We are travelling to Japan in Golden week and doing a lot of rail travel. We are visiting a Japanese friend and she would like to reserve seats now for us. As i read it, the rail pass is activated only when in Japan. We are arriving on 27 April and would want to start using (and therefore activating) the pass from 28th April.
I have seen reference that what you purchase is in fact an exchange order in the UK which is converted into the rail pass when you wish to activate, after having arrived in Japan. Do you actually get a rail pass rather than an exchange order?
Can someone in Japan reserve seats for someone in advance of arrival? If so how can that be done?
Does the order or pass have a number which can be used now to reserve seats even though the pass is not activated till 28th April?
Many thanks.
