Tattoos and onsen in Japan: what the rules actually say, and how to check before you go

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"Can I go to an onsen with a tattoo?" The honest answer is: it depends on the place, and you should check before you go. What has changed is the official position. Japan's government has asked bathing facilities not to turn people away for a tattoo alone, and suggested ways to make room for everyone.

What the government asked facilities to do

In March 2016, the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) sent a notice to hotel, ryokan and hot-spring industry associations, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare passed it on to local governments. The notice says:

• Refusing to let someone bathe only because they have a tattoo is not appropriate.
• People have tattoos for many reasons, including religion, culture and fashion.
• A tattoo does not cause any hygiene problem.

It then gives facilities examples of how to handle it:

1. Ask for the tattoo to be covered with a sticker or similar, so other bathers cannot see it. If a tattoo is small (for example, the size of a palm) and not intimidating to others, no special measures are needed.
2. Suggest a time when fewer families are bathing.
3. Offer a private bath (kashikiri-buro), a separate bath, or a room with its own bath.

The notice is guidance, not a ban on house rules. Each facility still decides its own policy.

What facilities on this site say

Of the 84 hot-spring spots published on this site, 49 have etiquette notes copied from their official pages. Three of those mention tattoos (checked on 2026-09-25):

• Goshogake Onsen, Akita: people with tattoos cannot bathe unless the tattoos are completely covered with cover stickers.
• Furofushi Onsen, Aomori: people with tattoos are asked not to use the baths.
• Spa Resort Hawaiians, Fukushima: people with tattoos (including stickers) are refused entry.

The other 46 do not mention tattoos on the pages we checked. That does not mean tattoos are allowed; it means the page does not say. Ask before you go.

How to check before you go

1. Read the facility's official page for 入れ墨 or タトゥー (tattoo), or its rules (ご利用上の注意).
2. Email or ask at the front desk with a clear question: "I have a tattoo about the size of my palm on my arm. Can I use the bath if I cover it with a sticker?" A specific question gets a specific answer.
3. Ask about a private bath. Some ryokan and bathing facilities have baths you can book for your group.
4. Bring cover stickers if the place allows covered tattoos. Check the size limit first.

Not only onsen

Some temples and shrines have dress rules too. Nanzoin in Fukuoka, for example, says visitors showing skin or tattoos cannot enter, and asks people to cover their shoulders and stomach.

Sources

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, notice to local governments with the Japan Tourism Agency notice attached (March 2016, in Japanese, PDF): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001165667.pdf (checked 2026-09-29)
• Facility rules: the official page linked in each fact table (checked 2026-09-25 to 2026-09-27)
• Counts in this article: Verified in Japan etiquette notes for published hot-spring spots, counted on 2026-09-29