PS - In Japan tipping is perceived as insulting.
Re: “PS - In Japan tipping is perceived as insulting.”
When I first moved to Costa Rica as a teenager (school), I left a tip at a restaurant, and the girl brought me the money back as I left (she came outside and told me I had “forgotten my money.”) At the time, I didn’t speak Spanish well, and had trouble conveying that I was leaving a tip, but she insisted I take it. I later found out that tips were not only not utilized, but were illegal (or at least so I was told). Over the years, because of tourism, tipping has become more commonplace, but it’s definitely not expected in the average restaurant (not counting the touristy resort areas).