You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office before you depart the US. 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.

Exchanging the voucher for the actual Pass is a relatively simple task. Take your Pass voucher to one of the exchange centers listed below, either a Travel Service Center or a Ticket Office, fill in an application form (found at the exchange center), and submit it with your voucher and passport. After verifying your name, pass type, and designated starting date, the center will issue you an actual Japan Rail Pass. (Vouchers cannot be used to travel on JR Lines.)