How do I tip a concierge?
Jun 29, 2007 | 9:30 am
#31
Join Date: May 2007
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I guess it's because I've never looked too deeply into staying at "TOP LUXURY ryokans". http://www.jnto.go.jp/syd/arrange/ac...ons/index.html None of my (British) guidebooks encourage me to tip.
Perhaps it would be more helpful to try and figure out what percentage of ryokans are 'top luxury' ones, and how much they usually cost so one can recognise them.
That should stop anyone who might get concerned with tipping doing so needlessly.
What are the tell tale signs of a 'top luxury' ryokan where this sort of practice may or may not be expected?
Perhaps it would be more helpful to try and figure out what percentage of ryokans are 'top luxury' ones, and how much they usually cost so one can recognise them.
That should stop anyone who might get concerned with tipping doing so needlessly.
What are the tell tale signs of a 'top luxury' ryokan where this sort of practice may or may not be expected?
Masako san said that there are very few Westerners who came to Kagaya but around a hundred Taiwanese every year. As you recall, Taiwan was ruled by Japan upto WWII.
I learned a lot of tidbits from her. Such as the belt on yukata is worn below the belly for men and below the bosom for women. So I was wearing the belt like a woman before.
Jun 29, 2007 | 9:37 am
#32
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Here's more from the Japan Ryokan Assoc.
http://www.ryokan.or.jp/english/pdf/...y_of_terms.pdf
http://www.ryokan.or.jp/english/pdf/...y_of_terms.pdf
Jun 29, 2007 | 9:58 am
#33
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Thanks! - that should be authoritive enough
(bolding mine)
(There have been some viscious fights over this subject on the China forum, I'm just hoping to 'contain' it here so it doesn't get out of hand)
Originally Posted by Japan Ryokan Association
...some guests offer kokoro-zuke when staying at a ryokan. When doing so, the guests usually wrap the money or place it in a small envelope called a pochi-bukero and hand it as a shougi (generous tip), sunshi (small token of appreciation), or chadai (small tip) usually given to the room attendant. The kokoro-zuke is given at various timings, such as upon arrival, at dinnertime, or upon departure. The amount is usually 10% of the accommodation charge, but as a kokoro-zuke is at the discretion of each guest, there are no set rules. Some ryokans firmly decline gifts of kokoro-zuke.
(There have been some viscious fights over this subject on the China forum, I'm just hoping to 'contain' it here so it doesn't get out of hand)
Jun 29, 2007 | 10:51 am
#34
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Err thanks....
BTW - Pochi-Bukuro (spelling).
Depends what you mean by "this subject"
I know that the China forum has seen disputes about whether it is right to tip in China. But I doubt the folks there have ever been locked in a dispute about whether there is a tradition of presenting gratuities in Japanese Ryokan. Since the tradition of gratuities in ryokan is a pretty straightforward point of fact rather than an opinion, I don't know how long anyone could sustain an argument about it...
But FT is full of surprises like that, I suppose.
BTW - Pochi-Bukuro (spelling).
I know that the China forum has seen disputes about whether it is right to tip in China. But I doubt the folks there have ever been locked in a dispute about whether there is a tradition of presenting gratuities in Japanese Ryokan. Since the tradition of gratuities in ryokan is a pretty straightforward point of fact rather than an opinion, I don't know how long anyone could sustain an argument about it...
But FT is full of surprises like that, I suppose.
Last edited by jib71; Jun 29, 2007 at 11:03 am
Jun 29, 2007 | 1:08 pm
#37
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I was being lazy. I should have been more specific and said:
"none of my (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) guidebooks encourage me to tip"
or better still
"none of the guidebooks I've consulted (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) have encouraged me to tip"
Putting 'British' in was to point out that I am unfamiliar with certain publications that might be popular in other countries.
"none of my (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) guidebooks encourage me to tip"
or better still
"none of the guidebooks I've consulted (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) have encouraged me to tip"
Putting 'British' in was to point out that I am unfamiliar with certain publications that might be popular in other countries.
Jul 1, 2007 | 8:11 pm
#38
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,959
what about tipping movers?
I get that, in general, there is no tipping in Japan. However, someone also mentioned there are exceptions.
What about movers? I just relocated to Tokyo. Will I need to tip the movers who will be unloading and unpacking my furniture and household goods? In all the other countries where I've moved to/from, the movers all expect to be tipped generously. Perhaps not in Japan?
What about movers? I just relocated to Tokyo. Will I need to tip the movers who will be unloading and unpacking my furniture and household goods? In all the other countries where I've moved to/from, the movers all expect to be tipped generously. Perhaps not in Japan?
Jul 1, 2007 | 9:40 pm
#39
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A tip is not needed or expected. HAving said that, any group of people sweating in this heat will definitely appreciate cold drinks now and then. If the volume of stuff is massive, a couple of times offering them cold drinks in individual containers they can take and drink by the truck will likely go over very well.
Mike
Mike
I get that, in general, there is no tipping in Japan. However, someone also mentioned there are exceptions.
What about movers? I just relocated to Tokyo. Will I need to tip the movers who will be unloading and unpacking my furniture and household goods? In all the other countries where I've moved to/from, the movers all expect to be tipped generously. Perhaps not in Japan?
What about movers? I just relocated to Tokyo. Will I need to tip the movers who will be unloading and unpacking my furniture and household goods? In all the other countries where I've moved to/from, the movers all expect to be tipped generously. Perhaps not in Japan?
Jul 1, 2007 | 11:01 pm
#40
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A tip is not needed or expected. HAving said that, any group of people sweating in this heat will definitely appreciate cold drinks now and then. If the volume of stuff is massive, a couple of times offering them cold drinks in individual containers they can take and drink by the truck will likely go over very well.
Mike
Mike
Jul 1, 2007 | 11:27 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,959
A tip is not needed or expected. HAving said that, any group of people sweating in this heat will definitely appreciate cold drinks now and then. If the volume of stuff is massive, a couple of times offering them cold drinks in individual containers they can take and drink by the truck will likely go over very well.
Mike
Mike
Jul 2, 2007 | 7:52 pm
#42
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