ICOCA only or Kansai Mini Pass?

Hi! I'll be in Osaka in October, and I plan to do a Kyoto-Nara day trip . I'll also be visiting Kobe and USJ. My accommodation is Oasis Naniwa.

A few questions I would appreciate your input on:

• Do I need to purchase or reserve tickets (i.e. buy a ticket rather than simply tap my ICOCA card) at any point during the trip from my accommodation to Kyoto?
• Is the Kansai Mini Pass worth it?

I actually already mapped out the route and expenses for if I use only ICOCA versus the Kansai Mini Pass and ICOCA. I'll be saving only a small amount, but the travel time is longer. I'm just not sure if my costing for ICOCA only is completely accurate because I'm not sure if I'll have to purchase or reserve seats along the way.

Thanks for your help!