Hello!
In April next year we will make our 7th trip to Japan and focus on Kyushu. I have emailed about 12 Onsen / Ryokan on the island and have failed to find any that accept tattoos. I found a few that allow you to cover them but that is not possible unfortunately.
We are planning to be in / near:
* Beppu
* Takachiho
* Miyazaki
* Kagoshima
* Yakushima
* Kumamoto
* Sasebo
I am good to stop anywhere honestly if there is an onsen. I am mostly interested in places people know for certain take tattoos. My head is covered, neck, body, etc. I cannot cover them with the stickers and my husband also has one large one that cannot be covered.
On the other hand, if anyone has been to on with a nice private rentable bath I am interested in those as well. On most of the websites you cannot see the private baths and we have gotten burned by a few that were basically a plastic tub in a broom closet.
RESEARCH
* I did check here [https://en.tattoo-go.in/option/%E6%B8%A9%E6%B3%89/%E4%BD%90%E8%B3%80%E7%9C%8C/%E6%AD%A6%E9%9B%84%E5%B8%82](https://en.tattoo-go.in/option/%E6%B8%A9%E6%B3%89/%E4%BD%90%E8%B3%80%E7%9C%8C/%E6%AD%A6%E9%9B%84%E5%B8%82) But for say Takeo there are 11 places listed; 1 says no tattoos and the other do not say tattoo friendly; does that mean they all are? I checked a couple and there wasn’t an email us button only a phone number.
* I read the HOW TO USE and it doesn’t give confidence that people are checking that they are allowed to go in, it just says could you enter; but I don’t want to just barge in an assume …. I have read a few stories of people just ignoring signs and hotel staff and going in anyway 🙁
* Tattoo friendly seems to be broken right now? (Only found tattoo friendly Japan with a google search)
* The link for tattoo-spot leads to a domain up for sale or the link is broken in the FAQ? I couldn’t find it googling either
* I’m also am not sure if tattoo spot is kept up to date as a few locations I looked at on there closed during the pandemic (from when we went in March)
* I did look at tattoo friendly japan but all they have for most of Kyushu is public baths which would work but I am holding out for Ryokan / Onsen.
* I did review the one post specifically about Kyushu that someone commented on from a few years ago but those hotels are a little too pricey for me. I’m looking for $100-$300 USD a night I supposed?
* I did review every post on Japan travel combining the words KYUSHU + TATTOO and in the last year (since opening after covid) no one has posted any info on who is taking tattoos now so I am interested in updated info!
I’m sorry if this was already answered. I did look deeply (I believe!).
1 comment
In all the city you named, only Beppu is known for their onsen.
If you Google search Beppu tattoo onsen you will find things like these article, Beppu is actually one of the most known tattoo friendly place.
[https://enjoyonsen.city.beppu-jp.com/onsen/100tattoo-friendly_beppuonsen_japan/](https://enjoyonsen.city.beppu-jp.com/onsen/100tattoo-friendly_beppuonsen_japan/)
[https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/7726/](https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/7726/)
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Beppu is actually known to be quite tattoo friendly and a lot of the places will be ok. Yes, you might have to contact a specific ryokan you want to stay at to confirm their policy, but Beppu is likely the best place to ask.