Which Pass for my Kyoto Trip?

Hello everyone,

I'm a single traveller staying in Kyoto from July 15-27, my first trip to Japan as well.

For most of my trip, I tend to explore Kyoto on a slow and leisurely basis, particularly for photography. On some occasions however, I will be travelling to the following places:

Arashiyama, Ohara, Kurama
Nara day trip
Osaka or Kobe day trip (maybe)

My question is: which rail passes or transportation passes should I be looking at given my travel plans? Most of the time I expect to stay within Kyoto and for those days, I intend to walk around unless it's too far away like Ryoan-ji for instance, where I would expect to take a bus?

Since I am a first timer, I'll probably use the MK shuttle to go to Kyoto from Kansai airport (and back as well)....I may be tempted to use the Haruka express if it's easy to get to where I'm staying from Kyoto Station.

For the record, I will be staying at Salon Haraguchi Tenseian, in Maruyama Park.

Thanks much in advance for any help and advice rendered :)

Regular tickets or a prepaid card seem best for all these trips. You could make the calculation and see whether a Kansai Thru Pass might pay off:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_005.html

This is a handy page to make these calculations (in addition to the japan-guide.com access sections for each destination):
http://www.hyperdia.com/

Haruka to Kyoto station.
Kyoto station to Tofukuji station.
Change to Keihan railway (it's the next platform over).
Catch train to Gion Shijo.
Walk east.

Buy 2 JR West passes (get exchange orders online beforehand), one for each Haruka trip.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_03.html

Too easy.