Tattoo-Friendly Onsen Near Tokyo: Kanto Day-Trip Guide

Yes, you can visit an onsen with tattoos near Tokyo, but the rules depend on the place. Some day-trip onsen in the Kanto region let you bathe with your tattoos showing. Others accept small tattoos if you cover them with the facility's own cover sticker, and a few use set hours, bathing wear or private baths instead. This guide lists the rules we checked on each facility's official website in November 2026.

To find more places, browse onsen and saunas in Kanto, sento in Kanto and hotels and ryokan in Kanto. Each listing shows the tattoo policy and where it comes from.

Three ways to enjoy a day-trip onsen in Kanto with tattoos

Tattoo-friendly onsen near Tokyo fall into three types. Pick one based on the size of your tattoos and who you're travelling with.

Type	How it works	Best for
No cover needed	Bathe as you are	Large tattoos
Cover sticker	Cover with their sticker	Small tattoos
Hours or private	Set hours or a private bath	Too big for a sticker

These options match the examples the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) sent to Japan's hotel, ryokan and onsen associations on 16 March 2016. The JTA said that refusing a bath to someone only because they have a tattoo is not appropriate. It then listed example measures (our translation):

• Cover the tattoo with a sticker so other bathers can't see it (clean bathing wear is another option)
• Ask for nothing special when the tattoo is small, about the size of a palm, and does not intimidate other bathers
• Encourage bathing at times when few families are in the bath
• At facilities with private baths, suggest the private bath

(Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notice (18 March 2016) with the attached JTA notice on bathing for foreign travelers with tattoos (16 March 2016), in Japanese)

The JTA asked each facility to decide its own approach, so the rules differ from place to place. For the history behind tattoo bans at Japanese baths, see Why Are Tattoos Taboo in Japan?.

Onsen near Tokyo where you don't need to cover tattoos

These facilities say on their official websites that guests with tattoos can bathe without covering them.

Yamato-no-Yu (Narita, Chiba)

The FAQ on Yamato-no-Yu's official site says guests with irezumi or fashion tattoos are welcome to use the facility. It adds that Yamato-no-Yu has never refused entry to guests with tattoos since it opened, and it lists no conditions such as covering. The same page gives the hours as 10 am to 10 pm, open every day. (Source: Yamato-no-Yu FAQ, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Yokohama Tennen Onsen Kusatsu (Yokohama, Kanagawa)

Not to be confused with Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma, this is a natural hot spring bath in Yokohama. Its FAQ answers "I have tattoos. Can I use the facility?" with "Yes, you can." No conditions are listed. It opens 12 pm to 11 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 11 pm on weekends and holidays, and it closes on Mondays (open when Monday is a holiday). (Source: Yokohama Tennen Onsen Kusatsu FAQ, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Yakutou Ichihara (Ichihara, Chiba)

A notice on Yakutou Ichihara's official site, titled "Bathing OK for guests with tattoos" (1 October 2024), says irezumi and tattoos are OK. It is open 24 hours. (Source: Yakutou Ichihara notice, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Ofuro Cafe HITOMA (Yugawara, Kanagawa)

This is the bathing facility of THE RYOKAN TOKYO in Yugawara. Its FAQ says guests with irezumi or tattoos can bathe. Day use needs a reservation, and it runs from 11 am to 5 pm (morning session 11 am to 3 pm, afternoon session 2 pm to 5 pm). (Source: THE RYOKAN TOKYO Yugawara FAQ, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

The three public baths of Kusatsu Onsen (Kusatsu, Gunma)

Otakinoyu, Gozanoyu and Sainokawara Rotenburo officially state that they do not refuse entry or bathing to guests with tattoos. (Source: Kusatsu Onsen Three Baths, Otakinoyu FAQ. Checked 23 October 2026)

For prices, hours and the three-bath pass, see Is Kusatsu Onsen Tattoo-Friendly?

