First time traveller – Japan rail system advice (Suica and pre-purchased ticket advice)

Hi everyone,

I am about to embark on my first international trip and have chosen Japan as the destination! I was talking to some friends that have already been and they told me my main method of transportation will be the trains.

The first friend recommended for ease I just purchase the JR pass. It had been a number of years since he had gone though so when I looked up the price and saw its was nearly $1000 in my local currency I decided against this.

My second friend recommended I download the digital travel Suica card for the trains, put some money on it and tap on and off as I go and then for the bullet trains to just purchase a pre-paid train ticket for the limited and bullet trains that run.

I have decided to go with this second method but just want to confirm my understanding of when I will use which type of card is correct:

• Need to go from Narita Airport to Osaka:
  • Looks like there is no direct trip from Narita airport to Osaka so need to go through Tokyo
    • Need to get the Narita Express from Narita airport to Tokyo (cannot use the Suica card for this Trip)
    • Once in Tokyo need to get the Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka (cannot use the Suica card for this trip)
• Travelling within Osaka (Can get around with just the Suica card)
• Travelling to Hiroshima from Osaka (and back)
  • Need to get the Shinkansen Mizuho or Hikari from Osaka to Hiroshima and vice versa (cannot use Suica card)
• Travelling from Osaka to Kyoto
  • Need to get the Shinkansen Nozomi to Kyoto (cannot use the Suica card for this)
• Travelling Within Kyoto (Can get around with just the Suica card)
• Travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • need to get the Shinkansen Nozomi from Kyoto to Tokyo (cannot use the Suica card for this trip)
• Travelling within Tokyo (Can get around with just the Suica card)
• Travelling to Tokyo back to Narita Airport
  • Need to get the Narita Express from Tokyo to Narita airport (cannot use the Suica card for this Trip)

Would love some confirmation that all these methods are the most efficient and correct, or if I can get around to a particular point using the Suica card that I did not outline there. Furthermore, based on these trips, does anyone have a recommendation of how much yen I should start with on my Suica card?

Thanks in advance for all advice!