I wrote:

> >Don't you have to get a tourist rail pass (which is by far
> >the best deal going) from a travel agent outside Japan?

Steve Sundberg commented:

> We bought ours at Narita airport upon arrival in 1998.

Then, according to the official website, you did the impossible:

"A JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan.
"You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or
agent before you come to Japan....
"After you arrive in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your
JAPAN RAIL PASS at an applicable JR station that has a JAPAN RAIL PASS
exchange office."
(http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en05.html)

I suppose someone could come up to you at the airport and whisper, "Psst. Ja
wanna railpass?" but I wouldn't count on it.

--
John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com