dec

½ or full day trip to Himeji
- Himeji Castle
- Himeji Koko-en
- Art Museum?
Osaka – shopping / exploring Denden Town, Dotomburi, etc

Tuesday 04-Dec

Osaka Harbour – definitely going to the aquarium!
Go to Umeda Floating Garden Observatory at night – shuts at 10pm

Wednesday 05-Dec

Is something happening in Kyoto around this date? I could not get a booking at 6 different hotels for all 4 of us!! So we decided to stay in Osaka and just make daytrips...

Kyoto Day trip – path of philosophy (Silver pavilion, Heian shrine, Nanzenji, etc)

- Up river to Shimogamo shrine. Is the bus system in Kyoto easy to figure out? I understand there is info at JR Kyoto station - should I plan ahead for transport times, or leave it until I get there?

Thursday 06-Dec

Kyoto Day trip – Nijojo Castle, Imperial Park, golden pavilion


Friday 07-Dec

½ day trip to Nara – Todaiji temple, deer park

Afternoon back to Kyoto – Sanjunsengen-do, Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji?

Check out Gion district for dinner – try to sight a geisha/meiko XD

Saturday 08-Dec

Morning is last chance for shopping in Osaka/Kyoto! Hotel checkout by 11am.

JR Kosei line to Yumotokan Hot Spring Resort. Check-in 3pm, but can leave bags and explore area (see Lake Biwa?) for lunch before checking in?

Sunday 09-Dec

Checkout 10am (maybe 11am, website is unclear?) and off to Tokyo on Haruka Shinkansen.

Monday 10-Dec

I think we'll be heading off to Ueno since we're staying at sakura ryokan. Have a relaxing day, taking in the nearby sites. We might go to the zoo or Ueno park or muesum?

Tuesday 11-Dec

Disneyland.

Wednesday 12-Dec
Is it worth sending the boys to the sunshine 60 building in Ikebukuro to go look at cars and robots and stuff, or is there somewhere better we can send them? Us girls will go shop up a storm in Akhibara and Shibuya, and no doubt the men will be very bored by this. What else might a couple of young men want to spend the day on in Tokyo?

Thrusday 13-Dec

Check out time, pack our bags, and head to the airport. I imagine we'd get breakfast at the airport and wasting as much yen as we have on aimless stuff!

Thankyou for your time :)

Arrive into Kansai Itl Airport at 5am! Need to get JR pass validated – do we need to wait until 9am?

No. The ticket counter opens at 5:30am:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en009.html

Is something happening in Kyoto around this date?

If the weather is as mild as last year, there is a chance of the autumn leaf season still being in progress in early December. Maybe this is the reason for hotels being booked out.

Is the bus system in Kyoto easy to figure out?

Yes, thanks to the following bus network map:
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/kotsu/brochure/bus_navi/pdf/bus_navi_en200703.pdf

I understand there is info at JR Kyoto station - should I plan ahead for transport times, or leave it until I get there?

Buses operate relatively frequently. There is no need to look up city bus timetables in advance.

and off to Tokyo on Haruka Shinkansen.

I think you mean hikari shinkansen.

Us girls will go shop up a storm in Akhibara and Shibuya, and no doubt the men will be very bored by this.

Many boys love to see the electronic stores of Akihabara:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html

Shibuya, too, is enjoyable for both genders. At least more so than Ikebukuro, in my opinion:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3007.html

What else might a couple of young men want to spend the day on in Tokyo?

Some ideas:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

Thanks Uji. I'm quite relieved to find the counter opens at 5:30am.
And yes, I think I did mean Hikari oops!!

As for the reason for the boy/girl splitup, neither of the boys like window shopping at all and we figure it'll be the highlight of our day! But in the end it's up to them if they tag along or not I suppose. Also I know one of them is into cars, that's why Ikebukuro came up (the Amlux showroom at Sunshine 60)

I'd be happy if the autumn leaves are still around!