Hotel tipping
 

What's the usual tipping rate for hotel stay in Japan?

$0.00. Tipping is neither expected nor encouraged in Japan. For the most part, you are paying service charges with the bill that more than make up for tips.

JR

If you leave a tip in a restaurant or bar the staff will sometimes chase you up the street saying "you forgot your change". :D
I don't think anyone will refuse your tip, especially in a hotel with a lot of Westerners, as long as you explain that it is a tip.

However, it is customary and expected that one tips at a ryokan

News to this gaijin :confused: ? There is always a hefty service charge added to the tariff !

Yeah this one too.

Me three! Never heard this.

JR

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.

I remember reading about the custom of tipping the lady in the kimono who welcomes you to your room and pours your first cup of tea at the ryokan - and my wife (who is Japanese) confirmed that this is indeed a custom at traditional ryokan.

Dutifully, I made advance preparations - I prepared an envelope with the appropriate money inside (I didn't want to appear vulgar in handing over the cash) and I attempted to give it to the lady after she poured our tea.... She firmly refused it several times until I gave up. :)

Other people who get tipped in Japan... Doctors, teachers and politicians.
Go figure.

I don't know if you can call the money given to the professionals(I use the word loosely) tips. If those are tips, is "key" money to the real estate agents a tip also?

I think Jib71 was being, let's say, a wee bit sarcastic when he used that term.

At least the Estate Agents are upfront about their 'gift'.

This must be level-5 Japanese habits you guys talking about...
 

Bribes.... is more appropriate than tips you call, I think.
It's because those people never issue the receipt, just give you a nod instead
(and counts the money later, in the restroom or somewhere safety...)

What about in the US where tipping is mandatory?
Do you leave a tip each day for the maid that makes up your room or do you leave a final tip at the end of your stay?

If you're trying to find out as research before a forthcoming trip you’re probably better off posting this question in one of the US Forums.

Now, if on the other hand your looking to spur comparison and debate on different countries’ tipping customs, then, sure… go ahead. But TravelBuzz would be the best forum for that.

I asked to find out about different customs. :)

I normaly leave the maid a tip each day just in case it's a different maid at the end of my stay ashs she would get the whole stay's tip which wouldn't be fair on the first maid.