Tipping point: foreign gratuities upend Japan’s tradition of gracious service

On a bustling evening in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, a handful of coins left behind by an American tourist creates confusion at a popular izakaya.

In a nation where omotenashi – selfless hospitality – is a point of pride, the growing custom of tipping as millions of foreign visitors pour into the country is catching Japan off guard.

“It’s not common to tip for services such as those provided in bars, cafés, restaurants, taxis and hotels,” the Japanese National Tourism Organisation reminds travellers on its official website.

But with Japan welcoming more than 21.5 million overseas visitors in the first half of the year, according to JTB Tourism Research, tipping has begun to take root.

At the beef cutlet restaurant chain Gyukatsu Motomura, staff found themselves at a loss when foreign patrons began offering gratuities, reported Encount.