In many countries, it is customary to tip for a paid service; however, in Japan, this can even be considered disrespectful. For this reason, let’s understand the whole story of why you should not give tips in Japan.
In Japan, tipping can be seen as offensive. Service professionals, including taxi drivers, waiters, as well as salespeople and staff in hotels, stores, or any commercial establishment in the country, usually refuse to accept tips.
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The history of tipping in the world did not affect Japan
For those who are unaware, a tip is an extra fee you pay someone for their services. In Brazil, we kind of feel obligated to tip since restaurants themselves include a 10% percentage in the bill for the waiter.
Do you know the history of how tips originated? In Rome, it was common to reward a porter with a cup of wine. It’s even funny that the word “bribe” originated from this tradition, where the drink was called – propinare.
Later, for convenience, people began to give money to others so they could buy their own drink. In Eastern society, there was a strict hierarchy, where those from the “upper classes” felt they owed nothing to the “lower classes.”
A tip is an action to show your gratitude for kindness or sympathy towards you. The Japanese do not think that tipping is a good way to do this. If you receive money as compensation for your kindness, it devalues your kindness. The Japanese like to do things without expecting any compensation.
Japan is not the only country that rejects tips. China and some other Asian countries have also inherited the same culture, while other countries do not have the custom of receiving tips because employees’ salaries are quite high or the fee is already included in the total.
Pride, respect, education, and ethics
One of the many characteristics of Japanese culture is a very strong loyalty to the employer, as well as pride in their job and work in general. From this perspective, tipping undermines the employer’s efforts and, as a result, makes the whole situation unworthy for the team of waiters.
They take great pride in this, mainly for a simple reason. “The service you requested was properly charged, so why pay more?” They see this as a form of insult, so be careful not to do this!
Moreover, even if you give a tip, the service provider will not accept your money and will properly return the extra amount to you, out of politeness and ethics. You will rarely see someone accepting a tip there, but it’s better not to take the risk, much less try to give tips.
Not accustomed to leaving money in hand
Most Japanese restaurants require customers to pay for their meals at the front register, instead of leaving money with the waiter or waitress. This somewhat disfavours the chances of any waiter receiving a tip.
Of course, the main reason for this is hygiene. Generally, at the registers, you do not hand money directly to the person; the money is placed in a container to avoid contact between the customer and the cashier. All to please the customer.
Leaving money in a cup or on the table will only cause embarrassment and make an attendant run after you in the middle of the street to return the money you forgot. It is very likely that the money will end up in the hands of the police if they do not find you.
How to thank someone without tipping?
Since most people in Japan do not receive tips, how can you thank someone for a service? There are several ways to express gratitude with words or actions:
Saying thank you, arigatou (ありがとう) – The best way to express gratitude in these situations is by simply saying thank you! In Japan, thank you has a much greater meaning, where you will be expressing gratitude and saying that you liked the service provided; sometimes even a nod will suffice.
Praising the service provided – For a Japanese person, nothing is better than being praised for their work. This is also a matter of honor, as in the case of ramen, where making noise while eating means that you enjoyed the dish. So, in addition to saying thank you, remember to praise the service provided and also express how satisfied you were!
Sincerity – This is one of the most important points; the Japanese appreciate sincerity, so be sincere as well. Do not say something that is not true, because if you tell the truth, they will try to improve, and do not worry, the provider will not be offended but rather grateful. So, sincerity always!
Gifts – If the person has done a lot for you, they may certainly accept a gift. Any gift in Japan should be given in an envelope or wrapping. Often, the person will thank you and open it only at home.
Money in an Envelope – If you insist on leaving money with someone, do not hand it directly to the person. If you are in a hotel or restaurant, leave the envelope on the table when you leave. Even so, this is quite an exaggerated act.
Can I give change as a tip in Japan?
In Brazil, it is common not to receive a cent from a purchase of 1.99. If this happens in Japan and you leave the store without taking the change of one cent, the lady will run after you to give you that one cent back.
That’s right, in markets and convenience stores, they will even give you a measly yen in change. If you do not want to carry dozens of one-yen coins, you can leave them in a donation box that is usually found in some establishments.
It is not unusual to round up the fare of a taxi ride. Sometimes the fare is 2600 yen; you can give 3000 and tell the taxi driver to keep the change. They may hesitate, but generally, they will accept it, especially if you have carried luggage.
Kokorozuke – The closest thing to tipping
Contrary to popular belief, there are moments and places where tipping is practiced. Generally, a tip, known as kokorozuke [心付け], is given before the service is performed. It has been described as part of one of the greeting rituals.
Normally, but not always, kokorozuke money is given in a small envelope; not in the elaborate envelopes that are common at weddings or funerals. Kokorozuke envelopes are simple and usually small.
The kokorozuke that most people know is the one used in ryokans or luxury onsens. This is given to the nakai-san (中居), who shows you to your room. This person will be responsible for one or more rooms, and it is their task to organize and keep things during your stay.
Normally, this person shows you to your room, arranges the meal, cleans everything after the meal, and tidies the bedding. Generally, the amount provided in the envelope is 1000 yen. Remember that it is uncommon to hand money directly to someone.
Another common kokorozuke is during wedding ceremonies. Kokorozuke is often given to various people involved in the production of the event. It is not about the amount required by guests at a wedding, which is common in Japan.
It is also common to give money in an envelope if a large group frequents a restaurant or bar. It is also common to give money in an envelope to the moving team before lunchtime, as if it were lunch money.
Situations where you can give tips in Japan
Remember that even if money in an envelope is accepted, it is far from being necessary or expected. Some guides and groups that do tours may sometimes accept tips, especially if the group consists of foreigners.
Some guides are used to foreigners and do not have the influence of Japanese culture. The same may happen if you are served by a Japanese person in another country; sometimes they do not follow the same customs as in Japan.
It is worth noting that Japan is increasingly westernizing, so some do not mind accepting tips. Even so, keep in mind that Japanese people do not like to accept tips. Avoid this, even if you feel like rewarding them. This will prevent both of you from feeling embarrassed.
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