Tipping Culture Creeps into Japan
So… tipping.

Tipping is a big deal in the U.S., as many of you know. Most restaurants pay what can only be described as slave wages (the server minimum wage is just $2.13 per hour[1]) so it basically falls on customers to cover the difference. As a result, an entire culture has arisen where everyone is pressured to pay at least 15%, even for mediocre service, and 20% or more for good service.
As always, everyone wants a piece of the pie. These days, even people in jobs that already pay a reasonable wage (reasonable compared to servers, anyway) are jumping on the tip bandwagon. Go to Starbucks, and there’s a tip jar. Pick up a sandwich at Subway, and the digital pay screen prompts you for a tip. I’ve heard from several people that on some of these screens, the “no tip” option is covered with a sticker — an obvious attempt to trick the customer into paying up when social pressure doesn’t do the job.
What a mess, eh?
When I was a kid, it felt like most people defended this system. But these days, Gen Z seems to be pushing back hard; with the price of everything skyrocketing, even older generations are increasingly fed up. I don’t think anyone has a problem with tipping as a reward for exceptional service. But mandatory tipping? That rubs nearly everyone the wrong way.
Now, let’s jump across the ocean to Japan, where the situation is the exact opposite.
Tipping isn’t just unnecessary here — it can actually be considered rude. It gives the impression of a bribe, or suggests that the server is only being polite in hopes of a kickback. In Japan, good service is part of the job. No strings attached.
But… that may be starting to change.
A few recent news stories have highlighted a growing trend in Tokyo: restaurants quietly slipping tip requests into their checkout screens. The businesses implementing these systems claim that American tourists pressured them into it. Too many foreign guests, they say, insist on tipping, and the restaurants finally caved.
Is that an excuse?
Honestly, as an American who’s seen firsthand how rude and entitled many U.S. tourists can be in Japan, I wouldn’t be surprised. But at the same time, it also wouldn’t shock me if some of these businesses just saw a convenient opportunity to squeeze a little more revenue out of customers — and blamed the Americans to dodge responsibility.
Some reports go further: the tips aren’t going to the servers at all. They’re going straight into the restaurant’s profits.

It probably won’t surprise anyone to hear that this has stirred up a fair amount of hatred — mostly directed at Americans. Not so much from the Japanese (I’ve heard some light complaints, but no direct blame — at least not to me[2]), but from other foreigners. A lot of them are angry that tipping culture is infecting Japan, and they’re placing the blame squarely on U.S. visitors.
There’s plenty of online chatter about this. For example, check out this recent Reddit thread, which is basically a flame war against American tipping norms.
Of course, keep in mind that my sample is skewed. I’ve talked to a few handfuls of Japanese people about this in real life, but most of the foreign opinions I’ve seen come from online discussions — where people are often more extreme in what they say. So take it all with a grain of salt. Still, it’s an interesting data point.
What’s tipping like in your country? Do you think the U.S. system is out of control? Would you welcome tipping in Japan, or fight it tooth and nail?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Mastodon. |
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Tipping is WAY out of control here in the US. I am old enough that I got to be a young adult while tipping was still totally seen as an option to show appreciation if you received extra good service. It also caused the servers (most of them) to at least pretend to be cheery and extra helpful.
I laughed the first time I saw a tip cup attached to the shelf at the pickup window at Starbucks, like I am supposed to tip them for handing my cup out the window?? LOL.. I find that totally absurd.
Well said. Yeah, those tip cups drive me nuts. If I get exceptionally good espresso and want to tip the barista, I will do that directly. Putting a tip jar there suggests you are trying to use social pressure to push me to tip and that just makes me less likely to want to leave one.
Feeling uncomfortable with the idea that tipping has become expected rather than a gesture of appreciation as I completely understand that frustration.
Yep, that's it exactly.
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Of course it's the Americans fault. What a fantastic scapegoat we have become for pretty much evil in the world. Sure, some of it might be deserved, but I don't hate all German, Italian, and Japanese people because World War II happened. Tipping is stupid though. I can agree it has absolutely gotten out of hand. I tend to tip big no matter what, but the expectation is what drives me crazy.
haha I know. But in this case, it is the American tipping system that's coming in. No other country uses tips this way. So there is some justification to the people being angry at America. The restaurant owners don't help by specifying that American tourists were the ones demanding it.
Yeah that's exactly it : that it's become expected. I don't think anyone complains about tipping in Europe, exactly because it's totally optional. If you want to tip big, go for it, but if you want to tip zero, no one is going to give you the stink eye. And the server gives you the same treatment either way. But when it becomes expected... that's the kind of thing that leaves a sour taste in your mouth and makes you not want to tip just on principle.
I understand what you are saying, but when Russia lobs missiles at Ukraine people don't get mad at Germany because they pioneered missile technology.
Tipping is stupid? Man ya’ll cheap!😂
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I like the Japanese view of NO tipping. 😉👊 I think 15% or worse.. mandatory tipping.. is just too much. In philippines tipping is just leaving whatever coins u might get as change. Not so bad at all..
I like the PH way!
I hate tipping culture here in the US now, everybody wants tips. I almost expect to start seeing tip jars in doctor's office at the rate things are going. I only tip in a sit down restaurant where there is a server brining you food. I refuse to tip at fast food places or coffee shops. It's ridiculous. And you are right, many of the tips go to the corporation and not the employees. The system is broken here and needs to change.
I sincerely hope the tipping nightmare doesn't take hold in Japan, it's a nightmare!
Yeah, it's gotten crazy. Everyone wants free money and gets mad if they don't get it.