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!