Motif
Flowers tattoos in Japan
Flower tattoos are a collection of works depicting flowers such as roses, cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, peonies, lotuses, and lilies. It's a versatile subject, ranging from small one-point tattoos of a single flower to flowers accompanying dragons, koi, or karajishi in Japanese traditional (wabori) style, or compositions spreading branches and flowers across arms and legs.
1,775 works on tattooers.jp
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Artists with the most flowers work
- Ayano AYANOOsaka · 56 works
- HAZETokyo · 52 works
- goatTokyo · 42 works
- NaOKanagawa · 40 works
- MARIYA MariyaTokyo · 37 works
- ToM【DRAGON HEART TATTOO】Kanagawa · 37 works
- HoriakiShizuoka · 37 works
- Manabu ShinshuNagano · 33 works
Japanese Traditional (wabori) Flowers vs. Western-Style Flowers
In Japanese traditional (wabori), peonies, cherry blossoms, and chrysanthemums are depicted both as main subjects and as backgrounds accompanying dragons, koi, or karajishi. Compositions often feature petals drawn with thick outlines, filling the space along with waves and clouds.
In Western styles, roses and lilies are frequently depicted. Even the same flower can create a vastly different impression depending on the style, such as black and gray, which uses shading (bokashi) to express overlapping petals; old school, with its thick lines and distinct colors; or fine line and botanical, which are drawn with lines only.
Difference from the Plants Page
This page compiles only works featuring flowers. If you are looking for other plants, including leaves, vines, trees, or autumn leaves, please refer to the Plants page.
Questions
Which flowers are most common in flower tattoos?
According to works listed on tattooers.jp (as of October 25, 2026), roses are most common with 234 pieces, followed by cherry blossoms (211), chrysanthemums (119), peonies (100), lotuses (94), and lilies (56). Sunflowers and daisies follow. On each flower's page, you can view only works featuring that specific flower.
What kind of flowers are used in Japanese traditional (wabori)?
Peonies, cherry blossoms, and chrysanthemums are frequently used. Peonies are known for the "Shishi ni Botan" (lion and peony) design when combined with karajishi. Cherry blossoms are often depicted as falling petals flowing in the background of dragons or koi. Chrysanthemums are often drawn with large, overlapping petals. They can also be depicted alongside autumn leaves as seasonal flowers.
What do flower tattoos mean?
Each type and color of flower has a flower language, and it is said that they are sometimes chosen for their symbolic meaning. In Japanese traditional (wabori), they can also be associated with seasons and good fortune. There are various interpretations, and many people choose based on their preference for shape and color.
What should I decide before a consultation for a flower tattoo?
Besides the type of flower, deciding whether you want a single flower, a bouquet, or a branch, whether to use color or black ink only, and whether it will be a background or the main subject for other motifs will help the discussion proceed smoothly. Even the same flower can look very different depending on the style, such as Japanese traditional (wabori), botanical, or fine line, so showing works that are close to your image will make it easier to communicate. Visiting Japan? Send us your idea and dates through our booking form, and we'll match you with an artist whose work fits.