Tattoo-Friendly Onsen, Sento and Saunas in Tokyo: The Official Rules

Yes, you can go to an onsen, sento or sauna in Tokyo with tattoos. But "tattoo OK" means four different things: allowed as you are, allowed if covered, small tattoos only, or allowed at set hours or in a private bath. Local sento (neighborhood bathhouses) and saunas are often fine as you are. Large onsen and spa complexes usually allow only what their own cover stickers can hide.

We read each facility's official page and sorted the rules below. Quotes are our translations of the official Japanese wording. We checked every rule on November 13, 2026. Rules change, so always check the official page or ask the facility before you go.

This is a selection. To search all the places we have checked in Tokyo, use our tattoo-friendly map of Tokyo. Each facility page shows the official wording, the source and the date we checked it.

Traveling beyond Tokyo? We checked the same way in Hakone and Kanagawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido and other areas of Japan.

"Tattoo OK" in Tokyo Comes in Four Types

Which type a place is decides whether, and how, you can go in. If you book on the strength of "tattoo friendly" alone, you may find you need to buy stickers at the desk or come back before 5 pm.

Three things are easy to miss:

• Stickers are either "bring your own" or "ours only." If only the facility's stickers count, you buy them at the front desk. Do not count on the ones in your suitcase
• Some places treat irezumi and tattoos differently. Irezumi usually means traditional Japanese tattooing, and a few places refuse irezumi while accepting "fashion tattoos"
• Men only, women only and age limits are separate from the tattoo rule. Our facility pages list these conditions too

Sento: Many Let You Walk Straight In

Many of Tokyo's local sento say on their official pages that guests with tattoos are welcome. A sento is a neighborhood public bath, usually small and inexpensive. Many others say nothing at all; if a sento's page is silent, call or ask at the counter.

Sento that officially welcome tattoos:

Hasunuma Onsen adds that anyone who causes trouble for other guests or staff may not use the bath [7], and Komaeyu asks everyone to be considerate [8]. Being welcome still means being considerate of other bathers.

Some sento set a size limit or hours instead:

• Tatsumiyu (Koto): tattoos up to 15 x 15 cm are fine; traditional irezumi is not [9]
• Fukagawa Onsen Tokiwayu (Koto): irezumi and tattoos up to the size of your palm [10]
• Sakurakan (Ota): guests with tattoos may stay from opening until 17:00; one tattoo within 6 x 6 cm is fine after that too [11]

Onsen and Large Spas: It Comes Down to Their Stickers

Tokyo's onsen and spa complexes usually let you in only if their own stickers can cover your tattoo. You buy the stickers at the front desk; your own stickers are not accepted.

All of them say that if your tattoo is bigger than the limit, or you refuse the stickers, you cannot come in [12][13][14][15][16]. A rough rule: two 11 x 20 cm stickers cover a palm-sized piece easily, but not a sleeve or a back piece.

Pieces like these would fit under one or two of those stickers:

Coin-sized star | GIN Blue sparkle | miantatu Winged cat | Mina Paw print | 美嶺 Mirei

Images are quoted from works by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 13, 2026). Tap an image to open the work.

Artist pages: GIN / miantatu / Mina / Mirei. More small pieces are in one-point tattoos and shoulder tattoos.

A few places work differently:

• Jindaiji Natural Hot Spring Yumori no Sato (Chofu): only if you can cover it with a sticker or similar; no size or brand is specified [17]
• PARADISE (Minato): does not distinguish guests by whether they have tattoos. Men only, with occasional ladies' days [18]
• ELLE SPA (Ota, in a hotel at Haneda Airport): a private spa by reservation that does not refuse tattoos. Handy on a first or last night in Japan [19]

Saunas: Many Are Fine, Some Want "Their" Sticker

Many of Tokyo's newer saunas let you in with tattoos as they are. Others ask you to wear their own sticker, and at some of those the sticker does not even need to cover the tattoo.

