JR East Pass return air tix requirement

Aloha all,
I'm in the early stages of planning a March 2015 trip to Japan (nonrev HNL-NRT then train/bus to Hakuba for a couple days of snowboarding). It looks like a 5 day JR East pass will be a money saver, but along w/my passport, a return air ticket is listed as a purchase requirement. I don't usually have anything on paper 5 days prior to travel. Has anybody bought one of these passes recently and if so, what kind of document did you show?

I'm a DGS employee flying (near the bottom of the list) on DL.

Thanks

Did you email them and ask about it? Will they accept your employee ID and copy of return itinerary as nonrev? Asia usually recognizes the use of "airline staff travel" which is the term I use at agent desks and on the phone. You can always go to tripadvisor forums, and send private message to GOPBI (you will find him active in BKK and air travel forums. He is airline emp who lives in BKK. I believe he has lived in Japan ( and then some) and is from Hawaii. Hope that helps.

You could fly into NGO (Nagoya) and the bus/train would be cheaper, R/T around $120, around $180 from NRT. see this site for routes/prices
Japan train route finder. If all you are doing is Hakuba (Hakubaiwatake Ski Area) then its cheaper than the rail pass. A quick search of rail passes does not show a 5 day pass, only 7,14 &21 days. 7 day is $244.
Just things to look into.

Thank you for your ideas.
Offroader, I should have been more specific about the train. It's a short trip, so we want to get to the snow ASAP, so by train I mean Shinkansen. JR sells 5 day passes here:
JR EAST PASS | Fares & Passes | JR-EAST. NGO is still a good suggestion though, and sometimes has more open seats than NRT.

Mrs767, I will try your email idea. BTW, love the Buckaroo Banzai reference. That was my senior quote in my HS yearbook.

Thanks again