No, you do not need to tip. Tipping is not part of the culture in Japan, and that includes bars, lounges, cabaret clubs (kyabakura) and high-end hostess clubs. Leaving extra cash on the table can confuse staff, and someone may run after you to return it.

What Japan has instead are fixed charges that are added to the bill. They do the job a tip does elsewhere, and they are where most surprises come from. Here is what to expect.

At an ordinary bar or izakaya

• Otoshi or table charge. Many bars and izakaya serve a small appetiser you did not order, called otoshi, and charge for it per person. Others add a table or seating charge instead. It is usually a few hundred yen per person, sometimes more at upmarket bars. It is a cover charge, not a mistake on the bill.
• Consumption tax. Japan’s consumption tax is 10 percent. Menus may show prices with or without tax, so check which.
• Service charge. Some upscale bars and hotel bars add a percentage for service. The menu should say so.

At a hostess club, lounge or kyabakura

Here the bill works differently, and there is no place for a tip because the service is already priced in:

If you want to show appreciation to a hostess, the accepted way is to buy her a drink or to nominate her when you come back. Both are charged on the bill, so ask the price first. Our guide to how the bill works explains each line.

When a “tip” is a warning sign

A request for extra cash outside the bill is not normal. Be cautious if:

• staff ask for a cash “tip” or “service” on top of an already itemised bill
• someone who brought you in from the street asks to be paid
• the bill has a vague line such as “charge” or “other” with no explanation

Ask what each line is. If it was never on the price list, you do not have to accept it. See how to avoid being overcharged if a bill looks wrong.

Hosting clients: who pays and how

When you entertain clients, the host pays the whole bill, including drinks for the hostesses, and settles it away from the table. Tipping is not expected here either. Ask for a formal receipt (ryōshūsho) for your expenses. Our guide to hosting clients covers payment and booking.

Quick summary

• Do not tip in bars, lounges or hostess clubs in Japan.
• Expect a table charge or otoshi at bars, and a set charge plus a service charge at hostess clubs.
• Show appreciation by ordering a drink for your hostess, not with cash.
• A request for cash outside the bill is a warning sign.

To see what a night will cost, put the venue’s prices into the bill estimator.