Saunas that officially accept tattoos:

• SHIBUYA SAUNAS (Shibuya): tattoos allowed every day since January 1, 2024, on a trial basis that may end if problems arise [20]
• TAKANAWA SAUNAS (Minato): same policy as Shibuya, with the same caveat [21]
• SaunaLab Kanda (Chiyoda): guests with tattoos or irezumi can use the sauna [22]
• Sauna Dojo (Shibuya): tattoos allowed. Men only [23]
• Shoga Sauna Kin no Kame (Minato): since January 11, 2025, tattoos are accepted every day without stickers, which the sauna links to the rise in overseas visitors [24]
• SteaMs. (Minato): tattoos allowed. Women only, 18 and over [25]
• Prus Sauna Ebisu Daikanyama (Shibuya): fully private sauna rooms by reservation, so tattoos are not an issue [26]

Saunas that ask you to cover up do it in different ways:

At Sauna Tokyo and Sugoi Sauna Akasaka, the sticker works more like a sign that you are following the house rules than a cover. That is a different idea from the onsen stickers above, so read each rule on its own terms.

Pools and Gyms: Keep Tattoos Out of Sight

At Tokyo's pools and gyms, tattoos are usually allowed as long as nobody can see them. Unlike onsen, you can use rash guards and long sleeves.

Pools:

• Meguro Kumin Center Indoor Pool (Meguro): no exposed tattoos; wear a rash guard. Bring your own if you can; there are a limited number of free loans [34]
• Minato City Sports Center Pool (Minato): cover completely with a rash guard or a supporter you cannot see through [35]
• Tokyo Aquatics Centre (Koto): asks guests with tattoos to wear a rash guard or similar [36]

Gyms (useful if you are staying a while and buy a pass):

• Anytime Fitness (Tokyo locations): members may have tattoos but must not show them in the gym. Private locker and shower rooms do not count. Details vary by club [37]
• THE BLAZE FIT. MAGOME (Ota): cover up in the gym; tattoos showing in the locker room, bath and sauna are tolerated [38]
• Gold's Gym Harajuku Tokyo (Shibuya): membership only if the tattoo fits within 15 x 15 cm, and it must be covered everywhere, including the bath and locker room [39]

Some chains, such as Konami Sports Club, refuse tattoos altogether [47]. For choosing a rash guard, stickers or tape, see our guide on how to cover tattoos in Japan.

Well-Known Places That Say No

Some of Tokyo's best-known onsen complexes do not admit guests with tattoos. A few refuse even tattoo stickers or body paint, and some refuse covered tattoos. Check before you plan a day around one.

• Spa LaQua (Bunkyo, Tokyo Dome City): refuses guests with tattoos or body art, including paint and stickers [40]
• Ryogoku Yuya Edoyu (Sumida): refuses guests with tattoos, including tattoo paint and stickers [41]
• Yudokoro Kasai (Edogawa): refuses tattoos of any size, and use with stickers, supports or tape [42]
• Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu (Hachioji, at the foot of Mt. Takao): no entry with tape or stickers, and no exception for small tattoos [43]
• Kaieiyu (Taito): a local sento that refuses tattoos of any size, covered or not [44]

Two well-known places draw the line by who you are:

• Thermae-yu Shinjuku (Shinjuku): for men, Japanese guests and foreign residents of Japan cannot enter, even with a sticker. Male foreign tourists may bathe wearing one of the facility's stickers (330 yen); it may overhang. Women with fashion tattoos are allowed on a trial basis, with one sticker if a single tattoo is larger than 30 x 30 cm [45]
• SPA&SAUNA Corridor no Yu (Chuo, Ginza area): refuses irezumi but accepts fashion tattoos, including foreign tourists [46]

If a place separates irezumi from fashion tattoos, the facility decides which one yours counts as, so ask before you go.

Before You Go

Check the type and the conditions on the official page, and if anything is unclear, ask. Everything in this guide and on our map was checked on November 13, 2026.

• Read the official page. Every facility page on our map links to its source. Most are in Japanese; a browser translation is usually enough to find the tattoo rule
• Ask in simple terms. At the counter, showing the tattoo and asking "Is this OK?" works. By email, give the size in centimeters and the number of tattoos
• Plan for stickers. If only the facility's stickers count, buy them at the desk. If your own are allowed, bring ones big enough
• Check where they stay on. Some places want stickers on for the whole visit, not just in the bath [13]
• Got a tattoo on this trip? Stay out of baths, saunas and pools until it has healed, and ask your artist when you can go back in. Visit the onsen first, then get matched with a Tokyo artist

Our map has a button to report a mistake. If a rule has changed when you visit, we would be glad to hear about it.

