Looking for a tattoo studio in Sendai? Here are two we checked in October 2026: TATTOO STUDIO BETTY in Ichibancho, where small pieces start at ¥8,000 for 30 minutes, and Irezumiya, a five-minute walk from Sendai Station. For each one you'll find prices, how to book, deposit rules and whether you can get tattooed on the day, all taken from the studio's own website and Instagram.
Key points
- Both studios were confirmed open on their official websites and Instagram in October 2026
- Lowest starting price: TATTOO STUDIO BETTY, ¥8,000 for 30 minutes, design fee included
- Both work by appointment. Neither says it takes walk-ins
- BETTY books by phone only and can sometimes design and tattoo on the same day. Irezumiya always starts with a consultation and won't tattoo you on your first visit
- Both websites are in Japanese, and neither mentions English support
Want to compare more shops? You can search tattoo studios in Miyagi on Tattoo Japan. As of October 2026, two studios in Miyagi Prefecture are listed, both in Sendai City.
How to Choose a Tattoo Studio in Sendai
A tattoo is for life, so it pays to choose carefully. In Sendai, the practical differences between studios come down to three things: how you book, what styles they do, and how they price the work.
Check How to Book
Larger tattoos take more than one session, so check the location, opening hours and booking method before you commit.
| Studio | Area | Booking | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| TATTOO STUDIO BETTY | Ichibancho | Phone only | 10:00–20:00 |
| Irezumiya | Near Sendai Station | LINE, phone, web | 11:00–23:00 |
BETTY explains that it takes bookings by phone only because staff can read messages only during breaks, and phone bookings often fill the slots in the meantime. Irezumiya is closed on Thursdays and takes bookings through its official LINE account.
If you're visiting from abroad and don't speak Japanese, keep in mind that a phone-only booking may be hard. Ask your hotel or a Japanese-speaking friend for help, or contact a studio that takes messages.
Choose a Studio That Suits Your Style
Going by their websites, BETTY suits detailed original designs and lettering, while Irezumiya suits black and grey Japanese motifs, cover-ups and reworking an old tattoo.
Collect a few reference images before you go. On Tattoo Japan you can browse one-point tattoo designs, lettering tattoo designs and black and grey tattoo designs.
Check Prices and Deposits
The two studios price their work differently. BETTY charges by time. Irezumiya quotes a total price for the finished design at the consultation.
| Studio | How it prices | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| TATTOO STUDIO BETTY | By time (¥8,000 per 30 min) | ¥10,000 |
| Irezumiya | Total price per design | From ¥10,000 |
BETTY's deposit is taken off the bill on the day of your session, but you lose it if you cancel. At Irezumiya, you show ID, sign a contract and pay a down payment (or the full price) once you decide to go ahead, and pay the rest on the day.
2 Tattoo Studios in Sendai
We confirmed in October 2026 that both studios below are open, using their official websites and Instagram accounts. Prices are the guide prices on each studio's site and change with design and size.
| Studio | Small piece | Postcard size |
|---|---|---|
| TATTOO STUDIO BETTY | ¥8,000–30,000 | ¥30,000–60,000 |
| Irezumiya | ¥15,000+ | ¥40,000+ |
BETTY's small-piece price is for a design up to business-card size (6 × 9 cm). Irezumiya's is for a design about the size of a cigarette pack.
TATTOO STUDIO BETTY
TATTOO STUDIO BETTY is in Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, in central Sendai. Its website shows work by two artists at the Sendai studio, NON and cichan. (Source: TATTOO STUDIO BETTY gallery, in Japanese)
The studio invites people who want a detailed original design, or whose design was turned down elsewhere for being too intricate, to come and talk it over. It draws an original design for each client in any style, and also fixes or finishes tattoos started elsewhere. (Source: TATTOO STUDIO BETTY info, in Japanese)
For lettering, it has more than 1,000 fonts to choose from, and it can make a mock-up image of the design on your body before you're tattooed. (Source: consultation example, in Japanese)
Pricing is by time: ¥8,000 for 30 minutes and ