Hi everyone! hope y’all are doing well…
So, this is a bit of a weird question but I’ve been considering the possibility of moving to Japan after college if I can get a good position there or if not… trying to visit again since I feel I’d really push me to improve my language skills fairly quicker and well…. I remember how nice Onsen are.
I’m aware of the “taboo” against tattoos and the fact that many Onsen don’t allow people who’re tattooed into their baths, but I also know that there are some where that isn’t an issue.
What I’m not really aware of is how people tend to behave towards trans people in Japan.
As far as I know, no one seems to really seems to have an issue but in the context of Onsen things start to feel a little different. (The whole “no-clothes deal” really opens the possibility for “clocking” and stuff like that)
So, I guess my question is… have any trans folks on the subreddit had any negative experiences regarding their “transness” in Japan? Even better if you’ve got any info on how stuff is in the context of Onsen?
A part of me feels like a trans, tattooed foreigner like me might not be as well received but….
you never know!
11 comments
Unfortunately Japan is really behind on the times. Tattoos are a big no-no, last time I was there they were very strict on that. And this was a Onsen Park aimed at tourists (odaiba).
Baths are divided into women and men (small children go with mothers regardless of gender). If you are visually not the gender you associate with, you will have a bad time and might even get banned.
However, Onsens aren’t really meant for socializing so if you just want to relax in the waters you can go to the assigned baths. I know this might not be what you want to hear but Japan is very strict about this. Its up to you but in the end its Japans rules over yours. Good luck!
You absolutely will not be able to bathe with the gender you are transitioning to in Japan. Unsure of how other countries would deal with that but I would imagine mixed responses.
Honestly a private onsen is perfect for you.
I honestly wouldn’t try entering into an onsen as trans regardless of if you enter the gender you were born with or the gender you transitioned to as either one *can* pose issues for you from the other patrons depending how far along you are in the transitioning process. Tattoos are the lesser problem here.
But seeing as how you are tattooed and trans the most comfortable experience for yourself and those around you would be for you to select a day-use onsen that offers private baths (still cover up your tattoos before entering such as at the check-in counter) or rent a ryokan with a private in-room onsen or the ability to sign up for a slot to use one of their private use onsen that isn’t in the room if they have one of these. Some ryokan have both public onsen and private onsen that you can reserve a timeslot for.
That’s your best bet and is realistically the only option available for you.
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Two things to address here.
Tattoos, go to a tattoo friendly place.
Trans, If you strip nude, you look like a guy? Go to the mens section. Put your hair in a bun, no make up.
It’s really about not making people uncomfortable. If the onsen staff think the other customers will be that around you they won’t let you in.
Or you could just go to a place with private onsen.
I am speaking for my friend since he doesn’t use reddit. He has a large tattoo on one arm, a smaller tattoo on the other and one on his calf. When we went he had gotten his top surgery but not bottom.
Ours was a visit, not living, but we went to Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku in Gunma prefecture because it was co-ed since he was the only guy and we didn’t want to split up the entire time. Also one of our travel partners was really nervous about being naked in front of people and girls are given there sort of towel desses to wear in the outside onsen since its co-ed. He covered his tattoos with those special stickers you can get there from Don Quiote just for that purpose.
Out in the outside open baths, no one seemed to pay him any mind or care. He mentioned though that he wasn’t sure if it was because they honestly didn’t care or if it was because there were 4 of us so people didn’t really look at him even more than they normally would. We went in the off-season so it wasn’t very busy so when we went into the gender-separated indoor baths he was the only guy so he didn’t deal with anyone there.
Most onsens accept foreigners with tattoos, especially tourist onsen towns like Beppu.
But there is no way they will accommodate you on trans part.
I know it might seem rude but I would suggest following their way of life over there. It will lead to less issues.
For tatoos – if you can put something like a band-aid and hide them- no problem to go to Onsen most of the time. But some Japanese could be a bit biased that foreigners would always have tatoos and they might be suspicious.
Trans- it would depend on how you look when you take your clothes off…. you can always try hiding by towels but if you do not want to be looked or gazed then I would recommend going to private Onsen.
Japan is still really behind regarding these things.
People would not directly tell you how they think but they might talk about it behind your back.
Maybe it is same everywhere… we never know.
I would say that majority of people would understand you but you need to understand the rules and culture.
Just go based on your genetalia to an area with people that have the same parts.
I would advise going to a private onsen. You’re right that some places are more accepting of tattoos these days, but yea being trans is going to pose a major hurdle to getting into a public onsen.
If you’re post op and passing then I dont see an issue. If you’re pre op… well yea I dont think they’ll let you go to the side of the onsen that you identify with. Best to just avoid the stress and book a private onsen for yourself.
Private is your best bet. As others have said, Japan is still quite conservative socially and you may face discrimination if you are visibly trans. For tattoos, it’s probably best to get sticker patches to cover them.