Is It Rude to Tip in Japan?
The first time I visited Japan, I had already been living in Madagascar, where tipping isn’t customary for over two years. I was already in the habit of not tipping but one day during the trip, I left the Yen equivalent of about $0.25 cents on a table after paying a bill. I can’t remember if it was by accident or not but what I do remember is that our waitress ran after my friend very quickly to respectfully return the change I had left on the table.
Until that point, I had known tipping wasn’t a thing in Japan, but I didn’t realize how strongly it was rejected—especially compared to Western countries where service workers (myself included, in the past) rely on tips for income. Even though Westerners are told in advance that tipping isn’t a thing, many Americans may still feel compelled to tip when the service is exceptional—which it often is in Japan.
If you find yourself in a situation like that. Don’t tip. Resist. Tipping in Japan isn’t exactly rude but it can be confusing. Servers in Japan are paid a fair wage and, like the server who chased me down, are more likely to think that you forgot some money. Instead, find other, more culturally appropriate ways to express your gratitude—like saying “gochisosama deshita” (thank you for the meal) while leaving and making sure you follow other small bits of Japanese etiquette.
Since that first trip (more than 15 years ago!), I have traveled throughout Japan more extensively and have gotten more used to resisting the urge to tip for exceptional service, instead embracing and recognizing this as a part of the Japanese custom of Omotenashi which tokhimo.com defines as a “Japanese concept of welcoming and caring for guests with warmth, graciousness, and attentiveness.”
In short: It’s not rude, but don’t tip in Japan—not even if the person was lovely and went above and beyond. It’s just confusing. So even if you feel the urge, resist.
More Japan Travel Tips
→ Have cash and top up your Suica card on your phone. You can add it to your Apple Wallet and use it to pay for transit, and some restaurants and shops.
→ Get a JR Rail Pass to save money. If you plan to take at least two or more medium- to long-distance Shinkansen trips, the JR Pass is typically a good investment and more cost effective than individual tickets.
→ Use a website like booking.com or Agoda to book your hotels. Not all Japanese hotel websites are translated into English and you can sometimes have problems with payment.
→ Pack slip on shoes. I prefer traveling in Asia with shoes that are easy to slip on and off, like the the Crescent Quilt slides by Roam, since you will often have to take them off quickly when entering ryokans, some restaurants, and (of course) people’s houses. Here are all of my favorite travel shoes.
