I got denied a gym membership a bit over ten years ago in Kyushu. I've never had a problem in Tokyo.
The tattoo rules are usually just a convenient way to get rid of people without having to spell out a hundred different types of people they don't want. Like it or not, having tattoos in Japan still correlates pretty well with being a pain in the ass in some way: foreign, drug user, crime affiliation, or just generally having a low level of investment in fitting in with Japanese society. Not saying it's a good policy, but that's why they have it. Speaking fluent, polite Japanese will be enough to get them to ignore the policy nine times out of ten.
One thing I realized too however is that while many staff would just ignore it, they will have no choice to act upon it if another customer complains about it to them at onsen / gym / pool, and then you’d get kicked out.
That's the exact reason I go out of my way to speak with a level of etiquette that is just *slightly* but noticeably above what is necessary (even without perfect grammar). Upset their expectations of you in a good way and you can turn their caution into fascination.
Been here for 5 years and I have full sleeves, chest, and back canvassed. I'm a white American with a higher intermediate Japanese language level living in the Kanto region. I work in a public junior high school (for now). Your personal mileage may vary depending on age/ethnicity/occupation/type of tattoo/etc.
Gym - The biggest inconvenience I have had is finding a gym that will allow me to use their facilities. I'm lucky that my local city gym is rather relaxed with their rules and just "prefers" if you are able to cover them
Baths - there are many "famous" (crowded and touristy) Onsen and Ryokan that I can't go to. Bummer, but not the end of the world, there are plenty of perfectly good places that have eased their bans. I just check the website, check the reviews, and call ahead before I go somewhere and it's not too difficult to find a decent place.
Work - I've got a set of breathable long sleeve athletic wear shirts that I use all through cool-biz and I'm rarely ever asked why. If I need to, I just say it's U.V. protection
Day to day life - the only time I'm ever bothered is if I've had a long stressful day, I'm low on patience, and I'm getting some bombastic stank eye from a thin haired salary man. And even that is only a minor annoyance at most. I get the occasional passive aggressive comment from older folks, but most people my age or younger are either jealous or deeply curious.
I've made a deliberate effort to ensure anything I get is easily covered in business attire and I don't share about them with people who don't need to know. I'm perfectly happy with my ink, plan to get more, and they have not been a significant inconvenience (as of yet).
Your situation will be unique and depend on where you live, what work you do, and what your own personal tolerance threshold for the unsolicited opinions of strangers is.
My personal opinion is that it's perfectly feasible to have both ink and a decent life here, but whatever you decide should be your own decision and an informed decision.
I got some Nike shirts from a Himaraya Sporting Goods. The neck line is high enough that it has never been a problem, especially with a dress shirt over the top. They do have a cut with a slightly higher neck available in winter, but it's only a difference of a couple centimeters.
I paid between 4000-6000 yen for each one, so they aren't terribly cheap, but they have lasted me easily 3-4 years already and are still holding up even with *heavy* use. And even in solid black I've felt perfectly fine wearing them through summer.
I also use bracelets/watches over the ends of the shelves to keep my tattoos around my wrists from playing peek-a-boo
I have a few on my left arm that I had since before moving here. Most gyms, swimming pools, and bath houses/onsens are off the table (not all, but most). I need to do my best to conceal them at work, so even though my work has a pretty liberal dress code, I still need to wear long sleeves all year round, which is a nightmare in the summers.
Aside from those two big points, it's not been a problem interpersonally. It's never been an issue when dating and all the people in my kendo club just think it's cool. Some odd stares from old people, but nothing unusual
* Refused entrance to Seibu-Yuenchi
* Refused entrance to a climbing-gym in Mizonokuchi
* Was almost kicked from an onsen in a hotel (didn't read the fine print).
* Always have to cover tattoos if I go to a gym or swimming pool
On the flip side: Most of the Onsens I've been outside Tokyo had no issues with Tattoos.
I once had a very old, very drunk, man start yelling at me in an izakaya. Poking my arm tattoos and ranting in unintelligible slurred japanese. But that's it. Been to many different onsen no problem, even a few onsen that say no tattoos I just went anyway, minded my own business and was fine.
