Travel Osaka to Himeji

We dock at Osaka for 2 days on a cruise and want to visit Himeji on the first day and probably stay in Osaka for the second day (We have been to Kyoto and Nara before) Is it worth our while getting a Kansai Thru Pass for 2 days, or should we pay the JR Express train ticket and then take the one day Osaka Pass? Any tips from people who have used those passes would be welcome, and also rough cost of return train journey Osaka - Himeji if anyone knows. Thanks!!

The one way JR Special Rapid trip from Osaka to Himeji is 1450yen. I would not buy a Kansai Thru Pass, I would buy a 1 day JR West Kansai Pass for 2000yen instead. Then, depending what you have planned for day 2, you could buy a one day pass for Osaka.

for trains schedules and fares please check www.hyperdia.com. be sure to read the help section first.

Hi again and thanks for your help. The JR one day pass sounds like a good idea. Does anyone have a brilliant suggestion for our second day? I feel Osaka Castle may be a bit of a disappointment after Himeji. Is the Ceramic Museum really spectacular - or what is the biggest hit in the Osaka area? Or is there something special going on in Kyoto Winter which would be worth our while returning for - but thereby missing Osaka altogether??
I wish all of you a very Happy New Year - good health and happiness in 2009.

Since Osaka Castle has been rebuilt a number of times it won't necessarily give you the original historical feel that Himeji does. It's much more high tech blended in with historical exhibits. The Castle and park around it though are worth a visit and could easily be done in a few hours. The Osaka Aquarium could fill the other 1/2 day.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4004.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html

Osaka castle is more of a museum so if you are interested in checking out the exhibits there then it's worth a visit, otherwise it's probably not worth it.
To visit Himeji castle will probably only take half a day so you could spend the rest of the first day in Osaka, then the second day you could visit Kyoto (although you mentioned you have been there before), or maybe you could visit Kobe for the day.

Osaka castle is more of a museum so if you are interested in checking out the exhibits there then it's worth a visit, otherwise it's probably not worth it.
Is the view from the top worth the climb?We have hopes of visions of a wonderful cherry blossomsed spectacle below us.......

yes..the view is great and there are even elevators (mostly for handicapped persons but.. as the inside is a modern building. Only the outside looks old (but is 20th century too).

again, thanks....being old sometimes works with elevators..we'll see!!!!