Why does every small shop owner look confused when I try to pay with cash?

Kurokun

Genuine question. I've been here two weeks and I've had maybe 3 successful cash transactions. Every other time the person looks at the ¥100 bill like I've handed them a rare collectible stamp.

Last night at a convenience store the cashier literally didn't have change. Like, physically did not have enough small bills in the drawer to break ¥100 for a ¥12 purchase. She had to call her coworker over and they pooled their pockets.

At a street food stall the guy pointed at his QR code and shook his head when I offered cash. Like... bro you're a street vendor. What if I don't have a phone?

I get it, China's cashless. But I'm a tourist. My mobile payment setup failed (long story, different post). Cash is my only option right now and it's surprisingly hard to spend.

Workarounds I've found:
• 7-Eleven always takes cash. Bless them.
• Big supermarkets (Carrefour, Walmart) still have cashiers trained for it.
• McDonald's and KFC — cash friendly.
• Tiny local restaurants sometimes prefer cash actually? Weird.

Is it just me or has cash basically disappeared from daily life here? I feel like a time traveler.