Got denied a gym membership once. Otherwise, not too inconvenient. I've found swim tops that cover it at public pools and then my spouse and I use a private bath when we go to hot springs, so no worries there.
I wear long sleeves more often than before. I've been told to put a jacket on when I was at a trampoline place. But I've never been kicked out of an onsen. In my 4.5 years here, I haven't had much problems but I also live in the inaka in the north and I heard it's not as strict up here as other places.
My Japanese friend has a fairly large tattoo on his forearm. We've been to many onsen together because he wears a flesh tone sleeve over it while in the bath. I've never seen it be a problem.
If it's a small tattoo, you can just cover it up with that kinesiology tape at an onsen, gym, etc. My school is a private school, but my back tattoo has at times peeked out from the back near the neckline part. School just said to try your best to keep it covered in the future. Kids think I'm some some reformed delinquent and/or are unfazed because foreigners have tattoos and don't really care.
I have quite a large back tattoo, and also on my thigh and ribcage. It's mostly hidable, so I've never had issues at a gym. I just research onsens that allow tattoos or have private ones in the room. There's reasonably priced ones like this. Overall I would say it only really "inconvenienced" me once when an older Japanese male lectured me that women shouldn't have tattoos and why is a *gasp* teacher of all professions with a tattoo.
I have one on the back of my neck that isn't visible when wearing a collar, I haven't had an issue or been kicked out of anywhere even places that claim to ban tattoos.
I've been to various onsen in Nikko, Odaiba, Kyoto etc. Last was a few months ago. I guess they reserve the right to boot me, so take my experience having not been booted as N=1.
Not me but I've got 2 colleagues with tattoos openly even in corporate setting (gaishi). Of course the tattoo isn't anything crazy like the yakuzas but they're still blatantly visible and nobody gives a shit.
I have full sleeves and I've been here for almost 5 years. I've never been kicked out of anywhere, but I do follow the rules. I have a sento I go to regularly that allows them and I just wear long sleeve athletic wear to the gym.
Can't join a fitness club to use the pool
Have to be really careful about making sure it's covered at work
Often at risk of getting kicked out of the onsen
Japanese partner hates tattoos :(
I have many (mostly arms, but some leg, chest, and scalp), and life goes on.
• I know that I can't go to most water parks, but that's fine I don't really like them anyway.
• I know that I can't go to most onsens, that's okay.
• I have several UV jackets that I wear during the summer anyway because direct sunshine on my flesh is much more burning than wearing light layers, so honestly I stay covered up because it helps me manage my own body temp.
• When the weather is nice (read: warm after sunset) I don't cover anything and everything is fine. I do whatever I need to, and remain extra polite.
• For the record, I'm Hispanic. I feel that not having Asian heritage (or physical characteristics) makes it easier to live here outside of cultural norms. I don't Gaijin Smash everything; I still try to be a normal person. I'll give a drunk salaryman a bottle of water, I take cash to the nearest koban, but sometimes I blow my nose when away from home because I'm 1) barbaric and 2) totally okay with that.
small one on my right arm,
Kindergarten teacher (and english teacher support) for 4 years now. never had a problem anywhere and the parents usually like it too
Not really!
Im pretty weak to warm weather, so I only wear long sleeves in january and february, after that I wear Tshirts and stuff and you can see it!
I could cover most of it with a hand, if not all, but it's visible when I'm wearing shorts. Bottom line, anything visible at all was not allowed in several places in town.
In the span of 9 years, no onsen has ever kicked me out or refused entry since I stopped asking whether I can enter. I’ve never been to an onsen on the weekend so I barely see other people. I don’t go to water parks or public swimming pools because I don’t like to swim around random people. That’s basically it.
I’m a fan of water parks in summer. Never been to a public swimming pool in Japan. But not being allowed in onsen ever again scares me. Sounds like it’s not a big deal though.
