I'd been floating along somehow assuming that I simply could buy the Japan Rail Pass online. But I now find that, if I understand the situation correctly, it must be physically obtained in the United States. So I need some advice on how and whether to obtain it. Did a search for relevant information, but still could use some guidance here.

The background is that my wife and I leave SFO for Japan late Friday morning on United (so we can't buy the pass at the airport from JAL or ANA). We'll be in Tokyo from Sat., Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 and then in Kyoto until Nov. 8, when we will take the train back up to Narita to go home. In addition to Tokyo and Kyoto, we'll take at least one day trip to Nara and perhaps one or two other day trips.

So, my questions:

1. At this point, does one of us need to go into a ticket office in San Francisco to obtain rail passes for us?
2. Am I correct in assuming that the rail pass for the travel we have in mind is less expensive than buying tickets for individual trips?
3. Am I also correct in assuming that a seven day pass will only cover Nov. 2 to 8? I.e., we could not use it on Nov. 1 (for a day trip from Tokyo).

Thanks for whatever help and ideas anyone can provide.