Tipping in Japan
In Japan, tipping is never strictly required. At a sit-down restaurant, ¥0 — no tipping, even at upscale restaurants. Tipping is unusual for 18 services.
Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be perceived as rude or confusing. Exceptional service is considered standard, and accepting a tip can embarrass the recipient.
Tipping in Japan at a glance
- Sit-down restaurant
- ¥0 — no tipping, even at upscale restaurants
- Taxi
- ¥0 — drivers return every yen of change
- Bar
- ¥0 — but expect a seating charge (otoshi)
- Housekeeping
- ¥0 at most hotels; ¥1,000–¥3,000 kokorozuke at ryokan
- Concierge
- ¥0; ¥3,000–¥10,000 in an envelope for exceptional help
- Tour guide
- ¥0 group; ¥3,000–¥10,000 private English-speaking guide
- Café
- ¥0
Tipping by service in Japan
| Service | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | Unusual | ¥0 — no tipping, even at upscale restaurants |
| Counter / takeaway | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Café | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Bar | Unusual | ¥0 — but expect a seating charge (otoshi) |
| Housekeeping | Unusual | ¥0 at most hotels; ¥1,000–¥3,000 kokorozuke at ryokan |
| Porter | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Concierge | Unusual | ¥0; ¥3,000–¥10,000 in an envelope for exceptional help |
| Taxi | Unusual | ¥0 — drivers return every yen of change |
| Rideshare | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Food delivery | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Grocery delivery | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Hairdresser | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Spa | Unusual | ¥0 — including onsen, sento, and hotel spas |
| Tour guide | Optional | ¥0 group; ¥3,000–¥10,000 private English-speaking guide |
| Tattoo artist | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Valet | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Airport baggage | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Busker | Optional | ¥100–¥500 if there is an open case/hat |
| Movers | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Tradesperson | Unusual | ¥0 |
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Tipping in Japan: common questions
Do you tip in Japan?
Generally no. Tipping is not customary for any of the 20 services we track in Japan. Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be perceived as rude or confusing. Exceptional service is considered standard, and accepting a tip can embarrass the recipient.
How much do you tip at a restaurant in Japan?
¥0 — no tipping, even at upscale restaurants. Tipping is not part of Japanese restaurant culture, full stop.
How much do you tip a taxi driver in Japan?
¥0 — drivers return every yen of change. Japanese taxi drivers are professional, often uniformed and white-gloved, and are paid through the metered fare.
Do you tip hotel housekeeping in Japan?
¥0 at most hotels; ¥1,000–¥3,000 kokorozuke at ryokan. At APA, Toyoko Inn, business hotels, and even most luxury Western brands (Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt) in Japan, housekeeping is not tipped — staff often will not enter the room to claim cash and may turn it in as "lost." The genuine exception is a high-end ryokan with an assigned nakai-san (room attendant) who serves your in-room kaiseki and lays out your futon; here, a kokorozuke of ¥1,000–¥3,000 per guest, slipped to her in a small envelope (pochi-bukuro) at check-in, is occasionally given.
Where is tipping not expected in Japan?
Tipping is unusual for 18 services: sit-down restaurant, counter / takeaway, café, bar, housekeeping, porter, concierge, taxi, rideshare, food delivery, grocery delivery, hairdresser, spa, tattoo artist, valet, airport baggage, movers, and tradesperson. Leaving nothing is completely normal in these situations.
Should you tip in cash or by card in Japan?
Cash is preferred for 4 of the 20 services we track in Japan, because card tips do not always reach staff. Carrying small notes is worth it.