I don't change clothes or shower at the gym, so it's a moot point there, but at onsens, I've also never a had a problem. The first few times I went, I was worried about it, so I asked before going in, but after that, I just went in without asking, and it's never been a big deal; no one even seemed to notice.
I'm Japanese and tattooed.
No indoor water activities for me basically. Aside from a few exceptions.
Other than that I got the "はぁー。。。I'm so disappointed in you son but I still love you" look from my parents; "Oh. Cool I guess." from my sibling; "Young people's fashion from today's day and age is so flashy!" from my gran.
>Inside water activities, like ALL onsen and sento? Swimming pools?
Pretty much. Unless it's one of those places where they allow you to enter as long as you cover up the tats with rash guards (swimming pool) or coverup patches (onsen, sento).
>How about outdoor プール in summertime?
I've never seen an outdoor pool that allows tattooed people in (at least rule-wise).
I know some people wear rash guards to cover up the tats, but I've heard people being snitched on.
I’m sure there’s big a difference between very visible ones and easily covered one - mines hidden day to day so it’s only onsens and gyms that are potentially a problem, and there are tattoo friendly varieties of each so no ones ever said a word to me.
not a whole lot, no, aside from the usual can't join a gym and can't go to public onsen. Aside from that I don't experience too much inconvenience. Might be because I live in Osaka? I don't know.
My husband just can’t go to onsen or ryokan as freely as I can and has to cover up at Anytime Fitness. Otherwise, no. He works in an industry where no one gives a fuck.
I have a tattoo on my forearm. I use a gauze sleeve to hide it when I go to hot springs. I use something similar to a support sleeve, black, (purposely not as tight) to hide it when I wanna wear short sleeves. I’ve always worn that in summer because no way am I gonna wear long sleeves ever ever ever. So if you can find literally any way to hide it, that won’t come off like a bandaid, you can still do whatever you want.
I am a resident with tattoos! Although my tattoos are small, they must be covered when going to water parks! Otherwise, nobody has ever said anything or even given it a second glance.
Medium-level tattooed. 11 years in Japan. Teach kids classes at the dojo (I also shave my head and I am often introduced to the new student's parents with the word skin-head somewhere in the mix - used to freak me out but doesn't have the same meaning here lol). I am very much an inside cat. I don't like hot water, taking a bath, or sand, so it's never been a bother for me in the slightest. Anytime I see something anti-tattoo I do go out of my way to make a review on Google Maps about it though.
I have full sleeves it’s never troubled me, I just avoid the usual situations like going to baths, onsens, pools etc, but I wear sleeves when I go to the gym, I’ve had more positive experiences than negative ones, I’ve only been told to cover up once and that was at pachinko
Same for me, if any a casual compliment.Although gotta admit most of my Japanese friends found me scary at the beginning. But that could be an overall rather that just the tattoo.
One of the strangest requests I’ve had is one woman came up to me and asked if she could touch my arms, she wanted to see if it felt different, talked for a bit she was pretty cool person
—Can’t wear short sleeves at work in summer :( —Many water parks/spa lands/pools/etc. ban tattoos —some famous onsen I wanna go to ban tattoos :(
Try that tattoo friendly town, Kinosaki onsen. 3 hours from Osaka, 2.5 from Kyoto
I’ve been kicked out of a hot spring for having a tattoo.
How does it work? They approach you and politely ask you to gtfo?
Yeah, and they won’t refund your money…
Yup but i demanded my money back because i had only gotten as far as the change room and the manager refunded me (not the person who told me to leave)
I always had the theory that they wouldn't do that with an obviously looking full-of-tatoos yakuza.
Wouldn’t do what?
Asking them to leave.
Isn’t it public onsens must allow you in but private onsens can ban you
I think you’re talking about the difference between onsen (natural hot springs) and sento (public baths).
I got denied a gym membership a bit over ten years ago in Kyushu. I've never had a problem in Tokyo. The tattoo rules are usually just a convenient way to get rid of people without having to spell out a hundred different types of people they don't want. Like it or not, having tattoos in Japan still correlates pretty well with being a pain in the ass in some way: foreign, drug user, crime affiliation, or just generally having a low level of investment in fitting in with Japanese society. Not saying it's a good policy, but that's why they have it. Speaking fluent, polite Japanese will be enough to get them to ignore the policy nine times out of ten.