Sento: neighborhood bathhouses in Tokyo

Sento, the neighborhood public bathhouses, are another option in Tokyo. The Shinjuku Sento Association, made up of the sento in Shinjuku ward, answers "Can I come in if I have tattoos?" in its FAQ with "Yes, you can. If you are worried, please talk to the staff at each bathhouse." (Source: Shinjuku Sento Association FAQ, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Tattoo Japan lists 212 sento in Tokyo and 60 in Kanagawa as Tattoo OK (as of 9 November 2026).

Onsen near Tokyo that accept tattoos with a cover sticker

If your tattoo is small, many onsen let you in once you cover it with their own cover sticker. The sticker size, the number you can use and the price differ by facility. Here are the rules from each official website. Tap a name to open the facility page.

Facility	Area	Sticker size	Max stickers	Price each
Heiwajima	Ota, Tokyo	10 × 15 cm	4	¥300
Sayano Yudokoro	Itabashi, Tokyo	11 × 20 cm	2	¥310
Nagomi no Yu	Suginami, Tokyo	10 × 6 cm	2	Not stated
Spadium Japon	Higashikurume, Tokyo	Not stated	1 (one spot)	Not stated
Manyo Club Minatomirai	Yokohama	Up to 11 × 20 cm	2	Not stated
Only You	Minamiashigara, Kanagawa	15 × 10 cm (*)	2	¥330
Yoshiike Ryokan	Hakone, Kanagawa	10 × 14 cm	2	¥250
Buko Onsen	Yokoze, Saitama	11 × 20 cm	1	¥220
Hanasaki no Yu	Ageo, Saitama	8.5 × 10.5 cm	1	¥300
Ofuro Cafe Utatane	Saitama city	12.8 × 18.2 cm	1	¥220
Spa Metsa Otaka	Nagareyama, Chiba	9.5 × 14 cm	2	Not stated
Yubune Sodegaura	Sodegaura, Chiba	11 × 11 cm	2	¥200
Yubune Ryugasaki	Ryugasaki, Ibaraki	11 × 11 cm	2	¥200

Note: the same official page for Only You gives two sizes: 15 × 10 cm and 15 × 7.5 cm. Yoshiike Ryokan in Hakone also offers day-trip bathing without an overnight stay (adults ¥2,200, 1 pm to 10 pm, last entry 8 pm).

(Sources, all in Japanese: Heiwajima, Sayano Yudokoro (25 February 2024), Nagomi no Yu, Spadium Japon, Manyo Club Minatomirai (10 September 2025), Only You, Yoshiike Ryokan FAQ and day-trip bathing, Buko Onsen, Hanasaki no Yu, Ofuro Cafe Utatane, Spa Metsa Otaka, Yubune Sodegaura, Yubune Ryugasaki. Checked 9 November 2026)

Cover sticker rules most places share

• Buy the sticker there: 12 of the 13 facilities say you must use their own designated sticker, sold at the front desk or on entry. None of them say you can use one you bring
• No entry if the tattoo is bigger than the sticker: Manyo Club Minatomirai, Hanasaki no Yu and Yubune turn away guests whose tattoos the sticker can't cover, or who refuse to use one
• No cutting stickers: Yubune says you can't cut stickers to cover three or more tattoos
• Keep it on the whole time: Manyo Club Minatomirai requires the sticker while you are anywhere in the building, not just in the bath
• Tell the staff: at Manyo Club Minatomirai, guests who enter without telling the staff are asked to leave immediately. At Ofuro Cafe Utatane, staff check the sticker before you go in, and you buy a new one on every visit

Both Yubune branches call their sticker sales a trial that may change or end without notice. Any of these rules can change, so check the official site before you go.

