Can you enter an onsen with tattoos?
In short
It dependsIt depends on the facility. Some turn tattooed guests away and some welcome them, so check in advance.
When does this apply?
Many onsen and public baths still refuse guests with tattoos. At the same time, more places are tattoo-friendly, and some allow small tattoos covered with a sticker.
Why?
Some people in Japan associate tattoos with particular images, so facilities have set their own rules. In 2016 the Japan Tourism Agency shared example responses with bathing facilities for tattooed foreign visitors, such as covering with a patch or offering private baths.
What to do
- Check the bathing rules on the official website or by phone before going
- Choose a private bath (kashikiri-buro) or a room with its own open-air bath
- Cover a small tattoo with a patch if the facility allows it
Better to avoid
- Enter uncovered where a sign says "no tattoos"
Exceptions and differences
These rules are set by each facility; there is no nationwide law. Policies differ even within the same area, so ask the staff if unsure.
Manners can differ by region, facility and generation. Local signs and staff instructions come first.
Check with a quiz
Can people with tattoos use onsen?
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Sources
- How to Best Enjoy Japan's Onsen(opens in a new tab)
- Japanese Onsen and Ink — The Tattoo Taboo(opens in a new tab)
- 公衆浴場業及び旅館業に係る「入浴」について (入れ墨がある外国人旅行者の入浴に関する観光庁の周知を掲載)(opens in a new tab)
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