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WhatTheTip

Restaurants · Japan

Do you tip at restaurants in Japan?

Short answer

No tip

Do not leave a tip. It will be returned to you.

Not expected

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.

In practice

  • A ¥8,000 dinner → pay ¥8,000

Cash or card?

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.

Common questions

Do you tip at restaurants in Japan?
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.
How much should you tip at restaurants in Japan?
No tip. Do not leave a tip. It will be returned to you.
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.

← Full tipping guide for Japan

Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for Japan and have not yet been checked against cited sources.