You should not tip in restaurants in Japan. It is not a custom and may be considered rude or confusing by staff who are not expecting it. Instead of a monetary tip, you can show appreciation through polite phrases like “gochisosama deshita” (thank you for the meal) when leaving or by leaving a positive online review for exceptional service. Tipping can be seen as an insult to the professionalism and pride Japanese staff take in providing excellent service as part of their role.
Japanese dislike it when foreigners leave a tip on the table after a meal. The Japanese view this behaviour as polluting their culture. The same can be said of China, South Korea, Vietnam and other East Asian communities. They view tipping as an act of insensitivity and condescension. The only exceptions are tour guides, for whatever reasons they may be 🙂
Do you know?
The Canadian provinces showing the biggest post-COVID tipping increases are British Columbia and, to a lesser extent, Ontario, while Atlantic Canada and Quebec report the smallest changes. British Columbia leads in both the frequency and perceived pressure to tip more (“tip-flation”), with nearly three-quarters of residents saying they are being prompted to tip more and more often since the pandemic. Guess what? Consumers in BC hate it and are pushing back against restaurants prompting them to tip in excess of 20%. Some places even have the gall to “suggest” up to 30%!
