We are looking to buy our JR passes - what's a good vendor??

See here and put where you are from

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en005.html

Aloha!

Im in England and going through the JR website the best deal I find is to buy online and pick up at Narita. Only this way do I get some really really good deal.

We need to buy our passes as well. I thought the prices were set. I didn't realize I would need to check different vendors. I better hop to - only 44 more days!

Bookmarking

As far as I know, the prices are set, but in yen. So depending on the vendor there might be a different exchange rate....

While price is set in yen (e.g. 28,300 yen for Ordinary Class 7-day Pass), the exchange rate is chosen by each vendor, who may also apply a handling charge and carriage. So it's worth comparing prices.
In UK, I've found one of the best offers is from Top Tour Europe http://www.tteuk.com/, who is selling 7-day Pass at £129 (plus £5 handling charge per pass - free if you can collect from their London office). Also no surcharge for debit card payment.

Well the $$ stinks whether I look east or west. Is there a turnaround time in purchasing the pass? I know they are activated in Japan. Is there any kind of timeline I need to be aware of if I decide to wait until closer to departure for a better exchange rate?

I don't know where you are, but I got mine at IACE Travel in New York City. I just walked in and got it within a few minutes. I think you have to turn in the voucher within 90 days or something like that, but you can buy it as late as your vendor is open on your way to the airport. ;-)

You must use the exchange order within 3 months of issue, but you can leave buying it as late as you like before boarding your flight to Japan, but I wouldn't leave it too late - get it at least a week before travel.

JTB, Japan Travel Bureau.

I have used JTB serval times (in Japan, not the US) and I have always been happy with their service. JTB has offices in several countires, including the US.

In US the $ price is set every Wednesday. If you think Yen is going up, then buy before next Wed.

I get my passes at the JTB office about 2 blocks away from my office in Honolulu. I have also used them over the years as a source of obscure places to stay in the smaller towns of Japan.....anyway, their JR pass prices change daily as they peg their sale price to the US$ to yen exchange rate.

They also add a $5.00 charge for every paper ticket they issue whether its air, rail, whatever. E-reservations they make are no charge.

I am betting that the dollar will fall past the 100y to 1$ mark soon so if I were you I would get that rail pass today

Aloha!

Aloha!