Japan - Pick up of JR Pass & Seat reservation...

I'm buying my JR pass this weekend and was wondering:

When I arrive in Japan and get my actual JR pass can I start making the reservations at the same time as I have set up a fixed itinerary for the week I'll be using it?

I.e. I'll be arriving on day 1 but won't need to use the pass before on day 7. On day 7 I'll be heading off to Hiroshime, day 10 off to Osaka and day 12 back to Tokyo and day 13 to NRT. I know what trains I want to take and at what time they depart/arrive etc.

So, can I get the seat reservations upon my arrival at NRT when I pick up the JR Pass or do I have to wait for the actual day of travel?

You can book ahead, but honestly this is rarely needed - I tend to book my onward reservation when I arrive in each city.

But yes, they will book reservations ahead of time at NRT.

Thanks for the reply House ^

I'm assuming you are getting a 7-day pass? I think a 14-day pass just to use the Narita Express and Yamanote Line in Tokyo for the first week would be a huge waste of money. As soon as you exchange the order for the pass the pass is activated and the clock starts ticking. If you exchange the pass on day 7 you can make some of your reservations then. I would do this if you wanted to guarantee a Fuji-view seat on they way back (right side out of Tokyo, left side returning to Tokyo) or if you are traveling on a busy Friday. Otherwise, you should be fine.

As soon as you exchange the order for the pass the pass is activated and the clock starts ticking.
Last time I used a JR pass, it was fine to activate the pass for a later date. AFAIK, this is still the case. For example, you can arrive on Feb 1st, go to the JR counter at NRT with your 7-day pass exchange voucher and request a pass with validity from Feb 18th. Then you can reserve seats for the trips you plan to make with that pass between Feb 18th and Feb 24th.

jlb, you're right. There seems to be a fair amount of misinformation in some of the earlier posts.

You can activate your pass at a later date when you exchange it. And you can make reservations for that time even if your pass is not yet active.

Finally, I'd say you should make the reservations in advance if there is a reasonable chance you will use them since there is no penalty to cancel (indeed, no penalty even if you just don't show up without cancelling, although it would be more decent not to do that).

Last time I used a JR pass, it was fine to activate the pass for a later date. AFAIK, this is still the case. For example, you can arrive on Feb 1st, go to the JR counter at NRT with your 7-day pass exchange voucher and request a pass with validity from Feb 18th. Then you can reserve seats for the trips you plan to make with that pass between Feb 18th and Feb 24th.

Confirmed. I got my pass exchanged at Tokyo main station a few days before I wanted to start using it, and the person behind the counter was very picky with having the future dates right and asked for our confirmation 2-3 times before writing out the pass. She even had a calendar showing us the date we wanted it to be activated from ^

She also made all of our seat reservations there and then so it's a super good idea to have all your train times (the ones you are planning on taking) with you printed out as it will speed up the seat reservation. You should have a second choice as some times are not always available ;)

It is actually much simpler than what many makes it out to be...

Never used one of these. In theory, how would you use a JR pass to take the Yamanote line or other short travel. Would you have to go to the ticket office and get a ticket issued for a specific trip and then put it through the turnstile?

Maybe hardly worth the effort compared to using a Suica?

Never used one of these. In theory, how would you use a JR pass to take the Yamanote line or other short travel. Would you have to go to the ticket office and get a ticket issued for a specific trip and then put it through the turnstile?

Maybe hardly worth the effort compared to using a Suica?

No, you just go to any manned window at the turnstiles (most sets of turnstiles have a manned window as well) and flash it at them to go through.

As a general rule, at every JR ticket window, there will be some 95 year old woman giving an extended autobiography to the ticket clerk. Don't wait for her to finish, just hold the pass up so they can see it, and sneak through around behind.

It has been years since I used a JR pass, but IIRC you can just flash the pass at the ticket gate to ride in an unreserved seat of Shinkansen and other limited express trains. Just present the pass when the train conductor comes by to check the ticket.

Yes, there are more and more automated turnstiles, especially at major stations, and someone who has bought a single ticket for a run will be putting his ticket through the turnstile mechanism to get it validated. However, in even the most automated stations, the turnstile farthest to the right is staffed. It is intended mostly for wheelchair users, but the attendant will wave you through if you flash your JR Pass at him.