Originally Posted by RichardInSF
Never tipped anywhere in Japan, including onsen hotels/ryokans and Japanese style hotels. I only know of one place in Japan where you tip: when you buy a prime sumo ticket through a "tea house," you generously tip the guy who brings you the souvenir packages that are included in the fee charged by the tea house.
Originally Posted by jib71
Other people who get tipped in Japan... Doctors, teachers and politicians. Go figure.
It's hard to call some of these situation tips. Probably more as traditional forms of gratitude, congratulations or "onegai".
Like
RichardinSF, I have never given a "tip" here in Japan. Even the situation of giving some money to the aforementioned "tea house" guy who brings you your food and drinks during the tournament and afterwards presents you with a few bags of souvenirs to take home, is more of a traditional and accepted form of "onegai shimasu" to me (I give the money after the guy first shows me to the booth.)
When I attend the tea ceremony of my old tea master, it's customary to give an envelope of cash as a congratulatory gift, though it's also as a show of thanks for the past year.
Doctors, especially before a major operation, used to be unobtrusively given an envelope containing a considerable amount of money either before (as an "onegaishimasu") or after (as a thank you) the operation. I now think this custom is less common. When my daughter had an operation about 10 years ago, the doctor clearly stated (without my even bringing it up) that it was not his policy to accept this kind of money.
Teachers? What??? No one ever gave me a tip!
Seriously, I have had instances where students or parents have sent me an expensive gift (bottles of whiskey, for example), forcing me to go through the trouble of having to send them back. I see gifts like these as almost a bribe, especially before the final exam/final grading season. I did take part in the tradition of having a nice gift sent to a teacher who helped me to get a job at their school, as a thank you (as I was informed by more experienced teachers), but I don't see this as being much different than the Oseibo (New Year's) and Ochugen gifts sent out (and a big business) to all those you wish to thank (or stay in the good favors of) during the year.
Politicians. Bribes. 'nuff said. The small business school I used to work for used to have four "daijin" (government ministers) attend their opening ceremony. I can only think of one reason why...
If you do want to show your appreciation to the room maid, I also think that the small, nicely wrapped gift of food or chocolate from home is the better gesture.