Having Tattoos in Japan (2023) - What you should know

I have right sleeve and thigh piece but i really want to go to Japan. I've been nervous about how that would be in Japan. I really want to go to some onsens.... been researching for places....

I'm Japanese too, and I understand that there is a tattoo culture in the inner parts of Japan.
However, for ordinary Japanese people, tattoos are not art, and have a negative image of them as gangsters, martial artists who just want to show off their power, or criminals.
Therefore, I think that living in Japan will be difficult for foreigners with tattoos.
The same goes for people who have multiple piercings on their face or ears.
There is a possibility that you will be treated like an outlaw in Japan, so if you do not want to be treated like that, please do not come to Japan.

Hi, I got some big tats, but all can be easily covered, wearing colour hair over a decade but I can always make it into "boring" colour, but my issue is that I have cheek piercing and medusa. Even I have them for like 10 years, I already tried to put them out for a few hours and then had an struggle to put them back -_-
Next year Im leaving for working holiday visay try to find a job and not sure how to "fix" it -_-

your tats is gay bro

huh

There are several onsens in Tokyo (and around Japan) that will allow tattooed people to enter. Gyms are harder. There’s one I know in Tokyo and most all Cross Fit boxes will allow uncovered tattoos - the Reebok ones do for instance.

my bf and roommate and i are going in October and we are heavily tattooed

You sound dumb saying “im covered in tattoos” when you can cover them all

The tattoos on your arm look soo cool, 💯

whenever it says no tattoos i just take that as no visible tats

Man you have a nice piece of art on you, looks incredible. Can I ask you where the artist of these tattoos is ?

you look like you have two tattoos, one on each arm.

Thanks for the advice man, I'm getting a sleeve for the first time and I'm heading to tokyo this summer. Slightly nervous considering it all regardless, but I'll try my best to just relax and try not to overthink it. Also could you follow up a bit more how it is with going to school learning japanese and having tattoos? Is the summer a pain in the ass? haha!

Couldn't you just go in with a long rash guard?

Do you know if the Japanese view religious tattoos differently than non religious tattoos?

I have a tattoo across my shoulder blades and spine that has a large Goddess symbol in the center. It looks like (Big Sister's name) 🌒🌕🌘 (Little Brother's name).

It's a memorial piece that I can usually cover completely with my shirt.

Is it true that some onsens are tattoo friendly?

I want to go to university in Japan and I was planning to get some traditional Japanese art as a sleeve and wanted to know if I'd be fine as long as I wore longer sleeves that would cover

Iam European, with both full sleeves, comming to Japan for one year working holiday visa. Do you think if i cover myself when i ask for a job (and remain covered for the time being) i still do have to mention that i have tattoos? Should i be worried that i wont be able to find any kind of job? THANKS MUCH

nice video, i have fingers and neck tattoos, so im banned

I've got two full sleeves and lower leg tattoos on a trip to sorrento in Italy I was walking around when some Japanese tourists where coming towards me when they saw I was tattooed they all crossed the road to avoid me

Whatever the perception of Westerners, people with tattoos in Japan are more likely to get into trouble in society than those without. Since ancient times, our country has distinguished weres as a mark of criminals, and that still holds true today. Only unintelligent Westerners treat tattoos as art or self-expression. Also, in Japan, if you get a tattoo anywhere on your body, society will treat you unfairly, you risk adverse effects on your liver, and it is no wonder that some people regret it.

The work on your arms are absolutely gorgeous where did you get them?

I am in Kurashiki. Covered with ink too. I workout at Anytime fitness here in town. They are very curious and I always seem to have people wanting to work out with me. Great place to live.

Hey man, great tattoos, who is the artist?

Thank you for making a video on this!!!! I am a student from Oregon, and I'm getting ready to study abroad at Japan Women's University in Tokyo for 6 months (starting Sept 2022). I have a big piece on my upper arm, and some patchwork flowers down the other arm. I'm trying to mentally prepare for my clothing choices throughout my time there. I hadn't even thought about gyms! So again big thank you for sharing your experience on this, super helpful :)

I’ve got tattoos and I’ve always wanted to go to Japan. I feel like I’m going to cover them up with long sleeve shirts, bandages, makeup, or something. I was told that if you have tattoos, you can’t in pools while in Japan.

I have a small wrist tattoo. Is it a big problem?
Cuz um going to travel Japan soon, can u tell me?

Hello! I have two smaller wrist tattoos and I’m actually getting a side thigh piece done. (Today coincidentally haha) I was wondering about studying abroad. (I plan on doing a year to learn the language to start) I know you mentioned your school not allowing big pieces, is that something you check when you applying or you physically tell the school? Thank you so much for you time! Have a great day!!

Got about 60% of my back covered and a pretty much full length rib cage one up my side. All cartoon, video game, comic, film, book related stuff and as colourful as it can be. Can't see any when i'm wearing a t-shirt so i just kept my mouth shut didn't mention them. Only ever had trouble in 1 onsen out of maybe 20 or so. My mate who had some tribal stuff, skulls, roses....generic tattoo stuff just in dark ink had alot more trouble than me even though he only had a few.

Just got told I couldn't go into golds gym in osaka lol. I even asked if I could buy a jacket to cover it and they said no sorry. My school doesn't seem to care about my tattoo, as far as I know.

If get a one piece tattoo do older Japanese know it I am 30. I also want to get a Yakuza sleeve hear when I live but after my Japan trip I am not gonna go after until weed is legal anyway and psychedelic

Hello, Just wondering any tips, I'm going on October I have 2 full sleeves and hands done. Any advice and tips would be great.

I don’t have tattoos. I’m not going to Japan. Hell, I don’t even work out. But I’m still curious, interesting vid guy

shut up wesley

Thanks for making this man. Liked and subscribed. Will I be turned away from universal studios for having tattoos? Hand tattoo and one behind my ear and back of my neck? The rest I can cover up

My boyfriend and I both have several tattoos, my boyfriend are almost covered and even have a few spider-tattoos on the side of the face. What I am worried about is the lawsystem I heard about, that we will be seen as sketchy and get in trouble of that. Should I consider not going?

Onsen, Workplace, Gym... It's all the same to me, I'm trans, so it's kind of tricky for me in those places already. Unless they have new special rules for foreigns somehow.
So I guess I might get tattoos anyways. Just probably avoiding the neck/face/lower arms and legs areas, just in case.

Are you Canadian?

Pure shame they act like that smh

If I cover it up with a bandage (I have a stomach tattoo) would that be fine?

So my tattoos are kinda overflowing on my hands and neck, so that means I could not work in japan?

わざわざ遠い日本へ布教活動をしにきたわけね。誰かから命令されたの？

What about back tattoos?

I have two full sleeves, so covering up my lower arm/wrist area would be very difficult. I’ve considered visiting Japan, but their anti-tattoo stance made me reconsider. I’ve enough heard that some restaurants might not serve you if you have visible tattoos. Does anyone know if that’s true?

I even have hand tattoos and i'm going to japan to study the language and then go to university. It's going to be difficult, but it's the choice I made long time ago. Great video! Keep it up!

holy you have sick ink

Whoaa ! Loving these informative segments !

I loved this video! Thanks for sharing. I just had one question. I have finger tattoos and plan on working as an HR manager in Japan. In your opinion, do you think that finger tattoos would be stigmatized more than tattoos you can fully cover?

I have hand tattoos though and forearm tattoos too. I always wanted to visit Japan but I’m also tan and very muscular….yeah I think they might assume I’m a felon or something