Japanese Onsen Tattoo Rules: Chains That Accept Cover Stickers and the Checklist Before Bathing
Tattoo bathing rules at Japanese onsens are not law, they are business policy set by each facility, so conditions vary by chain and by branch. A 2016 notice from the Japan Tourism Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommended that tattoos no larger than a palm do not need to be covered, and that even large tattoos can be allowed in if covered with a sheet, but the notice is not legally binding. Kai (界), the hot spring inn brand run by Hoshino Resorts, ran a trial allowing entry for tattoos that could be covered with a single sheet measuring 8cm by 10cm. Manyo Club (万葉倶楽部) in Yokohama Minato Mirai switched its policy to accept guests with tattoos. By contrast, Manyo no Yu (万葉の湯) in Numazu and Yugawara, which is run by a different operator, states on its official information that guests will not be admitted even if the tattoo is covered with a sheet or body paint. Before bathing, check the facility's official guidance for its conditions and call ahead to describe the tattoo's size and location, a step that can help you avoid being turned away on the spot.
The government notice is a recommendation, not a ban
On March 16, 2016, the Japan Tourism Agency issued an administrative notice titled "Points to Note and Response Examples Regarding the Bathing of Foreign Tourists with Tattoos." Two days later, on March 18, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare sent the same content to public hygiene departments in prefectures and designated cities.
The notice states that refusing entry based solely on the presence of a tattoo is not an appropriate response, and it offers three example responses: taking no special action if the tattoo is about palm sized and does not intimidate other guests, having the guest cover the tattooed area with a sheet or similar material, or directing the guest to a time slot with fewer families present or recommending a private bath (貸切風呂).
However, this document is an administrative notice, not a law, so it carries no binding force over individual facilities' business decisions. A Japan Tourism Agency survey from around the same period found that 55.9% of bathing facilities nationwide said they refuse entry to guests with tattoos.
The full text of the notice can be found in the original Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notice (dated March 18, 2016).
Conditions at chains that allow entry if the tattoo is covered with a sticker
Kai (界), the hot spring inn brand operated by Hoshino Resorts, ran a trial distribution of tattoo cover sheets at all its branches for six months starting October 1, 2015. The condition was that entry would be allowed only if the tattoo could be fully covered with a single sheet measuring 8cm by 10cm, an idea that originated from an internal proposal at the Kai Ito branch.
Manyo Club (万葉倶楽部) in Yokohama Minato Mirai switched its policy on February 1, 2020, to accept guests with tattoos and posted signage at its entrance. Among the group's 16 branches, this policy change applied to the Minato Mirai branch, and it came with the condition that the tattoo be covered using a designated sticker sold by the facility.
Since this is a case of a single branch changing its conditions, you should check the bathing guidance on the official website of Manyo Club Yokohama Minato Mirai again at the time of your booking.
Some facilities refuse entry even with a sticker
Manyo no Yu (万葉の湯) in Numazu and Yugawara Onsen (operated separately from Manyo Club) states in its facility information: "刺青、タトゥー（※刺青類似シール、ボディペイント含む）をされている方の入館不可" (guests with tattoos, including similar cover stickers or body paint, are not permitted to enter), explicitly ruling out entry even when covered with a sheet or body paint.
This means that even chains with similar sounding names can have completely different operators and policies, so you should not judge based on the chain name alone and should instead check the official information for each individual branch.
This condition is listed on the Manyo no Yu facility data page.
Where to buy cover stickers, and points to watch for
The transfer type concealer sheets sold by the Rakuten shop "Classe Shop" are designed to be applied over tattoos or deep scars, and come in four skin tone options: light, standard, medium, and brown.
The product page notes that adhesion weakens if oil remains on the skin, so you need to wipe off any oil based lotion before applying the sheet.
Reviews from buyers who used the waterproof tape type product report that it held up well even in the onsen, but sweat and the mineral content of the hot spring water can weaken adhesion during long soaks or in open air baths, so it is safer to bring spares.
Details on each color option can be found on the Rakuten Classe Shop concealer sheet sales page.
Checklist before bathing
- Before booking, search the facility's official website for its bathing guidance or FAQ section for mentions of tattoos (入墨/タトゥー).
- If no conditions are listed, call and describe the tattoo's location and size (in cm) to confirm whether bathing is allowed. Some facilities will admit you without covering if the tattoo is palm sized or smaller.
- Even at facilities that allow stickers, bring your own stickers, and also ask whether the chain only accepts its designated stickers or whether additional stickers can be purchased on site.
- Confirm again at check in or at the front desk. Letting staff know before entering the locker room can help you avoid being stopped partway through bathing.
- If entry to the main bath is difficult, ask about alternatives such as a private bath or an in room hot spring. You may also be offered a time slot with fewer families present.
These five steps are a traveler oriented reordering of the response examples summarized on Kumamoto Prefecture's guidance page on bathing facilities.
Sources: Kumamoto Prefecture, information page on bathing at public bathhouses and ryokan
Sources: Travel Voice, article on Hoshino Resorts' Kai trial introduction of tattoo cover stickers
Sources: Manyo Club Yokohama Minato Mirai official website
Sources: Time Out Tokyo, article on Manyo Club Minato Mirai's policy shift to accept tattoos
Sources: Walkerplus, Numazu and Yugawara Onsen Manyo no Yu facility data
Sources: Rakuten Ichiba Classe Shop, concealer sheet product page for tattoos and scars