Why You Would Be Considered Rude For Tipping In This Popular Country
After eating more delicious Japanese curry than seems safe for one human being, you pay your bill and head back out onto the streets of Osaka. You haven't made it more than a block before the waiter chases you down. Your mistake? You left a tip.
In many countries, tipping is standard, and refusing to offer your server 20% of the total bill for a tip is considered extremely rude or a sign that the service you received was well below your expectations. It makes sense that tourists who come to Japan from countries with an established tipping culture feel compelled to leave a tip, especially when they have received excellent service. However, leaving a tip in Japan is a bad idea for cultural reasons. At best, you will come off as uninformed and out of touch about the place you are visiting, and at worst, it can be insulting to the person you are trying to thank. Whether on the white sand beaches of Okinawa or exploring one of Japan's gorgeous cities, not tipping will prevent an embarrassing situation for you and the server.
What happens if you tip in Japan?
In general, if you try to leave a tip for a server, cab driver, or any other service worker, they will do their best to return the money. This can be difficult for tourists to understand since the Japanese standard for customer service is often remarkably high, from attentive wait staff to taxi drivers in white gloves. While exceptional service is tipped in other places, that's not the case in Japan.
Even if you do manage to leave your tip in the hands of the staff, they will likely not be able to keep it. One Reddit user who lives in Japan explained that their husband works in hospitality and is not allowed to accept tips, writing, "At my husband's workplace, policy is to protest until the client takes back their tip, and if that doesn't work the tip goes to the company. The employees do not keep it."
A Quora user who lives in Japan echoed that employees never get to keep the tip, saying that even if you did manage to slip out of the establishment and leave before they could give your tip back, the server would not go home with it. "The money would find its way back to you or be reported to the police as lost and found or put in the donation box."
Are there exceptions to the no-tipping rule?
You might encounter some rare exceptions to the no-tipping rule in Japan. The most notable involves staying at a ryokan, a traditional inn that serves food and where visitors can enjoy steaming hot baths. Many stunning Japanese destinations won't break the bank, and you'll find budget-friendly ryokans. Still, when it comes to higher-end establishments, leaving a tip for your nakai san is acceptable. These servers take care of everything for you during your stay, and if you would like to, you can hand them an envelope with some extra bills at the end of the visit.
In some cafes, especially those that cater to tourists, you may see a tip jar on the counter. You should not feel obligated to use it, as it's still far from an expectation. However, if you feel generous, you can leave a tip without having it returned to you in this scenario. Delivery services, like Uber Eats, also often confuse tourists. Because these apps are not Japanese, they may prompt the person ordering to leave a tip for the driver. However, at least on Reddit, the consensus is not to tip delivery drivers in Japan.