Exchange office and ticket office in Hakata station

Hi there,

1.) The Ticket office is a counter specialised for selling train tickets, at the Travel Centre a much wider variety of services to assist travellers.
There will always be an English speaking clerk at the desk where you can exchange the pass, so you don't have to worry about it!
2.) Yes you can make seat reservations right away, most of the time the clerk handling your exchange will ask this as well.

Having exchanged a pass myself last year @ Hakata, I can tell you that it is very easy to find the exchange points. The station is basically one big hall, if you enter from the city centre side (Hakata guchi gate) the Ticket Office is in the middle on the right side and the Travel Centre can be found almost in the exact middle of the Station Hall.

Enjoy Japan!
-Daniel