Thermae-yu Shinjuku: different rules for men, women and foreign tourists

Thermae-yu in Shinjuku splits its tattoo rules like this on its official guide:

• Men living in Japan (Japanese or foreign residents): no entry with a tattoo of any size, even with a sticker
• Men visiting as tourists: show your passport or flight ticket and wear one of their tattoo stickers (¥330 each) to bathe. It's fine if the tattoo sticks out from under it. Entry is refused if you entered Japan 90 or more days ago, or can't show a passport or ticket
• Women (any nationality): fashion tattoos are allowed on a trial basis. You only need one sticker when a single tattoo is larger than 30 × 30 cm (it can stick out)

The same page also has a general list of guests who are refused entry, which includes people with tattoos or body art, so contact them before your visit if you're unsure. (Source: Thermae-yu user guide, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Tattoo-friendly hours, bathing wear and private baths

Some places welcome guests whose tattoos are too big for a sticker by setting aside certain hours or spaces.

Ofuro Cafe Karin no Yu (Katori, Chiba): "TATTOO FRIENDLY TIME" from 9 pm

Karin no Yu lets guests with tattoos bathe only during its "TATTOO FRIENDLY TIME", 9 pm to midnight. Before 9 pm, they can't use the baths or the mixed-gender sauna. If you arrive earlier, you must keep your tattoos covered with clothing, a supporter or stickers from the time you enter until 9 pm. (Source: Karin no Yu, TATTOO FRIENDLY TIME rules (21 June 2026), in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

YS Yu-Topia Midomo Spa (Midori, Gunma): rent bathing wear

Midomo Spa asks guests with tattoos to cover them with cover stickers or similar, or to wear the bathing wear it rents out. Both cost extra, so ask at reception. It also has family baths for rent (¥1,500 per hour, on top of the entry fee). (Source: Midomo Spa official site and price list, in Japanese. Checked 9 November 2026)

Soranoyu, Narita Airport Onsen (Shibayama, Chiba): private baths for larger tattoos

Soranoyu's English notice says that since 1 September 2022, guests with tattoos can't use the 3rd-floor baths. Tattoos small enough to hide under the palm of your hand are still allowed there, and guests with larger tattoos can book a private bath on the 2nd floor. A private bath also needs a bathing plan of ¥1,000 or more.

The Japanese guide only says that guests with tattoos can't use the 3rd floor, without the palm-size exception, so contact them first if you hope to use the main baths. (Source: Soranoyu English notice (updated 1 September 2022) and Japanese guide. Checked 9 November 2026)

Private baths at ryokan in Hakone and Kusatsu

Even ryokan that turn away tattoos at the large shared bath may let you use a private bath or an in-room bath. The JTA's Ryokan Q&A says that responses to tattooed travelers differ greatly between ryokan, and that some ryokan have private or in-room baths so that travelers with tattoos can still enjoy a bath. (Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Ryokan Q&A, in Japanese)

Tattoo Japan lists 7 tattoo-OK and 11 limited-access hotels and ryokan in Hakone (as of 9 November 2026). Whether you can book only a private bath on a day trip depends on the ryokan, so ask before you book.

Tattoo-friendly onsen and sento in each Kanto prefecture

Beyond the places above, Tattoo Japan lists many more onsen, saunas and sento across Kanto. Here are the counts by prefecture. Tap a prefecture to see its onsen and saunas.

Prefecture	Onsen OK	Onsen limited	Sento OK
Tokyo	24	14	212
Kanagawa	20	10	60
Chiba	15	8	13
Saitama	7	5	12
Gunma	17	3	0
Tochigi	12	0	3
Ibaraki	7	1	2
Kanto total	102	41	302

These are the open facilities listed on Tattoo Japan as of 9 November 2026. "OK" means you can bathe without covering; "limited" means there are conditions, such as a cover sticker. Some "OK" listings are based on reports from visitors, not only on official notices. Each facility page shows the source, so check it before you go.

How to prepare for a cover-sticker onsen

Even at sticker-friendly places, you can be turned away at the front desk if you don't meet the rules. Before you go:

1. Measure your tattoo and compare it with the facility's sticker size
2. If you have two or more tattoos in different places, count whether you stay within the sticker limit
3. Check whether you must buy their sticker there or can bring your own

To make a sticker stay on, wipe off sweat, oil and sunscreen and let your skin dry. Press it on without air bubbles and hold it with your palm for a while. Put it on while your skin is still dry, not right before you get in the water.

