Tipping in Japan

Just the Tip of Gratuity Culture

Honestly, I shouldn’t have been laughing but I couldn’t help myself. I really do try to sympathize with the plight of visitors traveling abroad in foreign lands. This one, however, was just too comical. You see, right in front of my eyes, a scene was playing itself out that I had only heard mentioned in exaggeration. From what I could gather, a North American couple was making their way out of a Japanese restaurant. The pair was followed by a frantic looking staff member who was waving a couple of bills high above his head while hastily pursuing the two. Though he was doing all he could to capture their attention, his cries fell on deaf ears. After all, the duo didn’t speak the local tongue. While this scene might confuse those from many western countries, I knew instantly what had happened. They had gone and done something they shouldn’t have. They left a tip!

Anyone who isn’t living under a rock already knows that Japan is renowned globally for its impeccable “omotenashi” service culture. Nevertheless, I have a few qualms with how the rigidity of the roles interacts with those who don’t realize their underlying boundaries. That said, generally speaking, the quality and standard of service in Japan is FAR higher than those back home. As such, it often comes as a shock to visitors that tipping is almost entirely unheard of here. Moreover, not only is the practice not customary, tips are usually flat-out refused as described in the aforementioned anecdote. What’s a generous tourist to do if they cannot offer up cold, hard cash then? That, my friend, will require a bit of a long answer so go and make yourself nice and comfy.

Tipping at Restaurants in Japan

Let’s first take a look at restaurant culture. If you haven’t grasped this idea yet, tipping at such establishments in Japan is just not a thing that’s done. That said, many restaurants and izakaya (Japanese style pubs) do add service charges in some form or other. After all, your waiters and cooks have to eat somehow, right? Now this service fee might present itself in the form of a “late night service charge” at your typical…