Just saw a bottle of coins next to the register at Brooklyn Roasting Company in Shimokitazawa. Is tipping culture coming to Japan? I really hope not. Wonder whether people saw it in other places too.
Those have been at registers for years, usually going to some charity/whatever thing, its clearly labeled somewhere near the box. Seen this stuff at convenience stores/etc. Definitely not for tipping.
i have seen tip jars many times, mostly in bars, but i wouldn’t say they’re common.
i would be very surprised if proper tipping ever caught on here.
No, and if I catch you tipping I shall give you the most dishonorable atomic wedgie!
The atomic wedgie being like a normal wedgie but you keep pulling the undergarment up over the receivers forehead…
It’s not. Tipping is considered rude because it signals insufficient service. You provide a tip so that they can improve their service. It’s the exact reversed logic to western countries where a tip signals (or is at least intendet to signal) a superior service.
What you sometimes see in Japan though is a self-payment box. Like, if you want a coffee, please put your coin here and take it yourself. Train stations in rural areas often have no ticket gates but just a box of coins. They trust that people don’t take advantage of this non-controlled setup. Which works in the majority of the time (in Japan).
It might have been either the latter or actually a tipping box. If it was actually a tipping box, I blame the “Brooklyn” in the name for that.
I’ve seen it in some small American run places, like 4 or 5 in all of Tokyo. I don’t think it’s a trend catching on.
Steve Buscemi, we need you now more than ever!
Tip jars follow the international crowd.
Tipping is not coming to Japan, and if it does, I will slap the ***ever-loving fuck*** out of it. *You hear me tipping?*
wtf, no way.
fuck tipping culture.
It is quite common. I have seen them at daiso or places where you get coins a lot or where only cash is accepted. Some people do not like carrying around 1 yen coins.
As long as it’s not American-style tipping.
fuck the culture, ive tipped so many times to a delivery guy, they hesitate but will take eventually.
No. That jar is unrelated to tipping. I usually just drop random change I don’t need into it.
An establishment with “Brooklyn” in its name. It’s roleplaying as an American establishment.
Ask the staff if they get the tips. I have a rotation of coffee shops and they all told me the boss just uses it for his fun money.
Absolutely disgusting.
“Tip jars” have always existed at American-themed establishments simply for decoration.
No way. The locals would never accept that culture.
Tipping sub-culture I’d say…
How it came to be a thing in the USA is unknown to me I’d love to understand by what magic business owners managed to outsource payroll to their own client. I’m surprised not to have heard Bill Burr on the subject like his epic take down of self-check out shops 🙂
Believe me, the day the basic Japanese bar employee who makes 190K a month, working 6 days a week will see a significant salary increase after the tips… yeah, that shit is coming, it’s not a question “if”, it’s “when”.
I used to work at a salad bar where there were a lot of foreign customers. A lot would ask “Where do I give you tip?” and I explain to them it’s not a thing, so maybe it’s just there so they don’t have to explain it every time-type thing.
I’ve bumped into it in a couple places in Kobe too, all foreigner-oriented. Not really a fan.
1 and 5 yen coins, or b-b-bigger?
The only time you traditionally tip in Japan is at a onsen hotel where a specific person (仲居さん) is assigned to your room. It is called 心付け, and is a thank you gesture. You never give the bills as is, it should be in an envelope or wrapped in paper, even a piece of clean tissue. Small envelopes for this purpose are sold at stores. It’s not required, but it would be nice to do if you asked for some special service, like coming in early and they had to rush to get your room early, or asked her for extra things with your meals at the last minute. If you do this, the lady owner 女将さん will usually come to your room to thank you and you might even get some extra service in return.
Another situation where you often see people tipping is if you have a caddie at a golf course. If you are a player that will make your caddie run all over the course searching for your balls, you might want to tip 500 to 1,000 yen (in a small envelope, of course). You can also buy a can of beer or a bottle of beverage at the tea house during the round, They can drink it, or trade it in for a tip if the course allows it. Some courses even have a special package or ticket you can buy the caddie for this purpose. It’s more of a thank you gesture, and it’s not required any more. I don’t know if the younger golfers even know about this tradition of tipping caddies, as each player will already be paying a caddie fee, and it wouldn’t occur to them to tip extra.
I’ve never seen anyone tipping servers at restaurants unless they have a special room to themselves.
When I see them normally it is for a charity. If it’s literally just a tipping jar it will normally be where the foreigners hang out.
#NO!
#DO NOT ENCOURAGE TIP CULTURE IN JAPAN.
