Travel Tipping in Japan

We've added a new article on tipping in Japan. While it's no longer customary, and waiters, taxi drivers, and bellboys might be confused about a gratuity, tipping is actually not entirely absent from Japan.

We are looking forward to your feedback.

=> Tipping in Japan

I have not looked at your article, but I can say this. It takes a fair amount of pushing to get someone here to accept a tip. That goes for a taxi driver who helped me immensely, and for the wheelchair assistance people in airports who helped my mother recently. Yes, it can be done, but they resist strongly.

EDIT:
Looked at your article. First sentence needs fixing! You wrote that tipping is "no longer customary", when I have never ever in 28 years seen or heard of it being customary or acceptable in the least. So, when was it customary (in your research, that is)?

Skimming your article, I see that you are playing fast and loose with the word tip, perhaps too much so in some cases.

As for moving companies, I've moved several times and with the advice of my Japanese wife, all we have ever offered is a bottled drink or 2 per mover. She said some people do give money, though.

Doctors. What you are describing is illegal, she says, so even if you crossed out bribing in your article, you should be careful how you write.

Indemnification (spelled correctly) is not a tip, nor is any money a mountain municipality would actually ask you to give for toilet service. If you have to ask for it, it's a required payment. Tips are for gratuity.

One more rather important point. If you are going to tell people about special envelopes for tipping, be sure to describe them well. Envelopes are widely found in convenience stores, but they can be for weddings and funerals. It would be a great insult and embarrassment if you gave a tip in a funeral envelope!

I have to wonder where you got your information about some situations. Yours is not a research paper, but I think it still calls for a supporting reference or two.

Thank you for your feedback!

The article is primarily based on personal experiences (in particular, regarding movers, taxi drivers, and doctors) and is not intended to be a research paper. Thank you also for pointing out inconsistencies and misspellings. The incoming typhoon made me rush things a bit yesterday. I have updated a few of the issues you've mentioned and will add another paragraph on shugibukuro.

We have more info on formal gift envelopes (shugibukuro, noshibukuro, etc.) on our page on gift-giving in Japan.

I'm not sure whether it's illegal for a physician to accept gifts, unless they work in a public hospital. However, in Japan, too, there must be a code of medical ethics stipulating what constitutes an acceptable "token of appreciation" and what does not. That would need more research.

The question of whether tipping has ever been customary in Japan may also require further research. It depends on how you define tipping: if it's simply a "gratuity for a service rendered", then it has probably never played any significant role in Japan. If, on the other hand, kokoruzuke is considered tipping, then we're getting into the realm of "social lubrication", where a tip is given to secure a future service or benefit. It's just a small step from "greasing the wheels" to "bribery". Gift-giving has always been an integral part of Japanese society, not just between individuals, but also between companies, individuals, and companies, or people holding public positions, thereby often bordering on institutionalised bribery.

Anyhow, thanks again, Glenski, I really appreciate it!

Where I've seen tipping in Japan:

-Movers (as mentioned above): something nominal like 1000 to 2000 yen or beer.
-I've seen tips given to the ushers for box seats at a sumo tournament (don't know how much).
-Onsen Hotel/Ryokan: again, 1000 to 2000 yen (given at the beginning of a stay).

That's all for me.

Thanks Wabisake, I didn't know about ushers accepting tips, too.

thomas said:

Thanks Wabisake, I didn't know about ushers accepting tips, too.

Click to expand...

They're not really ushers, per se. They're the folks who work for the tea houses that own the seats. I think most folks don't tip them, but I've seen it done.

The article linked from the first post gives a very good background on tipping and 'extras' paid for services in Japan.

From my experience living in and travelling in the country for over 25 years, the only tips required were at Ryokans (traditional style Japanese hotels) and once when we moved home.

We paid the removal guy 2000 yen and he politely accepted it .... my wife confirmed that this is a standard practise.

In my early days in Japan I got a look from a Taxi driver like I had offered him a dead rat instead of the actual 500 yen!! He pushed it back into my hand and I got the message ...... i.e. don't insult me by belittling my work and what I've charged you!

At Ryokans (I have visited dozens of them of varying quality) I paid 2,000 each time and it was also accepted politely. When I stayed with Japanese business colleagues I believe they may have sometimes paid more .... on one occasion I saw a 10,000 yen note being placed in an envelope.

For tourists visiting Japan, I would recommend offering 1,000 or 2,000 yen in an envelope if you stay at a Ryokan, particularly if it's more than one night.

For any other type of accommodation or service, a tip is not expected or necessary in Japan.