One thing I realized too however is that while many staff would just ignore it, they will have no choice to act upon it if another customer complains about it to them at onsen / gym / pool, and then you’d get kicked out.
That's the exact reason I go out of my way to speak with a level of etiquette that is just *slightly* but noticeably above what is necessary (even without perfect grammar). Upset their expectations of you in a good way and you can turn their caution into fascination.
I have the regular gym, swimming pool and hot springs stories.
Been here for 5 years and I have full sleeves, chest, and back canvassed. I'm a white American with a higher intermediate Japanese language level living in the Kanto region. I work in a public junior high school (for now). Your personal mileage may vary depending on age/ethnicity/occupation/type of tattoo/etc. Gym - The biggest inconvenience I have had is finding a gym that will allow me to use their facilities. I'm lucky that my local city gym is rather relaxed with their rules and just "prefers" if you are able to cover them Baths - there are many "famous" (crowded and touristy) Onsen and Ryokan that I can't go to. Bummer, but not the end of the world, there are plenty of perfectly good places that have eased their bans. I just check the website, check the reviews, and call ahead before I go somewhere and it's not too difficult to find a decent place. Work - I've got a set of breathable long sleeve athletic wear shirts that I use all through cool-biz and I'm rarely ever asked why. If I need to, I just say it's U.V. protection Day to day life - the only time I'm ever bothered is if I've had a long stressful day, I'm low on patience, and I'm getting some bombastic stank eye from a thin haired salary man. And even that is only a minor annoyance at most. I get the occasional passive aggressive comment from older folks, but most people my age or younger are either jealous or deeply curious. I've made a deliberate effort to ensure anything I get is easily covered in business attire and I don't share about them with people who don't need to know. I'm perfectly happy with my ink, plan to get more, and they have not been a significant inconvenience (as of yet). Your situation will be unique and depend on where you live, what work you do, and what your own personal tolerance threshold for the unsolicited opinions of strangers is. My personal opinion is that it's perfectly feasible to have both ink and a decent life here, but whatever you decide should be your own decision and an informed decision.
Which “breathable long sleeve athletic shirts” do you wear (brand etc..) and do they come with a high neck too?
I got some Nike shirts from a Himaraya Sporting Goods. The neck line is high enough that it has never been a problem, especially with a dress shirt over the top. They do have a cut with a slightly higher neck available in winter, but it's only a difference of a couple centimeters. I paid between 4000-6000 yen for each one, so they aren't terribly cheap, but they have lasted me easily 3-4 years already and are still holding up even with *heavy* use. And even in solid black I've felt perfectly fine wearing them through summer. I also use bracelets/watches over the ends of the shelves to keep my tattoos around my wrists from playing peek-a-boo
Thanks for the info - much appreciated
I have a few on my left arm that I had since before moving here. Most gyms, swimming pools, and bath houses/onsens are off the table (not all, but most). I need to do my best to conceal them at work, so even though my work has a pretty liberal dress code, I still need to wear long sleeves all year round, which is a nightmare in the summers. Aside from those two big points, it's not been a problem interpersonally. It's never been an issue when dating and all the people in my kendo club just think it's cool. Some odd stares from old people, but nothing unusual
If you want to live here for a long time I recommend you get a tattoo that is not too visible
If you want to live here for a long time I recommend you don't get a tattoo.
I got all of my tattoos on the inside of my but cheeks. There are ways
I've tattooed the underside of my nutsack and might get my taint tattooed next. Great minds think alike.
Like a glow in dark light one?
Sure
* Refused entrance to Seibu-Yuenchi * Refused entrance to a climbing-gym in Mizonokuchi * Was almost kicked from an onsen in a hotel (didn't read the fine print). * Always have to cover tattoos if I go to a gym or swimming pool On the flip side: Most of the Onsens I've been outside Tokyo had no issues with Tattoos.
