You can pick up your rail pass in Narita airport (not sure about Haneda but probably there, too). If you're landing in Narita you can start using your pass immediately by taking the N'ex train into Tokyo. The JR Yamanote line that I mentioned in my earlier post is a great way to get around the city and there is much to do in Tokyo itself. Your visit to Meiji Shrine can be combined with a walk around Harajuku (one of the great spots to see young Japanese fashion - Shibuya is another). Harajuku is a stop on the Yamanote line. It is as another poster corrected me . . .not a subway. It's a train that goes in a loop around the city. I live in NYC and it reminds me of a subway. Again, I would suggest that you use Tokyo as a base for any nearby day tips and Kyoto (or Osaka) as the base for the rest of your trip. Your pass will give you flexibility and freedom to hop on and off many local trains as well as the fast trains. Use it to have adventures but don't let yourself become so attached to it that you can't have a change of plan or lazy day. Relax and take in the wonder of being there. Have a great trip.