Briefly mentioned this in another post, but decided that it would be beneficial to have an individual more detailed post as well.

While tipping is a widespread practice globally, Japan breaks that norm. In Japan, tipping for a service isn’t a thing. Whether you find yourself in a restaurant, using a driving service, or getting food delivered, remember, people don’t tip.

Foreigner tourists might find this strange, especially since Japanese service quality is renowned internationally as some of the best.

Initially, it may be perplexing, but once you acclimate to this non-tipping culture, it can be quite relieving. Removing tipping from the transaction makes the service environment feel more relaxed, easing off potential stress for both customers and servers. So, while you’re there, don’t feel obligated to leave a tip for your driver or waitress (they’re likely to chase after you to give it back!).

Tipping in Japan: More Insulting Than Complimentary

Tipping in Japan is viewed as rude and demeaning: An insult rather than a compliment.

Unintended Consequences of Tipping in Japan

Suppose you do leave a tip. In that case, the likelihood is that the servers become confused and probably will return it or even argue softly for you to take it back.

If your waiter or waitress does understand that the change left behind is a tip, they might not know how to handle taxes on it. Usually, they’d report it to their employer as an “incident.”

The Upside of a No-tip Culture

You’ll quickly adapt to not tipping in Japan, and who knows, you might even grow to love it. Without the need to tip, any server is open to assist you in a restaurant or bar. It also simplifies the process of paying the bill.

The Downside?

The tricky bit might be for foreigners intending to work in Japan’s service sectors. They may find the income less rewarding compared to their home country where tips could supplement their earnings.