Tipping in Japan
Don't tipJPY (¥)
Here's the tip.
Do not tip in Japan. It is not part of the culture.
Excellent service is the baseline, not something you pay extra for. Offering cash is at best confusing and at worst mildly insulting, and staff will often chase you down the street to return it. The correct response to good service in Japan is to say thank you.
At a glance
- RestaurantsNot expectedNo tip
- CafésNot expectedNo tip
- BarsNot expectedNo tip
- TaxisNot expectedNo tip
- Hotel portersNot expectedNo tip
- HousekeepingNot expectedNo tip
- Tour guidesOptionalNot expected
- Private driversNot expectedNot expected
Card tipping. There is no tip line on Japanese receipts and card terminals do not prompt. Higher-end restaurants and ryokan may add a 10–15% service charge, which is a fixed charge, not a gratuity.
- Money in Japan is handed over on the small tray by the register, not passed hand to hand.
- If you genuinely want to thank someone, cash in a sealed envelope (a kokorozuke at a ryokan) is the only culturally acceptable form — and it is still uncommon.
- A 10% service charge and a separate consumption tax may appear on the bill. Neither is a tip.
JAPAN
The tipping cheat sheet
- RestaurantsNo tip
- CafésNo tip
- BarsNo tip
- TaxisNo tip
- Hotel portersNo tip
- HousekeepingNo tip
WhatTheTipwhatthetip.com/japan
Common questions
- Do you tip in Japan?
- Do not tip in Japan. It is not part of the culture. Excellent service is the baseline, not something you pay extra for. Offering cash is at best confusing and at worst mildly insulting, and staff will often chase you down the street to return it. The correct response to good service in Japan is to say thank you.
- How much do you tip at a restaurant in Japan?
- No tip. Do not leave a tip. It will be returned to you. From a ramen counter to a Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant, no tip is expected and leaving cash on the table will be treated as forgotten money. Upmarket restaurants may add a service charge of 10–15%, which is already accounted for in what you pay.
- Can you tip by card in Japan?
- There is no tip line on Japanese receipts and card terminals do not prompt. Higher-end restaurants and ryokan may add a 10–15% service charge, which is a fixed charge, not a gratuity.
Other destinations
Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for Japan and have not yet been checked against cited sources.