transport Tokyo Hakone Osaka Kobe

Four of us will arrive in Tokyo in late March 2008, before we go to Hakone and then Osaka. We will be travelling from Narita Airport to Tokyo Ueno for our hotel, then stay in Tokyo 2 days doing dighteeing on our won and then take a train from Tokyo to Hakone where we stay overnight; after Hakone we take a bullet train from Odawara to Osaka to our hotel near Osaka Station. Then after overnight in Osaka we go to Kobe Cruiseship terminal.
Could you kindly advise us what types of transport best for us four people between the following different places;

1. Narita Airport ot Tokyo Ueno Station by what train?
2. Tokyo to Hakone by what train?
3. Hakone Odawara to Osaka by what bullet train and train/subway? Please advise approximate travel costs.
4. Osaka Station to Kobe cruise terminal near Motomachi Station by what train?
5.Are there any rail or travel passes in Japan we can get and how many days ones? Where to get and and where to use them?
6. Are there any places above best to travel by buses?
Thanky you

1. Narita Airport ot Tokyo Ueno Station by what train?
By Keisei trains. Please check the website of Narita Airport.

2. Tokyo to Hakone by what train?
From Shinjuku station, take Odakyu trains to Hakone Yumoto station. Or take JR Tokaido line from Tokyo station to Odawara, switch to Odakyu trains.
3. Hakone Odawara to Osaka by what bullet train and train/subway? Please advise approximate travel costs.
Take Hikari shinkansen to Shin-Osaka station. From Shin-Osaka onward, it depends on which are you're staying at.
4. Osaka Station to Kobe cruise terminal near Motomachi Station by what train?
Take JR to Sannnomiya station and switch to Port Liner to Port Terminal station.
http://www.knt-liner.co.jp/
5.Are there any rail or travel passes in Japan we can get and how many days ones? Where to get and and where to use them?
Japan Rail Pass for JR. (this pass does not cover subways/non-JR trains)
Japan Rail Pass : http://www.japanrailpass.net/

1. By Keisei Line train. Skyliner for 1,920 yen, limited express for 1,000 yen. Both take 1 hour, Skyliner a little faster.
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html

2.Odakyu limited express "Romance Car" would be the best. The journey to Hakone-Yumoto is around 1 hour and a half.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.htmlCosts It costs 1,720 yen to Odawara, then you might want to make good use of the two-day "Hakone Free Pass", which costs 3,900 yen (from Odawara). Should be bought at Shinjuku before the journey.
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass/index.html

3. You might catch one of the Hikari trains at Odawara, which leave 7:10hrs, 9:10, 11:10, 14:10, 16:10 and 18:10, and takes 2hours 26 minutes to Shin-Osaka. To get to Osaka Station, catch a local train and alight at the next stop. Costs about 12,270 yen for a seat with assignment.

4. Take a JR Special Rapid train, or Hankyu limited express train. The former takes 20minutes, costs 390 yen, runs every 15 minutes, the latter takes 27 minutes, 310 yen, runs every 10 minutes. Then transfer to the Port Liner. Alight at Port Terminal. Five minutes, 200 yen.

5. Refer to the site.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html
Please note that if you're flying into Narita and out of Osaka Kansai, purchasing a JR pass doesn't pay. If you are flying into and out of Narita, buying the pass would be a good idea. So, it depends, and some of my advice needs to be revised in case you buy the pass.

6. In your case, not recommended. There are cheapish tour bus services between Tokyo and Osaka from 3,900 yen, but that means you need to backtrack to Tokyo from Hakone. If you bother to do so, it will work out cheaper than the Shinkansen.
http://www.123bus.net/

Happy travels.

Thank you so much for almost prompt answers, but I would like to find out:

1. Can I buy in one ticket from Odawara to Osaka Station via Shin Osaka Station by rail?
2. What is the total cost?
3. Do I need to buy the ticket in advance in Tokyo before I go to Hakone and reserve the seat or I could buy the ticket at the Odawara Station when I am in Kakone, or I could buy the ticket just before I depart for Osaka, and I can reserve the seats then? Please tell me the best secure way.
4. Is there a train on JR KOBE LINE from Osaka Station to Motomachi Station by Express train departing Osaka Station and arriving at Kobe cruise terminal near Motomachi Station? WHat is the fare?

Many thanks for your kind attention.

for train fares and schedules please check www.hyperdia.com

from a previous post:
I will take JR train from Osaka to Sannomiya Station,how then do I get to the Cruise terminal 2007/11/15

answer: Take "Port Liner" to "Port Terminal" station.
http://www.knt-liner.co.jp/eng
lish/index.asp

the Port liner starts at Sannomiya station in Kobe. check your cruise documents they should tell you how/ where to go.

1 and 2: You could buy a ticket for a reserved seat that allows you to travel all the way to Osaka Station for 12,270 yen.

3: You could buy the ticket from Odawara to Osaka at a JR ticket counter in Tokyo, which can be found easily, before you leave for Hakone.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/purchase.html

4. Sorry, I failed to show the station names in my previous post.
How to get to Kobe cruise terminal: From Osaka Station, take a JR Kobe Line Special Rapid train, or Hankyu Kobe Line limited express train from Osaka Umeda to Sannomiya Station. The former takes 20minutes, costs 390 yen, runs every 15 minutes, the latter takes 27 minutes, 310 yen, runs every 10 minutes. Then transfer to the Port Liner. Alight at Port Terminal. Five minutes, 200 yen.

I may have provided you with false info as to your question 4.
If you meant 'Naka Pier Cruise Terminal', you might want to get to the terminal in the way as follows;

From Osaka to Motomachi, take the JR Kobe Line rapid train, which runs every 15 minutes, takes 30 minutes and costs 390yen. Then catch a taxi to the Merikenpark Oriental Hotel. Around 700yen. The terminal on the hotel's premises.

http://www.japantravelinfo.com/ongoing/ports/port/html/kobe....
http://www.kobe-orientalhotel.co.jp/english/access/index.htm...