Japan rail pass/Osaka-Kyoto trip

In article ,
(Hallvard Tangeraas) wrote:

I have some questions about the Japan rail pass which I think might be a
good idea to get when I'm going to Japan in Spring 2004.

I'll be starting my round-the-world trip next month, and won't be in
Japan until Spring (end of March/beginning of April, depending on when
the cherry blossoming starts). Regarding information I've received about
the Japan rail pass, you buy it *before* arriving in Japan, and when you
do you get a voucher of some sort. Not the actual ticket.

Furthermore, you have to arrive in Japan less than 3 months after you've
bought it, and go to a JR (Japan Rail) ticket office to get it exchanged
into an actual ticket along with specifying the starting date of use.

The only problem is that it'll be way more than 3 months from now til I
arrive in Japan, so could I possibly buy it somewhere else, along my
trip? Or do I have to buy it in my home country?
I'll be in Australia, then New Zealand prior to Japan. Would it be
possible for me to buy the pass in New Zealand, even though I'm from
Norway?

I think you can buy the pass as long as it's outside Japan.