We're actually going just after the Snow Festival in Sapporo, which kind of sucks! But due to Chinese New Year and other commitments it's a bit hard to go any earlier
We'll be going on the 13th Feb.
Okay, so the buses don't sound too bad... hrmm... if we don't go with the JR pass might see how we go with those then...
We have Universal Studios and the aquarium to go to in Osaka, but no plans for the rest of the time there. Is it really only worth a day to look around? Maybe we should spend more of that time in Kyoto then? Definitely planning on a trip to Himeji at some point. I'll have a look at the others, thanks for the suggestions!