I'd like to know also .... troublesome a bit to handle the 1,5,10,50,100,500yen coins. 

The usual IC cards? Suica? Pasmo? (problem with these, lost the card, sayonara oo sayonara oo)
MasterCard mobile wallet, NETELLER, ? ... (advantage of mobile-tied e-wallet, tied to accounts; lost phone, still got security protections)

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/0...y/#.XMFzsqRx3Dc
"Why is Japan sluggish in adopting cashless?
Trust in cash, the sense of safety in carrying it, fewer stores that accept credit cards and e-money are factors pointed out in the Cashless Vision report.
The report, released in April, noted cash has been reliable in Japan, where counterfeit bills are rare. The crime rate is low, so people feel safe carrying cash, and ATMs are readily available.
Also, although many convenience stores and large retailers allow various payment tools, many small enterprises only accept cash."

"Line Corp., a messaging app giant, is eagerly pushing its Line Pay payment service, which accepts payments by scanning QR codes, plastic cards or smartphones equipped with FeliCa chips....Last week it announced plans to team up with Tencent in this field...Chinese travelers to Japan can use WeChat Pay at stores that accept Line Pay starting early next year.
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PayPay Corp., which is a mobile payment firm jointly run by SoftBank Group Corp. and Yahoo Japan, is partnering with Ant Financial to allow Alipay users to make payments with their app at PayPay-ready stores. Alibaba is part of the SoftBank group. ...
SoftBank is serious about becoming the leading cashless platform in Japan, considering the huge PayPay investment, Toshio Taki, who heads the fintech research laboratory at Tokyo-based Money Forward Inc., said.  “SoftBank has seen how Alibaba and Alipay have grown so big in China … so I think it is seeing value in a top payment player that can acquire (a huge amount of) purchase data in a very long term,” said Taki."

Hopefully, LinePay can integrate with our WeChat Wallet in RM ... else, top up in RMB then use in Japan? Not sure worth it or not ... exchange rate vs convenience.
I still don't know how to enable AliPay without a China bankcard/phone number ... followed the googled instructions, still can't ... anybody managed to do that?
https://www.thepaypers.com/expert-opinion/p...in-japan/772040
"According to HSBC, hard cash is still the order of the day in the Land of the Rising Sun. While innovative in almost all areas of technology, Japanese have been reluctant to give up the use of liquid currency.
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Today, the preferred online payment method in Japan is still credit or debit card, followed by post-purchase payment, carrier billing (charging payments to a phone bill), e-wallets and prepaid cards (e.g., Line Pay, Suica, Nanaco, Edy).

The mobile wallet – “contactless” and prepaid – the least favourite?
Prepaid payment methods and e-wallets represent 4.2 % of the total payments. This figure is surprising considering that Japan was a precursor when it comes to prepaid cards. But why the low figure? An ageing population could be one explanation, experts pointing to the effect of age distribution. While 45-and older consumers resist changing their payment habits, the young Japanese are keen on technology."

How about line pay?

I know that there are some other Japan mobile payment gateway like PayPay but the apps are only available in Japan region.

Taking train is a hassle especially for first timer. Hence , here are the small tips for you:

For those who wondering about 24 hour, 48 hours, and 72 hours Tokyo Metro Subway pass. Yes, it is only covered Toei & Tokyo Subway. If you wondering what is Toei & Tokyo Subway, here is the example, please look for this two logo:



Hence, you can take the train with either one of these logo, you can see the logo easily via google map.

These are the area (Yes! Those colorful 13 types of lines) that covered by the pass:



Technically, this pass covers many popular area in Tokyo except:

1) Odaiba (where you need to take yurikamome line from Shimbashi station)
2) Kichijoji (need take JR or Keio Inokashira line from Shibuya)
3) Jiyugaoka (Tokyu Toyoko line from Shibuya)
4) Tokyo Disneyland (JR keiyo line from tokyo station to Maihama station)
Note: If you are cheapskate, you can save 60 yen if transfer from Shin Kiba station but for me time are more important during travel so I wouldn't do that haha!
Hopefully it helps! Thanks for reading! if I have time, I shall update more soon hehe.

KUL -> NRT no more cheap flights. All-ons and all gets normal pricing now. Didn't know so many people was chasing after it.

Yeah, just planning to bring the sweater from universal traveller. it says can tahan till 10-15'c. Should be sufficient i guess. Thanks for the advice!     

Edit: btw, im going to Hiroshima, Kobe, Nara, Nikko - Tochigi area. So this consider quite outskirt right?

But will the increase in consumption tax scheduled in Oct (orz!) affect much? is it worth spending the extra time in their Customs office just to claim that tax?

sacwoc
look416
Hahaha! Thanks again for educating the noob me. This is my first to Japan and as I only know from going other countries, it will be processed at their Customs.
The >5000yen is include eating at restaurants? And how does the "tax refund" sticker looks like? Do I have to tell them I want the refund if my purchases do qualify? Thanks very much again!

Hi guys. Can we do day trip osaka - amanohashidate. What can we expect there?

Sifu-sifu and simou-simou sekalian... Driving from Tokyo to Shirakawago, possible for me to pick car up at Tokyo and drop off at Shirakawago itself???

...Terima Kasih