I will refuse to patronize anywhere that puts out a tip jar like that. Keep the American BS in America.
25 comments
Those have been at registers for years, usually going to some charity/whatever thing, its clearly labeled somewhere near the box. Seen this stuff at convenience stores/etc. Definitely not for tipping.
i have seen tip jars many times, mostly in bars, but i wouldn’t say they’re common.
i would be very surprised if proper tipping ever caught on here.
No, and if I catch you tipping I shall give you the most dishonorable atomic wedgie!
The atomic wedgie being like a normal wedgie but you keep pulling the undergarment up over the receivers forehead…
It’s not. Tipping is considered rude because it signals insufficient service. You provide a tip so that they can improve their service. It’s the exact reversed logic to western countries where a tip signals (or is at least intendet to signal) a superior service.
What you sometimes see in Japan though is a self-payment box. Like, if you want a coffee, please put your coin here and take it yourself. Train stations in rural areas often have no ticket gates but just a box of coins. They trust that people don’t take advantage of this non-controlled setup. Which works in the majority of the time (in Japan).
It might have been either the latter or actually a tipping box. If it was actually a tipping box, I blame the “Brooklyn” in the name for that.
I’ve seen it in some small American run places, like 4 or 5 in all of Tokyo. I don’t think it’s a trend catching on.
Steve Buscemi, we need you now more than ever!
Tip jars follow the international crowd.
Tipping is not coming to Japan, and if it does, I will slap the ***ever-loving fuck*** out of it. *You hear me tipping?*
wtf, no way.
fuck tipping culture.
It is quite common. I have seen them at daiso or places where you get coins a lot or where only cash is accepted. Some people do not like carrying around 1 yen coins.
As long as it’s not American-style tipping.
fuck the culture, ive tipped so many times to a delivery guy, they hesitate but will take eventually.
No. That jar is unrelated to tipping. I usually just drop random change I don’t need into it.
An establishment with “Brooklyn” in its name.
It’s roleplaying as an American establishment.
Ask the staff if they get the tips. I have a rotation of coffee shops and they all told me the boss just uses it for his fun money.
Absolutely disgusting.
“Tip jars” have always existed at American-themed establishments simply for decoration.
No way. The locals would never accept that culture.
Tipping sub-culture I’d say…
How it came to be a thing in the USA is unknown to me I’d love to understand by what magic business owners managed to outsource payroll to their own client. I’m surprised not to have heard Bill Burr on the subject like his epic take down of self-check out shops 🙂
Believe me, the day the basic Japanese bar employee who makes 190K a month, working 6 days a week will see a significant salary increase after the tips… yeah, that shit is coming, it’s not a question “if”, it’s “when”.
I used to work at a salad bar where there were a lot of foreign customers. A lot would ask “Where do I give you tip?” and I explain to them it’s not a thing, so maybe it’s just there so they don’t have to explain it every time-type thing.
I’ve bumped into it in a couple places in Kobe too, all foreigner-oriented. Not really a fan.
1 and 5 yen coins, or b-b-bigger?
The only time you traditionally tip in Japan is at a onsen hotel where a specific person (仲居さん) is assigned to your room. It is called 心付け, and is a thank you gesture. You never give the bills as is, it should be in an envelope or wrapped in paper, even a piece of clean tissue. Small envelopes for this purpose are sold at stores. It’s not required, but it would be nice to do if you asked for some special service, like coming in early and they had to rush to get your room early, or asked her for extra things with your meals at the last minute. If you do this, the lady owner 女将さん will usually come to your room to thank you and you might even get some extra service in return.
Another situation where you often see people tipping is if you have a caddie at a golf course. If you are a player that will make your caddie run all over the course searching for your balls, you might want to tip 500 to 1,000 yen (in a small envelope, of course). You can also buy a can of beer or a bottle of beverage at the tea house during the round, They can drink it, or trade it in for a tip if the course allows it. Some courses even have a special package or ticket you can buy the caddie for this purpose. It’s more of a thank you gesture, and it’s not required any more. I don’t know if the younger golfers even know about this tradition of tipping caddies, as each player will already be paying a caddie fee, and it wouldn’t occur to them to tip extra.
I’ve never seen anyone tipping servers at restaurants unless they have a special room to themselves.
When I see them normally it is for a charity. If it’s literally just a tipping jar it will normally be where the foreigners hang out.
#NO!
#DO NOT ENCOURAGE TIP CULTURE IN JAPAN.
I will refuse to patronize anywhere that puts out a tip jar like that. Keep the American BS in America.
God, I hope not…