In Japan, a small tattoo starts at about ¥10,000 for a coin-sized piece, ¥20,000 for a business-card size, ¥34,000 for a smartphone size and ¥40,000 for a postcard size. Larger work is usually charged by the hour, from about ¥13,000 per hour, so a piece that takes 10 hours in total starts at roughly ¥130,000. These are the median starting prices that tattoo artists listed on tattooers.jp publish on their profiles, as of November 15, 2026.
Every number in this guide is a "from" price: the lowest price an artist lists for that size. Your final price is usually higher once detail, color and placement are decided.
Figure: everyday objects and the median starting price for that size, from prices published by artists on tattooers.jp (as of November 15, 2026)
This guide covers:
- Tattoo prices in Japan by body part
- Prices by size, and Tokyo compared with the rest of Japan
- How Japanese artists set prices: by size, by the hour, by quote or per session
- What a sleeve or a full back costs, and how many sessions it takes
- What makes the price go up, deposits, payment and tipping
- How to ask for a quote in English
Tattoo Prices in Japan by Body Part
In Japan, the body part itself rarely changes the price. What matters is how big the piece is and how long it takes. So we matched each body part with the size that usually fits there and used the starting prices artists publish for that size. Sizes per body part are our editorial guide. For sleeves and backs, the hours depend so much on the design that we show the hourly rate instead.
| Body part (example) | Typical size or approach | Typical starting price | Middle 50% of artists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finger, behind the ear | Coin-sized (a small symbol or a letter or two) | ¥10,000 | ¥7,000–¥12,500 |
| Wrist, ankle | Coin to business card | ¥10,000–¥20,000 | ¥7,000–¥27,500 |
| Inner forearm, collarbone | Business card to smartphone | ¥20,000–¥34,000 | ¥15,000–¥40,000 |
| Outer forearm, calf | Smartphone to postcard | ¥34,000–¥40,000 | ¥25,000–¥50,000 |
| Shoulder, upper arm, thigh | Postcard to A5 | ¥40,000 | ¥31,500–¥50,000 |
| One side of the chest, part of the back | About an A4 sheet | ¥66,000 | ¥62,500–¥77,500 |
| Sleeves, full back and other large work | Several sessions, usually by the hour | ¥13,000 per hour × hours | ¥10,500–¥15,000 per hour |
Compiled from prices published by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 2026).
Some spots take longer because the skin is thin or moves a lot, such as the ribs, elbows, the back of the knee, hands and fingers. If you're paying by the hour, those spots cost more. They also tend to hurt more; see our guide to tattoo pain by body part.
You can browse finished work by body part: wrist, arm, shoulder and back.
Images are quoted from works by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 15, 2026). They show sizes only, not the price of each piece. Tap an image to open the work's page.
Artists: cheer tatts / SOU / NaO / tera
Tattoo Prices by Size
Most artists in Japan who price by size list a starting price for each size on their profile. Here is what those starting prices look like across all artists on tattooers.jp who publish them.
"Typical" is the median; "middle 50%" is the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. When an artist lists a range, we use the lower end, and when they list several prices for the same size, we use the lowest. Sizes that too few artists publish a price for are left out because the numbers would swing too much.
| Size | Typical starting price | Middle 50% of artists |
|---|---|---|
| Coin-sized (about 3 cm / 1 in) | ¥10,000 | ¥7,000–¥12,500 |
| Business card (about 5 × 9 cm / 2 × 3.5 in) | ¥20,000 | ¥15,000–¥27,500 |
| Smartphone (about 7 × 14 cm / 3 × 5.5 in) | ¥34,000 | ¥25,000–¥40,000 |
| Postcard to A5 (about 10 × 15 to 15 × 21 cm) | ¥40,000 | ¥31,500–¥50,000 |
| A4 sheet (about 21 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in) | ¥66,000 | ¥62,500–¥77,500 |
| Hourly rate (per hour) | ¥13,000 | ¥10,500–¥15,000 |
Compiled from prices published by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 2026).
Figure: size guide and median starting price (tattooers.jp, as of November 15, 2026)
For a real example, GEN of the band HIKAGE talks about what his neck tattoos cost in our interview with him.
Even the smallest tattoo has a minimum charge, because setup, needles and ink cost the same whatever the size. Expect to pay at least the artist's minimum, even for a single letter.
Tokyo compared with the rest of Japan
Tokyo has the most artists who publish prices, so it is the only city with enough data to compare. Here are the Tokyo medians next to the national ones.
| Size | Tokyo (median) | All of Japan (median) |
|---|---|---|
| Coin-sized (about 3 cm / 1 in) | ¥8,000 | ¥10,000 |
| Business card (about 5 × 9 cm / 2 × 3.5 in) | ¥20,000 | ¥20,000 |
| Smartphone (about 7 × 14 cm / 3 × 5.5 in) | ¥33,000 | ¥34,000 |
| Postcard to A5 (about 10 × 15 to 15 × 21 cm) | ¥40,000 | ¥40,000 |
| Hourly rate | ¥14,000 | ¥13,000 |
Compiled from prices published by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 2026).
Other cities don't yet have enough published prices to give a reliable number, so we don't show them. To see what artists in a city charge, open their profiles from the city pages: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa. Our booking service for visitors also shows, for each city, the typical price of an artist's smallest size, counted a little differently from the tables here.
How Japanese Tattoo Artists Set Their Prices
Artists in Japan usually price in one of four ways. Ask which one applies before you book.
