After travelling extensively around the world I found that Japan was the one place where using my credit card was not easy. It was easier in Cairo, Egypt to use a credit card to make a purchase or get cash out than it was in Tokyo. bigger stores and hotels will have the ability to use your card however make a note that they are no where near utilized as much as they are at home. If you run out of yen and need to do a cash advance on your credit card it is possible but not as easy as you would imagine. Before leaving home remember to get a pin on your card as without one it will slow down the process even more.