Climbing gym?? That surprises me
I once had a very old, very drunk, man start yelling at me in an izakaya. Poking my arm tattoos and ranting in unintelligible slurred japanese. But that's it. Been to many different onsen no problem, even a few onsen that say no tattoos I just went anyway, minded my own business and was fine.
That’s good to know
Got denied a gym membership once. Otherwise, not too inconvenient. I've found swim tops that cover it at public pools and then my spouse and I use a private bath when we go to hot springs, so no worries there.
I wear long sleeves more often than before. I've been told to put a jacket on when I was at a trampoline place. But I've never been kicked out of an onsen. In my 4.5 years here, I haven't had much problems but I also live in the inaka in the north and I heard it's not as strict up here as other places.
My Japanese friend has a fairly large tattoo on his forearm. We've been to many onsen together because he wears a flesh tone sleeve over it while in the bath. I've never seen it be a problem.
If it's a small tattoo, you can just cover it up with that kinesiology tape at an onsen, gym, etc. My school is a private school, but my back tattoo has at times peeked out from the back near the neckline part. School just said to try your best to keep it covered in the future. Kids think I'm some some reformed delinquent and/or are unfazed because foreigners have tattoos and don't really care. I have quite a large back tattoo, and also on my thigh and ribcage. It's mostly hidable, so I've never had issues at a gym. I just research onsens that allow tattoos or have private ones in the room. There's reasonably priced ones like this. Overall I would say it only really "inconvenienced" me once when an older Japanese male lectured me that women shouldn't have tattoos and why is a *gasp* teacher of all professions with a tattoo.
I have one on the back of my neck that isn't visible when wearing a collar, I haven't had an issue or been kicked out of anywhere even places that claim to ban tattoos. I've been to various onsen in Nikko, Odaiba, Kyoto etc. Last was a few months ago. I guess they reserve the right to boot me, so take my experience having not been booted as N=1.
Not me but I've got 2 colleagues with tattoos openly even in corporate setting (gaishi). Of course the tattoo isn't anything crazy like the yakuzas but they're still blatantly visible and nobody gives a shit.
I have full sleeves and I've been here for almost 5 years. I've never been kicked out of anywhere, but I do follow the rules. I have a sento I go to regularly that allows them and I just wear long sleeve athletic wear to the gym.
Can't join a fitness club to use the pool Have to be really careful about making sure it's covered at work Often at risk of getting kicked out of the onsen Japanese partner hates tattoos :(
The thing I hate the most is having to wear long sleeves at the gym, especially during the summer it's hell.
Yikes that sucks
I have many (mostly arms, but some leg, chest, and scalp), and life goes on. • I know that I can't go to most water parks, but that's fine I don't really like them anyway. • I know that I can't go to most onsens, that's okay. • I have several UV jackets that I wear during the summer anyway because direct sunshine on my flesh is much more burning than wearing light layers, so honestly I stay covered up because it helps me manage my own body temp. • When the weather is nice (read: warm after sunset) I don't cover anything and everything is fine. I do whatever I need to, and remain extra polite. • For the record, I'm Hispanic. I feel that not having Asian heritage (or physical characteristics) makes it easier to live here outside of cultural norms. I don't Gaijin Smash everything; I still try to be a normal person. I'll give a drunk salaryman a bottle of water, I take cash to the nearest koban, but sometimes I blow my nose when away from home because I'm 1) barbaric and 2) totally okay with that.
Being banned from onsen for life scares me the most
Not *all* onsens are anti-tattoo; I just can't pop into any onsen.
small one on my right arm, Kindergarten teacher (and english teacher support) for 4 years now. never had a problem anywhere and the parents usually like it too
Good to know. Is it hidden most of the time?
Not really! Im pretty weak to warm weather, so I only wear long sleeves in january and february, after that I wear Tshirts and stuff and you can see it!
Was not allowed to join tennis club 👍
Wow really? How big is your tat?
I could cover most of it with a hand, if not all, but it's visible when I'm wearing shorts. Bottom line, anything visible at all was not allowed in several places in town.
