>I just got back from Portugal. 99% of places took cards. When you are ready to pay the bill, they bring out the portable POS machine, you tap your card, and yo

>I just got back from Portugal. 99% of places took cards. When you are ready to pay the bill, they bring out the portable POS machine, you tap your card, and you're done. No awkward tipping screen. No separate calculation for sales tax. No pressure to buy bottled water or charging of table fee like in Italy. Here in Japan, it's much the same. After you're done ordering, the server leaves a slip of paper in a special holder on your table with the bill written/printed on it. It's just a total of the things you ordered, which are clearly printed with prices on the menu. When you're done, you go to the cashier at the front with this paper, and pay. Most places take credit cards, plus various online options (PayPay, LINE Pay, etc.). Many also take Suica/Pasmo cards (the contactless cash cards you use to get on the subway). Sales tax is included in the price. Tipping *does not exist*. Water is free. (It's tap water though, but it's fine. Water quality here is excellent for tap water.) Table fees (cover charges) I think exist in some places but not in normal restaurants, and they're clearly shown before you sit down. Japan has more Michelin-star restaurants than anyplace in the world outside of France. Restaurants aren't much more expensive than cooking at home, depending on what you order/make of course. I honestly don't know why anyone bothers going out to eat in the US any more unless they're rich. It's a complete rip-off.