Lovely nailZ｜Bookings for spas, beauty salons, hair salons, beauty salons, and hair salons in Japan and Vietnam (2024)

FAQs

Do you tip hair stylist in Japan? ›

In Japan, your server, chef, and mixologist all receive a salary, and would chase you down the street to return any coins you left behind. The same thing goes for taxis, masseuses, and hairstylists. It may seem strange at first, but the safe assumption to make is that you don't need to pay a gratuity most of the time.

The number of beauty salons in Japan is on the rise and reached around 269.9 thousand facilities as of the end of March 2023, continuing the upward trend of the past decade.

A basic haircut can cost anywhere between 6,500 to 15,000 yen and around 10,000 yen more if you want extras like dying, styling, or a head spa. Some hair salons can be more expensive than average as they invite celebrities to promote their store.

Tipping in Japan is not expected, and attempts to leave a tip will almost certainly be turned down (a potentially awkward moment).

The majority of people in Japan washed their hair at least once a day as revealed in a survey conducted in September 2022. The largest share, almost 63 percent, of respondents stated that they washed their hair everyday in the evening.

While Tokyo has a number of excellent hair salons, if you don't speak Japanese, getting the perfect haircut can be difficult. Thankfully, there are hair salons with English-speaking stylists. Choose a ward region from the list below to find a Tokyo English Hair Salon near you.

As you may have guessed, Japanese society tends to prefer a clean-shaven look. This might sound a bit worrying, but remember: it's just a preference. People in Japan won't be afraid of you because you have a beard. Still, there's a lot of history behind the topic of beards in Japan.

Do you tip in Japan? The short answer: No. In some situations, trying to leave a tip may be even off-putting. As wild as that may seem to American travelers, Japanese culture prioritizes excellent service without any expectation to provide a financial tip as appreciation.

15 percent to 20 percent:

While tipping is in no way mandatory, hairstylists often rely on tips to round out their take home pay. Taking that into account, we believe 15 percent is the absolute minimum percentage you should tip your hairdresser.

Tipping at a spa in Japan

Time for a massage to soothe those weary muscles? Although in many places around the world it is appropriate to leave a small tip to your therapist, in Japan there will be no such expectation. Instead, be polite and respectful to the staff, and thank them at the end of the session.

What to do instead of tipping in Japan? ›

As a traveler visiting Japan, you can take this opportunity to “Do as the Romans”, or in this case Japanese, and instead of tipping with money, instead tip with small gifts! As stated before, most in Japan will politely and sternly refuse any monitary tip you extend to them.