Gym Etiquette in Japan If you have large, visible, tattoos, you may be asked to either cover them up while in the facility or restrict membership altogether. So if you're tatted, make sure to check their policies ahead of time. Many gyms require separate indoor shoes to use in the facilities.
Rules are very important in Japan, and as there is a no tattoo rule in nearly all pools, onsens and gyms, a foreigner walking up to the desk with tattoos showing is bound to cause concern. Just cover up and keep those tattoos covered and that is acceptable. If you can't cover up, don't go to those environments.
Walking around town is perfectly fine, especially in the big cities. However, you're going to want to cover up when you visit anywhere that is traditional, such as temples, shrines, and ryokan. Even if there isn't a posted rule, it is respectful to cover your tattoos in these places.
Probably all fitness centers/gyms have a non-tattoo policy. You'd have to cover them with a bandage or sleeve, or hope that they don't touch upon the issue. It's a general policy related to refusal of organized crimes, and it's nothing personal. Japanese gyms are very different from gyms in the US.
Is tattoo illegal in Japan? Having a tattoo is not illegal per se in Japan. However, tattoo artists tend to work under-the-radar as their job, as every occupation involving needles are legally subject to owning a medical degree.
Things to Keep in Mind
Many places still ban tattooed guests and visitors, so it's best to cover up just so your Japan experience don't get slightly ruined by these uncontrollable situations.
Japan has two tattoo cultures - Western and Yakuza - and while it seems unlikely that a foreign tourist would be confused with one, the rules generally exist to keep gang members out of certain spaces. However, these attitudes date back to the Edo period (1603-1868), where criminals were punished with tattoos.
Restricting tattooed guests from bathing would make it impossible for much of the global population to experience this vital part of Japanese nature and culture. Today, having a tattoo will not prevent you from experiencing an onsen or sento.
Tattoos are still a taboo in Japan. While they are not illegal, having an inked skin can sometimes prevent people from enjoying certain quintessentially Japanese experiences such as taking a bath in an onsen or sento, or even swimming in a pool.
Japan has a longstanding taboo against tattoos, which remain associated with organized crime. Many beaches, hot springs resorts and gyms do not admit people with tattoos. Companies often expressly prohibit applicants who are inked.
– Tattoos or 'irezumi' have a long and complicated history in Japan, going back several hundreds of years. Tattoos have many symbolic meanings in Japanese society and can denote where an individual ranked in society. Today, tattoos are generally perceived negatively in Japanese society.
Three largest syndicates
The Yakuza are still active in Japan. Although Yakuza membership has declined since the implementation of the Anti-Boryokudan Act in 1992, the Japanese National Police Agency estimated in 2022 that approximately 11,400 Yakuza members were engaged in illegal activity in Japan.
In fact, piercings of any kind are very uncommon in Japan, even for older people. Usually the people who get ear piercings in Japan are rule-breakers, or people who are trying to look tough. However clip-on earrings are quite common and acceptable, although of course not at school.
Yes! But be aware that talking on the phone or playing music without headphones is not allowed. Additionally, no photographs or videos are allowed in most Japanese gyms.
Albeit there are several tens of millions of people engaged in sports in Japan, only a few million of them are also members of a fitness club. Among the most popular places to exercise are streets, one's home, and parks, with private commercial indoor facilities being nowhere near the preferred choices.
In upholding the law, the Constitutional Court said tattooing could cause infections and other complications, but Lim argued that safety could be improved by training. There's also taboo associated with tattoos in the country, as ink was historically used to permanently mark criminals and slaves.
The Constitutional Court in Seoul upheld a ban on tattooing on Thursday, confirming South Korea as the only developed country that permits no one but medical professionals to perform the procedure.
There is no law against getting a tattoo nor any regulation on where you can go for this procedure, which means that people of all ages and genders can get them done.
The Japanese have perfected the art of onsen, or hot spring baths, for centuries. Traditionally, men and women would bathe together in the same facility, but these days the baths are segregated by gender. Today, konyoku (mixed-gender onsen) are hard to find, with places like Tokyo having bans on such establishments.
Avoid bathing in an onsen in the following cases. If you have chronic bronchitis and fever or difficulty in breathing. If you have stable angina and chest pain becomes frequent. Bathing may cause serious problems with dehydration or thrombosis.
On the southern island of Kyushu is where you'll find Beppu, a steaming hot spring haven located in Oita Prefecture. Beppu is a relatively safe bet for onsen lovers with tattoos as many of the facilities you'll find here have more relaxed attitudes to the archaic rules. Kitahama Onsen Termas is one such example.
Does Japan Hate Tattoos? The Outlawing of Tattoos in Japan. Rulers of the Edo period tried to ban tattoos in Japan, largely due to its association with the tale of Suikoden. In the story, the heroes were the underdogs; they were tattooed men who challenged the suffocating rule of authority.
Are Tattoos Illegal in Japan? While some view tattoos as an art form, the Japanese government, on the other hand, does not. Although they may not be illegal, tattoos are often associated with the Yakuza, a Japanese gang that covers their entire body with tattoos.
Well I'm sorry to ruin your dreams, but unfortunately, as many of you already know, if you are a tattooed person, you are not allowed to enter most of the public baths, pools, hot springs, gyms or beaches in the country.