Hi Daniel,
I checked my eligibility for the JR Pass on various forums and spoke to many people who have availed the JR Pass on multiple entry visitor visa. This is what I found:
On arrival, at immigrations, I will be given a stamp/sticker as "Temporary Visitor" since my purpose of visiting Japan is sightseeing only. This "temporary stamp" is what is required for exchange of JR Pass.
Here is the Extract from the JR Rail Pass website for your perusal (http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html#bm_001)"
You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor."
Temporary Visitor entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc."
If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. *In order to receive or use JAPAN RAIL PASS, your passport must bear this stamp or sticker.
So i guess there shouldn't be any problem in getting a JR Pass.
Please do confirm if this is correct or not.
Thanks a lot.
Best,
Archana