Tattoo-friendly onsen and sento

Baths in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka whose own pages say tattoos are welcome, or allowed when covered.

Good to know

  • Japan Tourism Agency notice of 16 Mar 2016, passed on by the health ministry on 18 Mar 2016 and published by Osaka City: refusing a bath only because someone has a tattoo is not appropriate. It gives example responses such as covering tattoos with stickers, or asking nothing special for small (e.g. palm-sized) tattoos that do not intimidate others. It is guidance to facilities, not a legal obligation. Source
  • Minato City, Tokyo (page updated 3 Dec 2025): the Public Bath Act has no provision that lets a bath restrict entry only because of a tattoo, and each public bath decides its own response. Source

Baths that accept tattoos

  • Fukagawa Onsen Tokiwayu 深川温泉 常盤湯

    Koto, Tokyo

    • Allowed with conditions

    Size limit: tattoos and irezumi are accepted only up to a size that a palm can hide.

  • Goshikiyu 五色湯

    Toshima (Mejiro / Shiinamachi), Tokyo

    • Allowed with conditions

    Conditional: traditional irezumi is refused; tattoos are accepted if you contact the bathhouse in advance before your first visit.

  • Hasunuma Onsen はすぬま温泉

    Ota, Tokyo

    • Tattoos allowed

    Guests with tattoos can use the bathhouse; anyone who disturbs other guests or staff is refused.

  • Koganeyu (Tokyo) 黄金湯 東京店

    Sumida (Kinshicho), Tokyo

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests with tattoos can use the bathhouse.

  • Maenohara Onsen Saya no Yudokoro 前野原温泉 さやの湯処

    Itabashi, Tokyo

    • Cover with a sticker

    Entry only if the tattoos are fully covered by up to two of the facility's own 11 x 20 cm cover stickers (310 yen each); guests who refuse the stickers are turned away.

  • Oshiage Onsen Daikokuyu 押上温泉 大黒湯

    Sumida, Tokyo

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests with tattoos can bathe here.

  • Sauna Tokyo サウナ東京

    Minato (Akasaka), Tokyo

    • Allowed with conditions

    Sticker required: tattoos of any size are accepted if you buy one 500 yen facility sticker and wear it on the left chest; the tattoo itself does not have to be covered.

  • Shinjuku Thermae-yu 新宿天然温泉 テルマー湯

    Shinjuku (Kabukicho), Tokyo

    • Cover with a sticker

    Rules differ by guest: male tourists must wear one facility tattoo sticker (330 yen; passport or air ticket required), male residents of Japan are refused at any size, and women need a sticker only for a single tattoo over 30 x 30 cm.

  • Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club 東京豊洲 万葉倶楽部

    Koto (Toyosu), Tokyo

    • Cover with a sticker

    Tattoos are refused unless they can be covered by up to two of the facility's own cover stickers (max 11 x 20 cm), which must be worn throughout the building.

  • Tokyo Yokujo 東京浴場

    Shinagawa, Tokyo

    • Tattoos allowed

    Guests with tattoos may bathe, and the private sauna can also be used.

  • Yudonburi Sakaeyu 天然温泉 湯どんぶり栄湯

    Taito, Tokyo

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests with tattoos or irezumi can enjoy the baths.

  • Kamogawayu 鴨川湯

    Sakyo (Shimogamo), Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    The operator Yutonamisha says guests with tattoos can bathe at all of its bathhouses.

  • Kurama Onsen くらま温泉

    Sakyo (Kurama), Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    Day visitors with tattoos or irezumi are accepted; members of organized crime or antisocial groups are refused.

  • Minamotoyu 源湯

    Kamigyo, Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    The operator Yutonamisha says guests with tattoos can bathe at all of its bathhouses.

  • ROKKAKU Private Sauna 京町家プライベートサウナ ROKKAKU

    Nakagyo, Kyoto

    • Private bath only

    The whole facility is booked privately by one group (reservation only), so guests with tattoos can use it.

  • Sauna no Umeyu サウナの梅湯

    Shimogyo, Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    The operator Yutonamisha says guests with tattoos can bathe at all of its bathhouses.

  • Tamanoyu (Kyoto) 玉の湯

    Nakagyo, Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests with tattoos can use the bathhouse, and the English notice reads "Tattoo OK".

  • Thoron Onsen Inari トロン温泉稲荷

    Nakagyo (Sanjo-kai shopping street), Kyoto

    • Tattoos allowed

    The facilities page says guests with tattoos can bathe.

  • Healthy Onsen Tateba ヘルシー温泉タテバ

    Naniwa (Namba / Sakuragawa), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    Guests with tattoos can use every facility, including the baths and saunas.

  • Irifune Onsen 入船温泉

    Nishinari (Haginochaya), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests with tattoos can use the bathhouse and calls it tattoo friendly.

  • Minoh Onsen Spa Garden 箕面温泉スパーガーデン

    Minoh City (Osaka Prefecture, outside Osaka City), Osaka

    • Cover with a sticker

    Tattoos are refused unless fully covered by no more than two of the facility's paid cover stickers.

  • Ofuroya Wako (Wako Yokujo) おふろや和光(和光浴場)

    Nishinari (Sanno), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    The site says that, unlike pools or onsen resorts, the bathhouse accepts guests with tattoos, including foreign visitors.

  • Osaka Sauna DESSE 大阪サウナDESSE

    Chuo (Shinsaibashi), Osaka

    • Allowed with conditions

    Day-limited: guests with tattoos are admitted only on designated Tattoo Days (Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat and public holidays, with exceptions; check the schedule).

  • Pearl Onsen パール温泉

    Higashinari (Nakamoto), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    The operator Yutonamisha says guests with tattoos can bathe at all of its bathhouses.

  • Solaniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER 空庭温泉 OSAKA BAY TOWER

    Minato (Bentencho), Osaka

    • Cover with a sticker

    Trial rule: entry only if all tattoos are fully covered with stickers sold on site; since 1 Dec 2023 there is no limit on the number of stickers.

  • Tatsumi Onsen (Nagai) 辰巳温泉

    Sumiyoshi (Nagai), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says guests can enter and bathe whether or not they have tattoos.

  • Utopia Shiratama Onsen ユートピア白玉温泉

    Joto (Gamo), Osaka

    • Tattoos allowed

    The FAQ says tattoos and irezumi are no problem because it is an ordinary public bathhouse.

How it works

We list a bath only when its official site, or an official bathhouse association or tourism body, states its tattoo policy. Each entry links that page and shows the date we checked it. We do not use review sites or rumors.

Policies change, and staff have the final say. If a venue's page changes, tell us through the contact page and we will update the entry.