7 Day Japan Rail Pass Question

Hi Karley,

You select your 1st day of use when you exchange the pass in Japan. On this day the pass starts counting, no matter what time you start on the train.

For seat reservations see:
http://www.jrpass.com/blogs/reserving-seats-boarding-the-bullet-train

Your seat is guaranteed once a reservation is made.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your response!
I went to the link you posted for seat reservation and have a problem. We arrive in Tokyo (Haneda Airport) on April 23rd at 7:45 PM and plan to leave for Kyoto the next morning. I won't be able to have a few days before we travel to make a reservation which is recommended during golden week. Is there any other way to reserve our seats before we arrive? Or is it worth just going to the station and hoping to get on a train that day?
Last question, I looked up Haneda Airport Service Counter to exchange our JR Pass and they close at 6:30 PM which is before we arrive at the airport. If we are going to Kyoto, do you suggest a particular station in Tokyo that we can exchange our JR Pass, reserve our seats, and take the bullet train to Kyoto?
Thanks again for your help, I appreciate it!
-Karley