Guides and Tips

When working as a guide,
I sometimes receive tips from guests.
Since they wouldn't pay if they weren't satisfied,
when I do receive one,
I feel happy, thinking,
“They must have enjoyed today.”
(Of course, it's also nice to have that extra income.)

As the number of times I received tips increased,
when I didn't receive one,
I would worry, wondering if something went wrong,
and seeing the guide on the bus next to me receive one
would make me feel down.
But recently, I've come to think,
“Isn't that a bad way to look at it?”

Money isn't the only way to express happiness.
Buying me ice cream during the tour,
sending me photos we took together,
or even asking about my personal life
is surely because they are enjoying themselves to some extent
and have taken an interest in me as a person.
Despite that,
if I think they didn't enjoy themselves just because there was no tip,
isn't that like ignoring
the guest's gratitude?
I realized that was rude.

Sometimes I am asked,
“Japanese people don't accept tips, right?”
“Is it rude to give a tip?”
I wonder who is spreading those rumors?
Even when I ask other guides and drivers,
everyone says, “I'm happy to receive them” (laughs).
When I'm asked that, I of course answer,
“That's not the case at all.”
Usually, when that happens, they follow up by saying,
“So I'll give you something instead.”
Including the fact that they went out of their way to bring
chocolates or pens from their home country,
I am very happy.
(I can't keep the food, so I eat it,
but I have properly saved photos of them.)

A small travel agency I've been working with since this year.
I wonder if they might be telling the guests,
“If you'd like, please offer a gratuity...”
Because everyone always has one ready.
I don't know the truth,
but since one of the company representatives used to be a guide,
I do wonder if that's the case.
(But I might not get a tip next time,
so I shouldn't get my hopes up too much.)

However, if I were to
ask for a private guide overseas,
since I don't have the custom of giving tips
(I'm not used to handing over money),
I would probably prepare
Japanese snacks or tenugui towels as a souvenir
because I'd want to make them happy (laughs).

The photo is of the tip I received from my first tour as a guide.
I believe it's a one-dollar bill,
but it's folded so beautifully
that it's too precious to open.
This and the chocolate
were inside an origami piece that was also beautifully folded.
I probably won't open it until I go to America someday,
or until I am in dire need of money.