7 Day Pass

Hi Bernie!

I would certainly recommend a visit to Fushimi Inari when you are in Kyoto. It really lovely this part of the year and you can make some great hikes in you are up for it. 3 Days Yokohama may be a little long if you don't have anything specif in mind, a nights stay in Nikko for instance can be a great addition to your travels.

To answer your questions:

Should I settle for the 7 day pass or should I opt for the 14 day pass:

For now I would stick with the 7-day JR Pass, this because travel between Yokohama and Tokyo is relatively cheap.

Is there any significant benefit in going for the Green Pass.

Most people are fine with a normal JR-Pass when they come to Japan for the first time. Normal cars already have nice seats and enough space. Green-Class is a great upgrade if you love to travel in quiet and more relaxed setting. Green cars don't fill up quickly and sometimes you may have the whole train car for yourself!

How do I actually use the pass to book tickets in advance of my travel?

This is very easy. You can make reservations at any ticket counter once you are in Japan and have activated your JR-Pass. To do so, go to the ticket counter, show your JR Pass and tell the staff where you would like to go. They will then print the tickets and you are ready to go!

Hope this helps,
-Daniel