A 9 day holiday in Japan

We are active seniors & would like to get out into the country area besides visiting Osaka ,Tokyo & Kyoto,we will get a J R pass & want to do our own thing,thanks

What is your question?

Hi Uji, Sorry I did not give you enough dteails , but we would like a suggested itinery and any other hints would be helpful.Maybe we could do a couple of short tours but dont want to back track ,we are flying in& out of Osaka,thanks Jenny

If you have only 9 days and plan to visit Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, you have not much time left to visit many other regions.

Unless you plan to travel in mid winter, a possible idea could be to visit Tsumago in the Kiso Valley on your way between the Osaka/Kyoto and Tokyo regions.

About the Kiso Valley:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6075.html

For example:
arrive in Osaka - Osaka - Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Tokyo - depart from Tokyo

Regular tickets would actually be cheaper than a rail pass for the above itinerary.

A different idea would be a side trip from Osaka to Mount Koya:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html

Easier than that would be small "side trips" to Kurama and/or Ohara in northern Kyoto.

About Kurama:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3933.html

About Ohara:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3932.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+43631

Here is a a suggested itinerary. You can drop some cities and add some countryside destination here.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2400_osaka_7.html