Can anyone tell me where the Japan Rail counter is to exchange your RailPass Vouchers for the actual passes? From what I can gather, there are rail/bus counters on the first floor, right before the exits, but I don't know if these are the locations that I need to go to. Anyone with knowledge/experience with this process, your insight would be appreciated.

I don't have the railpass map handy but it's a green-signed office nearby the ticket counters that you're looking for.

see:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/eastpass/info/obtain.htm

Take the escalators going to the basement, where the trains depart from. You should see the (small) JR ticket office right in front of you, with the entrances to JR and Keisei platforms on the left.

Turn around, and there should be a 'Travel Service Center' where you can exchange your voucher for a JR Rail Pass.

[ed. escalators, not elevators http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/rolleyes.gif ]

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 02-12-2003).]

Thanks to both of you for the input.

I did the process in reverse last year, but I didn't stop to see where the exchange counter was on my way to departures.

I had a rail pass last year but I flew from NRT to ITM on my way in to save some time and didn't exchange my voucher until I got to Kyoto.

I need to do the exchange at NRT so that we can use it on the Airport Express train going into Tokyo station from NRT. If you add up everything, even if you just go from NRT to Kyoto and back, its worth the money.

Thanks again for your help.

Please see my reply at FT Airports Forum, too.

You should ask the Right side seat for Shinkansen to Kyoto, so you can see Mt. Fuji.

One more thing.
You may want to try Japanese Bento on the way to Kyoto.
There are lots of atractive bento at Tokyo station and even at platform for Shinkansen.