How can I get into onsen with tattoos?
Some tips and tricks for visiting onsen if you have tattoos Friends of mine with smaller tattoos have gotten away with covering them with bandages or even using their small onsen towel to obscure them. For those with back tattoos, leaning against the wall while in the water has worked.
Is it illegal to swim with tattoos in Japan?
The general answer is No, you cannot use a public pool/bath/onsen if you have any tattoos that can be seen.
Can I show my tattoos in Japan?
While tattoos are not illegal, they can prevent people from getting the full Japanese experience. When using public transportation in Japan, such as trains, tourists with visible tattoos will want to keep in mind that their ink may be offensive to some of the locals.
Why are people with tattoos not allowed in onsen?
First of all, why people with tattoos cannot take onsen? This is because there is recognition in Japan from historical background that tattoo, so-called Irezumi in Japan, is “something anti-social people get” or “something members of illegal organization such as gangsters get.”
Can you go in an onsen on your period?
As seen above, though doctors and onsen owners would recommend you to stay away from the waters while on your period, there is no concrete yes or no that you should. Nevertheless, as our bodies are more prone toward infection during our periods, it is of crucial to get inside the onsen well prepared and guarded.
Can you go to a bath house in Japan with tattoos?
People with tattoos are banned from most onsen (hot springs), sento (public baths), ryokan (traditional inns), pools, gyms and even capsule hotels.
Should I hide my tattoos in Japan?
Rules are very important in Japan, and as there is a no tattoo rule in nearly all pools, onsens and gyms, a foreigner walking up to the desk with tattoos showing is bound to cause concern. Just cover up and keep those tattoos covered and that is acceptable. If you can’t cover up, don’t go to those environments.
Why are tattoos bad in Japan?
It’s because of the association between tattoos and a mafia-like group called the yakuza – which has operated in Japan for hundreds of years. “Some people see them as a necessary evil and other people see them as just, they should disappear,” says Anton Kusters.
Are onsens in Japan tattoo-friendly?
Beppu Onsen is the hot spring town with the most tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan, while Kinosaki Onsen near Kyoto and Osaka is one of the most picturesque onsen towns that allow tattoos. If you are looking for onsens that accept tattoos near Tokyo, you should visit Kusatsu Onsen.
Are tattoos allowed in Japan’s natural hot springs?
Traditionally, visitors with tattoos aren’t allowed in Japan’s onsen (natural hot springs) because of an age-old association with organized crime. However, times are changing, and more and more onsen have relaxed their policies—in some cases to accommodate tattooed foreign tourists.
Can you take a bath in Japan with a tattoo?
For those with back tattoos, leaning against the wall while in the water has worked. Another option is to only bathe in kashikiri-buro, or private baths, which are available at larger onsen and many ryokan. This may also be an appealing option for those who’d rather not bare all in front of multiple strangers.
Can you get a tattoo in Hakone Onsen?
All Tattoos Accepted But: Tenzan Hot Spring Village (天山湯治郷) is one of the most famous and beautiful onsen in Hakone and luckily it is tattoo-friendly. However, there is one requirement: tattooed guests have to visit the onsen alone.