About the money tray, it is respectful way to change money to another person. The customer can see it return money and the amount quickly. It is not a Japanese way touch a strange person. That is more proper way to use money tray.

In old Japan, it was disrespect and arrogant to show money in public. And is not smart to show money in public because of theif. Money coins had a hole or square in middle, so a person can put coins on a string. The person can count off money coin like abacus to pay another person.

Later, there is paper money. The Japanese custom was to put money in rice paper wrap to make a payment. The rice paper envelope has a colour and artwork to show a person’s status, but amount of payment is hidden. I remember my parents to making payments in rice paper envelope. I have collected and saved the envelopes from my grandparents gifts, the envelopes are very special gifts to me (more than money gift). This envelopes are not used here now Japan.

Now, it is not really custom this way to change money in envelope or tray. It depend on business and reputation of company. It depend on type of customer too. Some customer want to use tray to pass money, another doesn’t care about that. A Japanese customer put money in tray, the clerk will use it too. If there is doubt, the clerk will put money in the tray.

OK. Hope understand about this.

What everyone said about honor is right about accurate. They hand you the bills back neatly stacked, ordered, with no dirt and grime on a tray to give the transaction orderliness and honor. They accept your bills any way you hand them because they respect you and your decision.

I’m open to a real Japanese person to explain that more clearly, but that was the impression that I got when I visited.