When store-bought covers help

Where a designated sticker is required, you'll still need to buy theirs at the front desk. Store-bought stickers and sleeves are useful elsewhere: at places that accept covering "with stickers or similar", such as Karin no Yu before 9 pm or Midomo Spa, and for keeping tattoos covered on the way there or inside the building. The products below are sold on Amazon Japan.

* Some links include affiliate advertisements (PR).

For where to buy cover stickers in Japan, see Where to Buy Tattoo Cover Stickers in Japan (Donki, Daiso).

Etiquette inside the facility

Think about the time after your bath too. The loungewear many onsen lend you has short sleeves and legs, and your wrists, ankles and neck show easily when you lie down. Some places, such as Manyo Club Minatomirai, require you to keep your sticker on the whole time you're in the building. In the restaurant or rest areas, keep your stickers on or bring something to wear over your loungewear.

If you're going with friends or family without tattoos, share the rules beforehand so check-in goes smoothly. A quick checklist:

• I know which type the onsen is: no cover needed, cover sticker, or set hours / bathing wear / private bath
• (Sticker onsen) My tattoo fits the sticker size and number limit
• (Sticker onsen) I know whether I must buy their sticker or can bring my own
• (Private bath) I know whether day use needs a reservation
• My tattoos won't show when I'm in loungewear

FAQ: tattoo-friendly onsen near Tokyo

Can I go to an onsen near Tokyo with tattoos?

Yes. Yamato-no-Yu (Narita), Yokohama Tennen Onsen Kusatsu (Yokohama), Yakutou Ichihara (Chiba), Ofuro Cafe HITOMA (Yugawara, day use by reservation) and the three public baths of Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma) say on their official sites that guests with tattoos can bathe (as of November 2026). Many other onsen accept small tattoos covered with their own sticker.

Which onsen in Tokyo accept tattoos?

Within Tokyo, Heiwajima (Ota), Sayano Yudokoro (Itabashi), Nagomi no Yu (Suginami) and Spadium Japon (Higashikurume) accept tattoos covered with their own sticker. The Shinjuku Sento Association also says guests with tattoos can use its sento. Find more in onsen and saunas in Tokyo and sento in Tokyo.

Can I bring my own tattoo cover sticker?

It depends on the place. Most of the sticker-friendly onsen in this guide require their own designated sticker and don't say you can bring one. Ask the facility before you go.

What if my tattoo is bigger than the sticker?

Manyo Club Minatomirai, Hanasaki no Yu and Yubune refuse entry when the sticker can't cover the tattoo. A few places, such as Thermae-yu Shinjuku, accept a tattoo that sticks out from under their sticker.

Is a small, palm-sized tattoo OK?

In 2016 the Japan Tourism Agency gave the example of asking for nothing special when a tattoo is about palm-sized and not intimidating. But each facility sets its own rules. Soranoyu near Narita Airport, for example, mentions a palm-size exception only in its English notice, so check first.

Are there onsen that accept tattoos only for foreign tourists?

Yes. At Thermae-yu Shinjuku, men who live in Japan can't enter with tattoos, but male foreign tourists can bathe if they show a passport or flight ticket and wear the designated sticker (as of November 2026).

Is there a tattoo-friendly onsen near Narita Airport?

Yamato-no-Yu in Narita accepts tattoos without covering. Soranoyu, near Narita Airport, offers private baths on the 2nd floor for guests with larger tattoos.

Summary: check the rules, then enjoy a day-trip onsen near Tokyo

Tattoo-friendly day-trip onsen near Tokyo come in three types: no cover needed, cover sticker, and set hours, bathing wear or private baths. Sticker size, number and whether you must buy theirs all differ, so check the official site of the place you plan to visit.

Note: this guide is based on information checked on each facility's official website on 9 November 2026 (Kusatsu's three baths on 23 October 2026). Prices, hours and tattoo policies can change, so check the official site before you go.