Lurker > Sasquatchimo

Since you'll probably be taking the train everywhere, the ticket destination is by price (I do not live anywhere there are subway, no clue if this is just standard). So look for the destination on the subway map near the ticket vendor, look at the yen price, and that is how much yen you put in the machine and buy the ticket for.

Going through train ticket gates, you always put the ticket in the gate and always pick the ticket up when it spits it out at the other end. Even if you go to the wrong gate, you must do this. You will always get your ticket back UNTIL you reach the intended destination, that is when it will keep the ticket when you go through the exit gates. Once again, I have not clue if this is just standard anywhere you go in the world or not.

If you don't know about paying customs in Japan, you just place the money on the counter or the tray that is provided when paying money. BUT employees may hand the money to you directly which is strange. I guess it is a one-way courtesy (it is rude for the store to take your money from your hand but it is ok to hand your money to you). Also if you are in more modernized stores, especially convenience stores, there will be a money machine at the counter where you will use that to pay for your purchases- these will be pretty straight forward, you put bills in the bill spots and coins in the slots, very similar to modern self checkout if you ever used cash. Usually the employee will move/wave their hand toward the machine to let you know that is how you pay.

Alot of modern quick/convenience restaurants that aren't mom/pop will use kiosks where you choose the food and pay for it. It may even be on a screen at the table. These most likely will have english language selection.

Alot of big convenience/drug store chains will give you the option to buy tax free (this requires your passport). You will save on tax but they will seal it in a bag that you are not supposed to open until you leave Japan. So only do this for souvenirs or purchases you don't intend to use in Japan. On the subject, tax is built into the price, so tax free stores just have lower prices (or actually, 2 prices, the tax free, and the with tax prices- If you are in a store that lists 2 prices for everything, that is what that means.). Other normal stores, its just the one price with tax already tacked in.

They will always ask if you want a bag when you buy something. Listen for the word FUKURO. Just say hai or ie if you want or don't want a bag. If you just stand there dumbfounded at the question, most employees will just grab a bag and show you what they are saying or even ask you in english.

You might notice in stores, like electronic stores or toy stores there may be signs posted saying no pictures.

I've lived in Japan off and on for a total of 8 years and never once had to any of those lotteries.

Oh, if you are on free trial you cannot access the market board. Afaik the only one sold by NPC vendor which you can purchase is 100,000gil which may or may not be too much for you, its sold in Kugane.

Its a maga that can learn and use enemy spells and attacks.

Soloing works until you beat the base game (NPC groups can be used on all base dungeons and even the base game final boss). Then you will be forced to group up online for a "boss" fight post base game, pre-first expansion. Most, if not all dungeons through 90 that can be "soloed" using NPC groups. But sporadically the game will force you to group up to beat bosses. It will generally be 2-4 online bosses per expansion. The game also forces you to do three 24 man... or was it reduced to 12 man? Been awhile, don't remember... online level 50 raids (not one right after the other though) between the first 2 expansions. What happens is you cannot continue on with the main story quests until you beat said level 50 raids.

Luckily I learned to change a tire in my garage, and it was a 4runner. But sadly every car I own now uses run flats so there goes the tire changing skill out the window.

Do Japanese girls make foreign noises? Yes. Yes, they do.

When you do dungeons with other players as thaum/blm, try to stay in the vicinity of the healer. Being new you will no doubt take damage, and something that irks a healer are the ranged dps taking AOE damage who is far from the healer, and their AOE heals not reaching you. And when you see the orange/yellow arrow pulsing above another player, that is your cue to run and stack with them (overlap on top of them). If it is pulsing over you, don't stay standing far away from everyone, run towards the middle of the fight so others can reach you easier. Doing lv 50 msq the last 2-3 weeks I ran into way too many sprouts who have no clue what stack mechanics were. And these sprouts were usually level 70 range. Which is...sad. Especially sad is no one took the time to tell them.