Originally Posted by abmj-jr

No. There are numerous on-line sources to purchase the Japan Rail Pass. I am pretty sure JAL at LAX is NOT a source. You will want the Exchange Orders in hand before you depart on your trip.

http://www.japanrailpass.net/05/en05_2.html

Scroll down past the airlines and rail companies to the travel agencies, near the bottom.

There is no advance purchase time requirement. You don't need anything to purchase a Rail Pass but money. There are a few questions on the purchase form and you will be sent another form to fill out and submit along with the Exchange Order in Japan.


FYI, I usually use TTA, Inc. in the San Francisco Bay area but I see they have a location in NYC. Any of the online travel bureaus can sell you the pass either on-line or by phone. You can purchase up to 60 days in advance but I tend to wait until 2 or 3 weeks ahead in case my plans change. Don't wait until the very last minute, although they will overnight the purchased Exchange Order to you. Once you have the Exchange Order, don't lose it, it is like money. If you wind up not using the Pass, you can return it for refund minus a restocking fee.

And yes, the Japan Rail Narita Express (N'Ex) is a JR line and is covered by the Rail Pass, assuming you ride during the valid period. I try to make sure I either activate the Pass immediately upon arrival so I can use it for the N'Ex or wait and activate it for the last 7 days (or 14 days) of my stay and use it for the ride back out to the airport, either the N'Ex to NRT or the Japan Rail airport deluxe train "Haruka" from Kyoto to KIX. Part of the "game" of using a Rail Pass for me is planning the absolute maximum use I can get out of it, including airport transportation. My favorite is a 14 day stay, during which I use the first day of the Pass to leave the airport and the last day to get back to the airport for departure. I hate wasting days of free rail travel. :-)