What is a good public bath or "onsen" in Tokyo that will allow foreigners with tattoos in?

Question

I have the back of both of my legs covered. One tattoo is a Japanese design, a koi fish turning into a dragon, which is big and the other is Atlas, holding a globe. I know that a lot of places won't let people in with tattoos because of the taboo in Japan, but I've heard some baths don't care. I'm a 24 year old white guy from California, so I'm obviously not a Yakuza, but still understand I might have some difficulty. Any names of places that will not mind would be great. Also, what is the general opinion of the Japan's younger generation (25 and under) towards tattoos? I know overall they are still looked upon negatively, but it seems like younger people are more open and accepting. I want to live there eventually, but don't know if it will cause me problems. Since they are in an area that's easy to cover, I don't think it will be a huge issue, but I'm still concerned. I'm a corporate, business type, so I always dress nice, am very coureous and don't look like trouble.

Answer 1

When I used "sentou" ( public bath) in Tokyo at near my friends house...one Japanese lady had a tattoo on her left shoulder. Nobody ask her to leave or anything. If U want to go to Onsen or public bath, you may go with your Japanese friend for a just in case. Your Japanese friend should be explain to the manager if there is a problem. Since you are not oriental, nobody think you are Yakuza if they see your tattoo and if they not see them, nobody knows.
P.S :I know some young Japanese do have a little tattoo on their body. Not like a Yakuza tatto. More like a art like a ppl do in U.S. And you can see Yakuza tatto here and read what USNinJapan wrote.May give you an idea. note: Otosan=father. But his case is father-in law
http://www.japantoday.com/jp/picture/2548
And more yakuza tatto
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://web.telia.com/~u31302275/ya_bild/guy.jpg&imgrefurl=http://web.telia.com/~u31302275/yakyza8.htm&h=407&w=349&sz=35&tbnid=2NUzhIE3txTecM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyakuza%2Btattoo%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1

Answer 2

Well, tattoos are frowned upon in baths because of their Yakuza connotations. It depends on the Onsen (hot spring) you go to, some will have signs outside saying "No tattoos" but I have been in a few and Japanese people have been walking around with them showing (although they may have been locals). So it is better to just cover it up and then it is no problem, which is what most people with tattoos do. Oh and don`t worry, they won`t check you!!

Answer 3

Some baths and onsen do not care. The problem is that those baths and onsen are patronized by people with tattoos. One thing you can say for yakuza is that they are clean. I'm sure those guys go to places that their gang is connected to, so it's not as if there is a directory of tattoo friendly onsen. As long as you don't wear shorts to a job interview, your tats won't keep you from being employed at least.

Answer 4

I once went to a spa in Yokohama with a friend of mine who's tattooed in a Y-za style. He got kicked out of there almost immediately. I know a sauna in Ikebukuro that's perfectly ok with tattooed people. It's on the east side of Ikebukuro station, in front of the Sunshine city area and next to BicCamera (kyu-kan, or the older one.) But that seems to be a rare exception. It seems that almost all the saunas in Tokyo, with "capsule hotels" often attached to them, now don't accept tattooed people.

Answer 5

You could always go to a bath that's filled with mafia guys - they clearly wouldn't care. In the basement of the building directly across from Kyoto Station (with the big white tower), there was a bath filled tattooed thugs.

If you don't like naked thugs (and who doesn't?), you might just go into any regular bath. I don't think anyone will give you trouble.... those tattoo rules were made for mafia, not westerners. (If your heritage is asian, you might be out of luck.)

Answer 6

It doesn't matter. You are a foreigner. I don't even think they will really care. Just go. During the bath, people usually don't talk. They kinda ignore each other. Just do you thing.