You do not tip in Japan
No tipping
Service is included in the price at restaurants, taxis, hotels and practically any Japanese establishment. Do not leave extra money on the table.
No. In Japan there is no tipping culture. Service is considered part of the price and of the establishment's professional pride. Leaving money on the table can be read as something forgotten or, in some contexts, as a gesture that can be awkward for the staff.
Tipping by type of establishment
One practical detail worth knowing before going case by case: in many restaurants and shops in Japan money is not handed over directly. On the counter there is a small tray (otsuri-zara) where you leave the notes and coins, and the change is returned to you on the tray too. It is not a rigid rule, but it is the norm and reinforces the idea that payment is an exact transaction, with no extras.
Restaurants and cafes
No
No tip is left. You pay exactly the bill. The waiter may run to return your money if you leave it on the table thinking it is forgotten change.
Taxis
No
You pay exactly what the meter shows. The driver returns the change down to the last yen. Saying "keep the change" causes confusion.
Hotels (Western)
No
No tip is left for reception staff, porters or cleaners. The room price includes the full service.
Ryokan (traditional accommodation)
Optional
The kokorozuke practice exists: an envelope with 1,000–2,000 ¥ per person handed to the attendant on arrival as advance thanks. It is not mandatory and many modern ryokan no longer expect it.
Tours with a local Japanese guide
Not expected
Guides from local Japanese companies do not expect a tip. You can give one if the service has been exceptional, but it is not the norm.
Tours with a foreign-language guide
Optional
Guides who work with groups of Western tourists may be used to receiving one. A gesture of thanks at the end of the tour is appropriate, though not mandatory.
Hairdressers and spas
No
In Japanese salons no tip is given. The price of the service is the final price.
Home delivery
No
Japanese delivery drivers do not expect or accept a tip. The payment is already included in the service fee.
Why you do not tip in Japan
The Japanese culture of service is called omotenashi: selfless hospitality that seeks no benefit for itself. Within this framework, excellent service is an obligation inherent to the job, not an additional effort that deserves an extra financial reward. The idea that a waiter would serve better or worse depending on whether they will receive a tip is in direct contradiction with the concept of Japanese professional pride. It is one of the traits that most surprises travellers; we frame it alongside the rest of the customs of Japan.
The price you pay on the menu already includes the full service. Japanese establishments build their prices so that staff earn a decent wage without depending on variable tips. Trying to leave a tip can even be interpreted, in some contexts, as a suggestion that the establishment does not charge enough or that the employee needs charity.
If you want to show gratitude: do it with words. "Arigatou gozaimashita" (thank you very much) said with a slight bow is the Japanese cultural equivalent of leaving a generous tip. The staff will appreciate it genuinely more than any extra money.
The kokorozuke at the ryokan: the only tip that exists
The only situation where a practice comparable to a tip exists in Japan is the kokorozuke (lit. "feeling of the heart") at mid-to-high-range traditional ryokan. This custom works like this:
- On arriving at the room, the attendant (nakai-san) who will guide you during your stay serves the welcome tea.
- At that moment, if you wish to make the gesture, you discreetly hand over a paper envelope (white, undecorated) with the money inside. It is never given by hand without an envelope.
- The usual amount is 1,000–2,000 ¥ per person. More than that can be excessive and awkward.
- Many modern ryokan oriented to international tourism have dropped this practice and the staff do not expect it.
- If you do not do it, absolutely nothing happens. The service will be just as excellent.
Charges you will see on the bill (that are not a tip)
That there is no tipping does not mean the bill is always the menu price and nothing more. There are some legitimate charges that surprise travellers and that should not be confused with a tip:
- Otoshi (お通し) at izakayas. When you sit down at many izakayas (Japanese taverns) they bring you a small appetiser you did not order. It is not a gift: it is the otoshi, a kind of cover charge of 300–500 ¥ per person (sometimes a bit more at high-end places) that appears on the bill. It is normal and mandatory; it is not optional and cannot be refused at most places. We also explain it in the guide on what to eat in Japan.
- Service charge (サービス料). Some high-end restaurants, hotel bars and ryotei add a 10–15% "service charge" to the bill. This is not a tip you decide: it is a fixed surcharge that the establishment applies and states in advance. Where it exists, it completely replaces any idea of a tip.
- Late-night surcharge. Bars and some restaurants apply a supplement after midnight (shinya ryokin), usually an additional 10%. It is usually indicated on the menu.
- Consumption tax. The 10% Japanese consumption tax is already included in the displayed price: since April 2021 shops and restaurants are required to show the final price with tax, so the number on the menu is what you pay (unless the above charges are added). To understand how to handle cash and payments, see the money in Japan guide and how it affects the budget in how much it costs to travel to Japan.
Summary: in Japan you do not decide how much extra to pay. Either the price is the one on the menu, or the place charges you a fixed, stated surcharge. You never have to calculate a tip percentage yourself.
Planning your trip to Japan?
The planner generates your personalised itinerary with budget, cities and activities in minutes.
Plan my trip
More travel guides
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip in Japan?
No. Japan is one of the few countries in the world where tipping does not exist as a social practice. Service is included in the price and staff do not expect or accept additional money in the vast majority of situations.
What happens if I leave a tip at a Japanese restaurant?
Most likely the waiter will run to return it thinking you forgot your change. In Japan, returning forgotten money is a deeply rooted norm of honesty. At some places very oriented to international tourism, staff may accept it without fuss, but at local restaurants it can create an awkward moment.
Do you tip in taxis in Japan?
No. Taxis in Japan have a meter and you pay exactly what it shows. The driver may return your change down to the last yen. No tip is expected or accepted. Saying "keep the change" can cause confusion.
Do you have to tip at Japanese hotels and ryokan?
At standard hotels, no tip is left. At traditional ryokan the optional kokorozuke practice exists: an envelope with cash handed to the attendant on arrival as a token of advance thanks. It is not mandatory and many modern ryokan no longer expect it. If done, the usual amount is 1,000–2,000 ¥ per person (~6–11 €). You can check the current rate in the yen converter.
And on guided tours with foreign-language guides?
On tours operated by international companies with guides who work with groups of Western tourists, leaving a tip for the guide at the end of the tour is an appreciated gesture though not mandatory. On tours managed entirely by local Japanese companies, it is not usual.
Why do you not tip in Japan?
In Japan the quality of service (omotenashi) is considered an obligation inherent to the job, not something rewarded with an additional amount. The price you pay already includes the full service, and professional pride does not depend on tips. It is one of the aspects of the trip that most surprises visitors; you can read more about how much it costs to travel to Japan and what each item includes.
How much is the kokorozuke at a ryokan?
The usual kokorozuke amount is 1,000 to 2,000 ¥ per person (~6–11 €). It is handed in a white paper envelope to the attendant (nakai-san) at the start of the stay, not at the end. More than 3,000 ¥ can be excessive. Not doing it does not affect the quality of the service received at all.
How do you express gratitude in Japan instead of a tip?
With words and gestures. A sincere "arigatou gozaimashita" (thank you very much, respectful form) accompanied by a slight bow is the cultural equivalent of a tip. Japanese staff value it genuinely. If you want to learn more useful phrases, see the Japanese phrases guide.
What is the "otoshi" charge that appears on an izakaya bill?
The otoshi (お通し) is a small appetiser served to you when you sit down at many izakayas without ordering it. It is not a tip or a gift: it works as a cover charge of about 300–500 ¥ per person that appears on the bill and that, at most places, is mandatory. Do not confuse it with a tip: in Japan you never have to add money yourself, you only pay the menu price plus, where it exists, a fixed service charge stated in advance.