Although there is generally no tipping in Japan, some people do give the attendants or cooks some money as a sign of appreciation when staying in the traditional Japanese inns known as ryokan or at traditional restaurants.
This money, known as kokorozuke, is usually placed in special envelopes which can be purchased at a stationer’s rather than being handed over unvrapped. Some people give kokorozuke to their maid, driver or the employee at festivals or other special occasions, as a kind of informal bonus in addition to the one the employees receive with their pay, placing it in an envelope known as shuugibukuro obtainable from stationer’s.
At theatres, baseball grounds and other places of entertainment, bonuses for full houses are sometimes given to the staff in envelopes known as ouribukuro. However, there is absolutely no tipping at hotels, modern restaurants, stations, airports and other modern facilities.
