The hardest rule for Americans in Japan is the simplest: put the money away.
The rule#
| Where | Tip? |
|---|---|
| Restaurants, cafés, bars, izakaya | No |
| Hotels (porters, housekeeping, concierge) | No |
| Taxis | No; round-up refused |
| Hair, massage, spa | No |
| Shops | No |
| Group tours, bus drivers | No |
| Private guide or interpreter for a day | Yes, in an envelope, if you wish |
| Ryokan attendant, exceptional stay | Optional, envelope, at the start |
Why not#
Service is part of the job and the price, not a performance you reward. Wages don't depend on it. Leaving money on a table reads as forgetting your change, and someone will run after you with it.
If you really want to#
Say it: arigatou gozaimashita, with a small bow. Write a note. Buy the small gift Japanese people would. For a private guide, a clean envelope (sold at any konbini), handed with both hands at the end of the day.
Tip jars#
A few tourist-area cafés and shops have started putting out jars with "tips welcome" in English. They're aimed at visitors who feel uncomfortable not tipping. You can ignore them without rudeness.
Service charges#
High-end restaurants and hotels sometimes add a 10 to 15 percent service charge to the bill; izakaya add a small per-person table charge (otoshi) that comes with a tiny dish. That's it. Cash or card covers paying.
Local Friends#
On Roavi, a Local Friend sets an hourly rate and that's the payment; a tip isn't expected, and buying their coffee or drink is the Japanese way to say thanks. Rent a friend in Japan as a foreigner explains the model. Etiquette that actually matters has the rest.
Unsure in a specific situation? Post it on Roavi Community; Tokyoites answer.
Unsure what's polite in Tokyo? Ask someone who lives there.
Post your tripFrequently Asked Questions
Is tipping rude in Japan?
More confusing than rude. Staff may refuse it, chase you to return it, or assume you forgot your change. Nobody will be offended by the intent, but the gesture doesn't land. Just don't; a sincere thank you (arigatou gozaimashita) and a slight bow is the currency.Do you tip in Japanese restaurants?
No. Prices include service; some restaurants add a small table charge (otoshi) or a service charge at high-end places, and that's the end of it. Pay at the register, say thank you, leave.Do you tip tour guides in Japan?
A private guide or interpreter you hired for a day is the main exception: a tip in a small envelope, handed with both hands and thanks, is appreciated and increasingly expected from international visitors. Group tour guides and bus drivers: not necessary.Do you tip at a ryokan in Japan?
Not required. At a traditional ryokan with a personal attendant (nakai), guests sometimes give a modest amount in an envelope at the start of the stay, discreetly. It's optional and old-fashioned; the stay's price covers the service.
