[triptojapan]

Hello,
I will travel to Japan in August 2010. I'm planning to buy the JR pass for one week for the first week but I will need to buy the train ticket Kyoto-Tokyo separately as the JR won't cover it.
The problem is that it will be the Obon period in which I have read that many Japanese travel aswell. ¿How in advance do you think that I need to buy my train tickets? Or is it better to do it when I arrive there with, 6-7 days in advance?
I'm considering aswell to hire a car during those days. Is it recomended to book the car in advance aswell?Again, how in advance?
Anyone knows which will be the "big" Obon days?(weekend?)
Many thanks!