Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Make sure that the agent understands that you are purchasing a NEX ticket for use that day and will start to use the rail pass later, on the specified day. You don't want them to erroneously validate the rail pass to start that day.
I think I do want them to validate the rail pass - I purposely purchased a 14 day pass which is exactly the number of days in Japan. Possibly a bit wasteful, as I don't know that we'll use it the first three days (Other than NEX) but I did it for convenience more than anything. The one week pass just missed covering the middle part of our trip which is where most of the train travel happens, so had I purchased just a 7 day, I would have had at least one one-way ticket in addition, plus the return NRT NEX tickets. I think I come out even if not just slightly ahead this way!