Tipping in Japan
 

We will be in Japan in a few weeks. Is tipping common there like for cabs, restaurants and if so can the tip be added to the CC payment?
Thank you, :)

Short answer is no. No tipping for any of those you mentioned. Zero.

Cool. Thanks!

What about a private tour guide?

No, but do offer to buy the guide lunch and pay his/her subway transport, taxi, etc. if taken.

Aloha!

Good idea. Thank you. :-)

Do you mean a guide that you are paying? Aren't they sort of pricey....so would you buy lunch and pay for transport in that case, ht?

I've had a number of free guides here and there - and usually it's part of the agreement to pay for their transport and food...

I believe smeagol used free guides when she was in Japan with filmwill last fall. You might want to start a new thread or do a search to find out the details...

we used both. A free guide in Tokyo (just Muffin and I) and a paid guide with the 4 of us in Kyoto.

We paid for lunch/transport for both. I took a gift from home for the free guide.

I have a guide scheduled in Hakodate from hakodate Goodwill and the fee is nominal. For the other Japanese ports we plan to do things on our own and I have learned there are English speaking people at welcoming booths there and if we get a guide upon arrival we will figure it out. Actually having lunch with a local would be worth the price I think.
Larry. :)

That's the right attitude, Larry.

Thank you!