JTB

* Best spot to pick up Japan Rail Passes in Vancouver *
This travel agency is hidden away in the basement of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. It shares space with the JTB Global Assistance service desk that helps orient the thousands of Japanese tourists that arrive in Vancouver on JTB package tours.
So skip the mega sized mega overpriced boxes of maple Pocky set up to be sold to Japanese tourists that find it convenient to purchase from Japanese speaking staff instead of walking about 5 minutes down the block and purchasing at local prices.
But it IS a great spot to pick up JR Rail passes. The passes are similar to Eurail Passes, but much less complex. Basically you just decide the number of days, and if you want regular or Green car (first class). They are a fabulous deal, and are only available to people who don’t live in Japan.
I got a pass which cost less than a simple roundtrip on the Shinkansen, and it allows travel on any JR train nationwide. Fabulous!
They are a really great way to explore the country on a fast, easy, and efficient rail system.
Thank you JTB Vancouver! Can’t wait until I get to use the pass again!