- By size: a set price for each size. Common for small and medium pieces
- By the hour: the price depends on how long the tattooing takes. Common for large or very detailed work
- By quote: the artist sees your design and gives you a price
- Per session: a fixed price for each visit. Common for traditional Japanese work and other large pieces
Whether setup and stencil time count toward the hours also differs from artist to artist.
Figure: the four ways artists set prices, with an hourly example from the median range of published hourly rates (tattooers.jp, as of November 15, 2026)
What does a sleeve or a full back cost in Japan?
A sleeve or a full back is done over many sessions, and you usually pay for each session as you go. The total is the hourly rate times the total hours, and only the artist can estimate the hours: they change a lot with the detail, the size and whether you add a full background (the wind, waves or clouds around the main motif). The table below multiplies the hourly rates artists publish by a few example totals.
| Total hours | At ¥13,000 per hour | At ¥10,500–¥15,000 per hour (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hours | about ¥65,000+ | about ¥52,500–¥75,000 |
| 10 hours | about ¥130,000+ | about ¥105,000–¥150,000 |
| 20 hours | about ¥260,000+ | about ¥210,000–¥300,000 |
| 30 hours | about ¥390,000+ | about ¥315,000–¥450,000 |
Compiled from prices published by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 2026).
These start from minimum rates, so the real price is usually higher. Ask your artist how many hours and sessions your design will take, then read it off the table. Japanese-style work by artists in Japan is collected on our Japanese style page.
Images are quoted from works by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 15, 2026). They show the scale of large work, not prices. The two backs are at the outline stage; shading and color are added over many more sessions.
Artists: YURA / HORINARI / horiaki / tomo
If you're visiting Japan for a short time, a large piece can't be finished in one trip. Plan for an outline on the first visit and coming back, or choose a size that fits in one session of a few hours. A fresh tattoo also needs to stay out of baths for a while, so if onsen are part of your trip, see tattoo-friendly onsen in Tokyo and how to cover tattoos in Japan.
What Makes a Tattoo Cost More
- Detail and color: fine lines, shading and color take longer than simple black lines
- Placement: ribs, hands, fingers and joints take longer
- Custom design: some artists charge a design fee or include drawing time in the price
- Cover-ups and reworks: covering an old tattoo usually needs a bigger, darker design and more time
- Touch-ups: some artists include a free touch-up after healing, others charge for it
The three pieces below are all on the arm and about the same size. Line work only, solid black and layered color each take a different amount of time.
Images are quoted from works by artists listed on tattooers.jp (as of November 15, 2026).
Artists: Aiko / Rintaro Nakayama / AYANO
A price far below the ranges above is often an apprentice's practice piece. Look at the artist's past work before you decide.
Deposits, Payment and Tipping
Many artists ask for a deposit to hold your appointment. The deposit is usually taken off the final price, but whether it is refunded if you cancel depends on each artist's policy. Check the booking policy on the artist's profile, or ask when you contact them.
For work done over several sessions, you usually pay for each session on the day. Payment methods vary, so ask in advance whether the artist accepts cards.
Tipping isn't customary in Japan, and tattoo studios generally don't expect a tip. If you're unsure, ask your artist.
Figure: when you pay, in a common flow. Timing and amounts differ by artist (tattooers.jp)
How to Ask for a Quote in English
Short, simple English is easiest for artists to read, and a quote is faster and more accurate when you send everything at once:
- A reference image of the design you want
- The size in centimeters and the body part (a photo of the spot helps)
- Black and grey or color
- Your budget
- The dates you're in Japan
Figure: what to send when you ask for a quote (tattooers.jp)
Before you book, confirm whether the price is an estimate or fixed, and whether it is a total or an hourly rate. You can find artists and send a booking request from all artists. If you'd like us to find an artist for you and handle the booking in English, use our booking service for visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much is a small tattoo in Japan?
A coin-sized tattoo (about 3 cm) starts at about ¥10,000, and a business-card size at about ¥20,000. These are the median starting prices published by artists on tattooers.jp as of November 15, 2026; see the size table above.
Q. How much does a full sleeve cost in Japan?
Too few artists on tattooers.jp publish a sleeve price to give a reliable median, and the hours depend on the design, so a sleeve is usually priced by the hour. The median published hourly rate is about ¥13,000 (as of November 15, 2026), so every 10 hours adds roughly ¥130,000. Ask the artist how many hours and sessions your design will take, then use the large-work table above.
Q. Do I need to tip my tattoo artist in Japan?
Usually not. Tipping isn't customary in Japan, and studios generally don't expect it. If you're unsure, ask your artist.
Q. Is the deposit refundable?
It depends on the artist's cancellation policy. Check it on their profile or ask before you pay.
Q. Are tattoos cheaper in Japan than in the US or Europe?
We don't compare countries in this guide because we only have data for artists in Japan. Use the tables above as a reference when you compare quotes.
Summary
- In Japan, a coin-sized tattoo starts at about ¥10,000, a business-card size at about ¥20,000 and a smartphone size at about ¥34,000 (median starting prices, as of November 15, 2026)
- The body part matters less than size and time; sleeves and backs are priced by the hour or per session
- Large work takes many sessions, so plan more than one visit
- Deposits and cancellation policies vary by artist; tipping isn't expected
Every artist sets their own prices. Find an artist whose style you like on all artists and check the prices on their profile.
