Recently I’ve noticed that some non-Japanese owned (or staffed) businesses are trying to introduce tipping to Japan. This is not only irritating, but it completely goes against the fabric of Japanese culture. Tips are not only unnecessary, they will almost always confuse or will be interpreted as disrespectful. Please do not feel guilty for not tipping! Enjoy Japan for what it is, a tip-free society.

Are there exceptions? Yes, there are a few, but most are optional or are not applicable for the average tourist or non-Japanese resident. Here is an explanation of tip giving in Japan and a comprehensive list of every tipping situation I’ve ever heard of.

The custom of giving tip-like money in Japan is known as ‘kokorozuke’, which means coming from the heart. Whereas tips are given after receiving a service, historically kokorozuke were given before the service to say ‘thank you in advance for today’. There is more flexibility these days, but in almost every case, how you tip is of utmost importance. Except with taxi drivers, any type of tip should be Japanese bills that are in good condition and they should be folded nicely and handed over discretely in a pochibukuro (tiny rectangular envelope).

RYOKAN: At some expensive traditional ryokans, a Nakai-san will take care of you. This female staff member, usually older and dressed in kimono, acts as a personal attendant. She takes you to your room, provides explanations, serves your meal, prepares your futon, etc. Some Japanese give a small tip to their Nakai-san immediately upon arrival, especially if they frequent the inn and she has taken care of them in the past. These days, for most Japanese, if a tip is given at all, it is given very discreetly at the end of the stay when the Nakai-san has gone above and beyond her expected duties. In 30 years of extensive travel around Japan, I have never stayed with anyone (my husband included) who tipped a Nakai-san.

SPECIAL EVENT: Small monetary presents are sometimes given to staff or volunteers after a major event – a wedding, funeral, large party, etc., but they are not mandatory. Again, this usually occurs when someone has donated their time or gone the extra mile to make things happen. I have never had the opportunity to tip in this type of situation.

RESTAURANT: I read an article that mentioned giving kokorozuke to a restaurant manager when holding an event where you rent out the entire place – as a way of saying thank you for the great inconvenience. Most of the restaurant managers and owners that I know would not be comfortable accepting cash. Choosing their restaurant and bringing in potential new customers is probably thanks enough. I can think of no other reason to tip anyone working in a Japanese eating establishment. However, recently in a handful of cafes, I’ve seen tip jars near the register. Please don’t put money into them unless you’d really like Japan to become a nation where tips are necessary.

SUMO: If you have ever gone to watch a sumo tournament, you may have noticed that attendants, dressed in traditional attire, take care of spectators in the boxed floor seats closest to the ring. Many (but not all) will tip this man about 2000 yen in advance so as to receive the best possible service. It is rare for those of us not used to sitting on the floor to reserve these seats. So, it is highly unlikely you’ll ever need to worry about giving this tip!

GEISHA: Tips are given in the Geisha world. Repeat customers will tip their favorite Geisha so they will be remembered fondly. My husband and I have planned ‘Geisha Evenings’ in Gion in the past. We bring 6-8 guests to a ryotei for dinner and have two Geiko (Kyoto Geisha) and one Maiko (apprentice Geiko) attend and perform. We quietly slip a pochibukuro to each of them at the end of the evening and they are always happy to work for us again when requested. I do these evenings ‘not for profit’, but I do factor the tip into the fee that I charge guests. Unless you have an ongoing relationship with Kyoto’s Geisha community and/or are able to hire them directly and privately, a tip is not necessary.

MOVERS: My husband and I have moved many times and we always tip movers. They usually come in a team – one slightly older full-time employee and a few recent hires and/or part-timers. Their pay is really low, but they work extremely hard and they are polite, respectful, and careful not to scratch or break anything. We buy them bento lunches and, at the end of the move, give them all pochibukuro containing 2000 yen. Just for fun, my husband puts 3000 yen in one of the envelopes and lets them pick them from his hand – so one person gets a ‘prize’ (the movers love this)! On a related note, we also sometimes tip repairmen who we feel are undercharging us for their work – or if they do something for us for free that was not included in the price of the job.

TAXI DRIVERS: We also often give taxi drivers slightly more than the fare, especially if they have been friendly and/or extra helpful. Taxi drivers are also poorly paid and they put in long hours. To encourage them to pick up gaijin, I always round up when paying my fare (ex. 240 yen to 300 yen). Or, if I know a driver has been waiting in a long line and I am not going very far, I add a more substantial tip (ex. 600 yen to 1000 yen). A tip can also be warranted if a driver assists in a particularly difficult situation (ex. driving home a really intoxicated friend, or helping with really heavy luggage).

GUIDES/INTERPRETERS: Japanese private guides and interpreters don’t receive tips from their Japanese clientele and they don’t automatically expect tips from non-Japanese either. However, if their service was exceptional, a tip handed to them in a pochibukuro will always be accepted and appreciated. A small gift or snack from your hometown is also a lovely idea. Most non-Japanese guides in Japan are happy to accept tips, but they should not expect them. If a company highly recommends tipping their guides, they are underpaying them and hoping you will make up the difference. You should think twice about hiring guides from this type of company.

If you know of other examples of tipping in Japan, please feel free to comment. I would gladly add something I’m unaware of. Note: Gift-giving is an entirely different story!

Here is an excellent article by Donny Kimball that explains why Japan is not a tipping culture and expands upon what I’ve written.