Thanks for your suggestions. I think we will try to stow our luggage at Tennoji, the transfer station from the airport to Nara, for the day. Even though it will require a backtrack from Nara later, the total train time is only a few minutes, and we will be rid of the bags for the day. We will probably go from Tennoji to Nara first and finish at Horyjui Temple for the last couple of hours on our way back to Tennoji, and then on to Kyoto. I hope we can get a one-day JR pass at the airport to cover us all the way to Kyoto. Again, thanks!