Planning to get tattooed in Tokyo and still want to visit onsen? Tell your artist you want the piece to fit under one or two 11 x 20 cm stickers. Tell us your dates and idea, and we match you with a Tokyo artist within 48 hours: English is fine, and the ¥15,000 deposit is refunded in full if we can't match you. You can also find tattoo artists in Tokyo or browse all artists on tattooers.jp. For how much each spot hurts and how easy it is to cover, see tattoo pain by body part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I get into any Tokyo onsen if I cover my tattoo with a sticker?

No. Many onsen accept only their own stickers [12][13], and some refuse covered tattoos entirely [42][43]. Check each facility's rule on our Tokyo map.

Q. Are there places that accept foreign tourists but not residents?

Yes. At Thermae-yu Shinjuku, male foreign tourists may bathe with one of the facility's stickers, while Japanese men and foreign residents cannot [45]. Rules like this can change, so check before you go.

Q. What is the easiest way to bathe with large tattoos in Tokyo?

A local sento that officially welcomes tattoos, a sauna that accepts them, or a private bath. Onsen complexes with sticker limits rarely work for sleeves or back pieces.

Q. A sento's website says nothing about tattoos. Can I go in?

You cannot be sure. Ask at the counter or call first, giving the size and number of your tattoos.

Summary

Tokyo has tattoo-friendly onsen, sento and saunas, but "tattoo OK" comes in four types.

1. Local sento and saunas are often fine as you are
2. Onsen and spa complexes usually allow only what their own stickers can cover
3. Pools and gyms want tattoos out of sight, under a rash guard or clothing
4. Some famous onsen refuse tattoos even when covered

Everything here was checked on November 13, 2026. Always check the official page or ask the facility before you go. Search Tokyo on our tattoo-friendly map of Tokyo, or other areas on the tattoo-friendly map of Japan.

References

Rules are as shown on each facility's official page (in Japanese unless noted) on the date checked. We did not visit the facilities.

1. Mikokuyu (Sumida). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
2. Koganeyu (Sumida). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
3. Konparuyu (Shinagawa). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
4. Hinodeyu (Taito). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
5. Atamiyu (Shinjuku). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
6. Matsumoto-yu (Nakano). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
7. Hasunuma Onsen (Ota). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
8. Komaeyu. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
9. Tatsumiyu (Koto). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
10. Fukagawa Onsen Tokiwayu (Koto). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
11. Sakurakan (Ota). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
12. Saya no Yudokoro (Itabashi). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
13. Manyo no Yu Machida. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
14. Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club (Koto). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
15. Natural Hot Spring Heiwajima (Ota). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
16. Spadium Japon (Higashikurume). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
17. Jindaiji Natural Hot Spring Yumori no Sato (Chofu). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
18. PARADISE (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
19. ELLE SPA (Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport) (Ota). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
20. SHIBUYA SAUNAS. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
21. TAKANAWA SAUNAS (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
22. SaunaLab Kanda (Chiyoda). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
23. Sauna Dojo (Shibuya). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
24. Shoga Sauna Kin no Kame (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
25. SteaMs. (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
26. Prus Sauna Ebisu Daikanyama (Shibuya). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
27. Sauna Tokyo (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
28. Sugoi Sauna Akasaka (Minato). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
29. Sugoi Sauna Gotanda Ekimae (Shinagawa). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
30. BABA sauna & Work Cafe (Shinjuku). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
31. MONSTER WORK & SAUNA (Musashino). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
32. Sauna New Otsuka (Toshima). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
33. Galera Sauna Tachikawa. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
34. Meguro Kumin Center Indoor Pool. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
35. Minato City Sports Center Pool. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
36. Tokyo Aquatics Centre (Koto). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
37. Anytime Fitness (Tokyo locations) (Tokyo (multiple)). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
38. Luxury Fitness Club THE BLAZE FIT. MAGOME (Ota). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
39. Gold's Gym Harajuku Tokyo (Shibuya). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
40. Spa LaQua (Bunkyo). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
41. Ryogoku Yuya Edoyu (Sumida). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
42. Yudokoro Kasai (Edogawa). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
43. Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu (Hachioji). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
44. Kaieiyu (Taito). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
45. Thermae-yu Shinjuku. Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
46. SPA&SAUNA Corridor no Yu (Chuo). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.
47. Konami Sports Club (Tokyo locations) (Tokyo (multiple)). Official page. Accessed November 13, 2026.