Originally Posted by
Thunderroad
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. ...
Unless something has changed in the last year, this is incorrect. I always buy my Passes online and have them mailed to me. Unfortunately, that won't work for your short time frame. Any large travel agency in the Bay Area should be able to issue you passes if you walk in. Make a few phone calls to save time.