Japan is well known for its well-developed e-money infrastructure. With RFID integration in mobile phones, train passes, and even loyalty cards for shops, it’s possible to do a great deal of your shopping and transportation without carrying cash or using a credit card either.
E-money was also introduced slowly and deliberately onto the Japanese market, which has resulted in an ecosystem that is not only accepted by the public, but expanding rapidly. Using a contactless e-money card or enabled phone it’s possible to do everything from buy drinks in vending machines to paying for airline tickets and even checking into hotel rooms!
Via Steven Nagata, this pay toilet in Akihabara can use e-money cards to pay for access. Not only does this eliminate any theft issues, but it’s also great for germaphobes!
Coin lockers also get the e-money treatment. Your card pays for the locker, but it also acts as the key when you get back!
For those interested in e-money and the transportation system of Tokyo in general, YouTuber, comedian, and samurai-in-training Kevin Cooney gives an overview below.
Michael is the Editor of JapanTrends.com and Director of the 
e-money is all nice and handy, until they force you to use it and refuse to take cash.
In Europe, buying a train ticket with cash is more expensive than with e-money. But what is worse it that you can not ride a train without e-money, if you get on the train before 7:00 or after 20:00 (in smaller stations they only accept e-money). There is no personnel working at the station, so you have to pay by machine. The machine only accepts e-money. So no e-money, no train ride.
Slowly they force people to use more and more e-money. e-money is all centrally administered, so if they don’t like you, they just switch off your chip. No e-money, no life.
Perhaps it is time to wake up and see where they are pushing us.