Gangsters in Japan are typically heavily tattooed, and body art in Japan came to be associated with unsavory characters. Bathing facilities' tattoo bans tend to come from a desire to avoid non-tattooed guests feeling uneasy around people perceived as dangerous.
An indelible legacy. It's been difficult for Japan to shed the connection between tattoos and illegal activity. This prejudice is most clear in public bathing facilities, where tattoos are generally still forbidden, although there is no official ban on them.
Tattoos are still a taboo in Japan. While they are not illegal, having an inked skin can sometimes prevent people from enjoying certain quintessentially Japanese experiences such as taking a bath in an onsen or sento, or even swimming in a pool.
The 17th century marked the end of tattooing as a punishment, however, it started the beginning of a ban on them entirely. Decorative tattooing was seen by the Japanese government as ways for criminals to cover up their ink that they received as punishment.
Some onsen will welcome you but simply issue you with skin-coloured patches to stick on, covering up any potentially offending ink. If you are using an onsen which is part of a ryokan (traditional inn) then there is probably less chance that others would see your tattoos - unless the ryokan is a very large modern one.
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.”
The Japanese have perfected the art of onsen, or hot spring baths, for centuries. Traditionally, men and women would bathe together in the same facility, but these days the baths are segregated by gender. Today, konyoku (mixed-gender onsen) are hard to find, with places like Tokyo having bans on such establishments.
Walking around town is perfectly fine, especially in the big cities. However, you're going to want to cover up when you visit anywhere that is traditional, such as temples, shrines, and ryokan. Even if there isn't a posted rule, it is respectful to cover your tattoos in these places.
The country has been known to be less welcoming than many others when it comes to visitors with inked skin, but in recent times things are changing. The common misconception about tattoos is that it represents yakuza (Japanese mob) connections, but in fact, that's not the case.
Japan has a longstanding taboo against tattoos, which remain associated with organized crime. Many beaches, hot springs resorts and gyms do not admit people with tattoos. Companies often expressly prohibit applicants who are inked.
Yes, Japan allows foreigners with tattoos to visit the country. However, people with visible tattoos may be barred from certain places like onsens (hot springs), gyms, swimming pools, and some traditional ryokans (inns), as tattoos are often associated with the Yakuza.
When getting a job in a company, does a tattoo become a negative factor? Still, many Japanese companies reject employees who have tattoos. For Japanese companies, if an employee of the company gets a tattoo, it seems that he is an anti-social person or is associated with other anti-social people.
Cover your tattoos
Strange as it may seem, many gyms in Japan won't let you inside with exposed tattoos. Tattoos are associated with Yakuza (gangsters), who are often heavily tattooed. The government put this rule in place to keep Yakuza away from the public because they can't specifically say “no Yakuza”.
The shortest answer to this, based on research on medical publications and articles in Japanese, doctors would in general not encourage you to go into an onsen while on your period. The most common reasons are that: It's unsanitary and disrespectful toward other people.
No clothes or bathing suits are allowed in the onsen bathing areas. People try hard to preserve the cleanliness of onsen. They are somewhat sacred places. Clothes and bathing suits can bring dirt and soap into the hot spring waters from outside and are, therefore, considered unhygienic.
Some onsen do not accept bathers with tattoos. This was initially to deny entry to members of Japanese organised-crime groups known as yakuza. If you're inked, ensure the onsen is tattoo-friendly before entering – some will accept decorated types if the tattoos are covered with bandages.
Because Japanese society has yet to completely welcome tattoos as an art form and a way of life, the majority of tattoo parlors in Japan are hidden in private studios and can only be visited with appointments in advance.
Three largest syndicates
The Yakuza are still active in Japan. Although Yakuza membership has declined since the implementation of the Anti-Boryokudan Act in 1992, the Japanese National Police Agency estimated in 2022 that approximately 11,400 Yakuza members were engaged in illegal activity in Japan.
In fact, piercings of any kind are very uncommon in Japan, even for older people. Usually the people who get ear piercings in Japan are rule-breakers, or people who are trying to look tough. However clip-on earrings are quite common and acceptable, although of course not at school.
In Japan, there are many public facilities that prohibit visitors who have tattoos. These public facilities are hot springs, public swimming pools, sports centers and public beaches. Tattooed visitors are prohibited from entering because they are considered to be a nuisance or as disturbing other visitors.
To many people in Japan, tattoos will always be seen negatively due to their connections with criminals. With more tourists visiting Japan, it remains to be seen whether places and society as a whole will relax their rules and attitudes to tattooed individuals in the future.
At least 1 million South Koreans have body art, but it remains illegal for anyone other than medical professionals to give tattoos. SEOUL — South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld a ban on tattooing on Thursday, in a decision that frustrated many of the country's tattoo artists and ink lovers.
Avoid bathing in an onsen in the following cases. If you have chronic bronchitis and fever or difficulty in breathing. If you have stable angina and chest pain becomes frequent. Bathing may cause serious problems with dehydration or thrombosis.
Nudity in an onsen is not embarrassing at all, in fact you will probably feel more embarrassed being the only one wearing a bathing suit. If you feel uncomfortable being naked, you can use your small towel to hide your private parts when you are moving from dressing room to bathing area and back again.
Don't: wear ANY clothes or swimsuits in the bathing area; the small towel can be used to cover yourself when out of the water. Some onsen may offer a thin gauze bathing cover-up for women to rent. submerge your face or head, it is considered unclean.