Tipping in Japan
Sep 11th, 2014, 05:24 PM
#2
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No tips! It would completely embarrass the recipient, invoking Japan's tradition of EXCHANGING gifts. The only exception that I have read about is at VERY high end ryokan, but then the tip would given in an envelope - and honestly I'm not sure tips should be given even at such establishments. Since I didn't stay in any high-end ryokan, I can't speak to whether tipping at high end ryokan is considered appropriate or not.
Sep 12th, 2014, 12:53 AM
#7
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Yes, I would think it more likely that they were hostesses, rather than geisha. Here's some info about geisha:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2102.html
As Hanuman suggested, it seems that SMALL tips (not percentage based) are <u>sometimes</u> given at very high-end ryokan - but not always. I'm providing a link to a japan-guide.com thread on the issue; note that "Uji" is an expert on Japan:
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...ay.html?0+6974
Per Frommer's, "Japanese nouns do not have plural forms; thus, for example, <i>ryokan</i> .. can be both singular and plural, as can kimono."
Guidebooks prove useful for all sorts of things!
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2102.html
As Hanuman suggested, it seems that SMALL tips (not percentage based) are <u>sometimes</u> given at very high-end ryokan - but not always. I'm providing a link to a japan-guide.com thread on the issue; note that "Uji" is an expert on Japan:
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...ay.html?0+6974
Per Frommer's, "Japanese nouns do not have plural forms; thus, for example, <i>ryokan</i> .. can be both singular and plural, as can kimono."
Guidebooks prove useful for all sorts of things!
Sep 12th, 2014, 09:27 PM
#10
Geisha do not run ryokan.
Of that, I am certain. The rest of this post is "as I understand it to be".
I would refer to the ryokan hostess, correctly I think, as okamisan. We can talk about her role as "hostess", but I would not call her hostess to her face. I think the Japanese word hosutesu (hostess) refers specifically to a bar hostess (picture a young, attractive, woman getting paid to have a conversation with a man who is getting goofy drunk).
A geisha is an "art person" and acts as a hostess (at a tea house) but is not a hosutesu.
Of that, I am certain. The rest of this post is "as I understand it to be".
I would refer to the ryokan hostess, correctly I think, as okamisan. We can talk about her role as "hostess", but I would not call her hostess to her face. I think the Japanese word hosutesu (hostess) refers specifically to a bar hostess (picture a young, attractive, woman getting paid to have a conversation with a man who is getting goofy drunk).
A geisha is an "art person" and acts as a hostess (at a tea house) but is not a hosutesu.