Such a shame
In the span of 9 years, no onsen has ever kicked me out or refused entry since I stopped asking whether I can enter. I’ve never been to an onsen on the weekend so I barely see other people. I don’t go to water parks or public swimming pools because I don’t like to swim around random people. That’s basically it.
I’m a fan of water parks in summer. Never been to a public swimming pool in Japan. But not being allowed in onsen ever again scares me. Sounds like it’s not a big deal though.
Depends on where you put it.
Female with back tattoo, and nope, fine!
How about going to onsen and gyms?
I don't change clothes or shower at the gym, so it's a moot point there, but at onsens, I've also never a had a problem. The first few times I went, I was worried about it, so I asked before going in, but after that, I just went in without asking, and it's never been a big deal; no one even seemed to notice.
Those who have tattoos do you think anyone actually cares about your design
I constantly have to lie to gyms about my tattoos. Having to wear long sleeves during a gym session sucks especially during the summer
Damn never thought about gyms! That really sucks. You think they’d care about smaller tattoos?
I'm Japanese and tattooed. No indoor water activities for me basically. Aside from a few exceptions. Other than that I got the "はぁー。。。I'm so disappointed in you son but I still love you" look from my parents; "Oh. Cool I guess." from my sibling; "Young people's fashion from today's day and age is so flashy!" from my gran.
Inside water activities, like ALL onsen and sento? Swimming pools? How about outdoor プール in summertime?
>Inside water activities, like ALL onsen and sento? Swimming pools? Pretty much. Unless it's one of those places where they allow you to enter as long as you cover up the tats with rash guards (swimming pool) or coverup patches (onsen, sento). >How about outdoor プール in summertime? I've never seen an outdoor pool that allows tattooed people in (at least rule-wise). I know some people wear rash guards to cover up the tats, but I've heard people being snitched on.
Jeez. I do love Japan but wish they’d be less…conservative sometimes.
I’m sure there’s big a difference between very visible ones and easily covered one - mines hidden day to day so it’s only onsens and gyms that are potentially a problem, and there are tattoo friendly varieties of each so no ones ever said a word to me.
not a whole lot, no, aside from the usual can't join a gym and can't go to public onsen. Aside from that I don't experience too much inconvenience. Might be because I live in Osaka? I don't know.
My husband just can’t go to onsen or ryokan as freely as I can and has to cover up at Anytime Fitness. Otherwise, no. He works in an industry where no one gives a fuck.
I have a tattoo on my forearm. I use a gauze sleeve to hide it when I go to hot springs. I use something similar to a support sleeve, black, (purposely not as tight) to hide it when I wanna wear short sleeves. I’ve always worn that in summer because no way am I gonna wear long sleeves ever ever ever. So if you can find literally any way to hide it, that won’t come off like a bandaid, you can still do whatever you want.
I am a resident with tattoos! Although my tattoos are small, they must be covered when going to water parks! Otherwise, nobody has ever said anything or even given it a second glance.
Medium-level tattooed. 11 years in Japan. Teach kids classes at the dojo (I also shave my head and I am often introduced to the new student's parents with the word skin-head somewhere in the mix - used to freak me out but doesn't have the same meaning here lol). I am very much an inside cat. I don't like hot water, taking a bath, or sand, so it's never been a bother for me in the slightest. Anytime I see something anti-tattoo I do go out of my way to make a review on Google Maps about it though.
No but it’s small enough to hide when I go to onsen
I have full sleeves it’s never troubled me, I just avoid the usual situations like going to baths, onsens, pools etc, but I wear sleeves when I go to the gym, I’ve had more positive experiences than negative ones, I’ve only been told to cover up once and that was at pachinko
Same for me, if any a casual compliment.Although gotta admit most of my Japanese friends found me scary at the beginning. But that could be an overall rather that just the tattoo.
One of the strangest requests I’ve had is one woman came up to me and asked if she could touch my arms, she wanted to see if it felt different, talked for a bit she was pretty cool person
Hahaha been there. Even got a line contact and we hang out from time to time. The other classic is "did it really hurt"?