Korea - Buying Japan Rail Pass in Korea

Next month I'll be spending 25 days in South Korea and Japan, with a flight into Seoul and return from Osaka.

My plan now is to buy a 2 week Japan rail pass and use the last 15 days or so in Japan. I can buy a Japan Rail pass at a local office in Oslo before I leave, but I'd prefer to wait until I'm Korea to give myself the option of only buying a week pass if I decide to spend more time in Korea.

I see at: http://www.japanrailpass.net/05/en05_1.html that there are a number of offices selling Japan Rail passes in Seoul and Busan. Does anyone know how easy it is to buy a Japan Rail Pass at any of theses offices? If it's possible to buy it a counter with a short wait, then I'll do that. If it can only be done through the mail, then I will buy the pass before I leave.

I have brought a one week rail pass at NRT, I strted using it to get to Tokyo from NRT.

I have brought a one week rail pass at NRT, I strted using it to get to Tokyo from NRT.

My understanding is that the Japan Rail Pass needs to be bought outside of Japan. Also, I'll most likely be arriving by ferry in Fukuoda.

I have brought a one week rail pass at NRT, I strted using it to get to Tokyo from NRT.

I think what you got was the JR East pass, which is different from the JR rail pass. JR East passes can be purchased in-country, but are only valid on JR East lines. The JR rail pass works on all JR lines throughout the country, but require purchase outside of the country first.

Can't say 100% for Korea, but typically you just go to one of the travel agencies that sells JR pass, pay them & they'll issue you the voucher right there. Typically a red carbon affair that looks like an old time airline ticket. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes if there is no queue.

And as others have said, must be purchased outside Japan, and your passport must have a 'temporary visitor' sticker which is affixed when you enter the country.