JR Pass a good deal for 2 wk itinery?

We are a family of 4 (2 kids ages 6 & 8) who plans to visit Japan 4/1-4/13/08. Would a JR pass for all of us be cost effective given our itinery or would single/local tickets be better?

4/1 - Arrive at Narita Airport

4/1-4/5 Base in Tokyo with day trip to Nikko on one day.

4/5-4/7 Hakone

4/7-4/12 Kyoto with day trip to Nara on one day

4/12 Leave Kyoto for Tokyo, spend the night then

4/13 Fly out of Narita/Tokyo

Also if there are any travel tips, we'd greatly appreciate it as it will be our first visit to Japan.

Thank you,
Diemha

I calculate that your itinerary will cost roughly 53000 yen per adult not including short trips within the cities. Looks like a 2 week rail pass may be more economical.

Or consider switching Nikko and Hakone. That way you could do all your shinkansen travel on a 7 day pass.

Using these sites to find train fares:

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/
or
http://www.hyperdia.com/

See this page for more train info:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359.html

Here's a revised schedule (for cheapest train travel):

4/1 - arrive - Narita Express to Tokyo
4/3-4/5 - Hakone by Hakone free pass
4/6 - to/from Nikko (activate 7 day pass)
4/6-4/12 To Kyoto, Nara
4/12 - Return to Tokyo (last day of 7 day pass)
4/13 - Narita Express to Narita

total is roughly 40000 yen.

Also be aware that the JR pass isn't valid within Hakone.

Thanks very much for your help.