Originally Posted by Plat Rat
Thanks for the info - I am staying at the Marriott near the Kinshicho station. If I wait until day 2 to activate the JR pass will I be able to do it there or will I have to go to somewhere else? I would like to go to the city on day 8 so it makes sense to take the bus/limo to the Marriott on day one - at 6-7pm would not be going to far. Also I take it that trains to everywhere must go thru Tokyo station (to Koyto/Naygoya)? Thanks. again.
Kinshicho is a small-ish station (by Japanese standards) on the JR Keiyo spur line to Chiba, so it's unlikely that you can get your JR pass activated there. And yes, for Shinkansen trains to points west you will have to go to Tokyo station. From Kinshicho this involves heading a few stops west to Akihabara, then changing to the Yamanote line for another few stops south. Total cost probably less than Y200 so don't fret about it too much...