#Tipping

As Japan welcomes a record wave of foreign visitors, the country’s tipping taboo remains stubbornly intact. A sharp rise in international travelers has unfolded alongside a broader trend toward “omotenashi” — the deeply ingrained Japanese hospitality ethos that treats excellent service as the norm rather than a price to be rewarded with cash. In practice, that means most service workers in Japan do not expect tips, and many locals prefer that guests refrain from tipping altogether. Yet the ongoing flood of visitors has also nudged a small, cautious experiment into public view: a few bars and restaurants are placing tip jars beside registers, a gesture that has sparked debate among locals and visitors about what constitutes proper gratitude for good service.

A recent trends report by restaurant technology provider Toast highlights how tipping culture in the United States is evolving, revealing regional differences in generosity and growing public fatigue with gratuities. The study, published in June 2025, offers insights for observers beyond America as global service norms shift.

The core finding ranks U.S. states by digital tipping, using data from Toast’s checkout system. Delaware led with an average tip of 22.1% in the first quarter of 2025, followed by West Virginia and New Hampshire at around 21% or more. California and Washington posted the lowest digital tips, at about 17.3% and 17.8% respectively. This pattern suggests how regional cost of living, hospitality expectations, and local service traditions shape tipping behavior. Researchers note that lower-cost areas in the Northeast and South may tip more, while higher-cost states see more hesitancy to add extra percentages.

A new trends report by restaurant technology provider Toast has reignited the debate around the U.S.’s rapidly evolving tipping culture, revealing sizable differences in generosity depending on the state and highlighting growing public fatigue about how gratuities are handled nationwide (Yahoo News). The findings, published in June 2025, draw attention to shifting attitudes toward tipping—offering valuable insights not only for American diners and restaurateurs, but also for observers in Thailand as global service norms take on new forms.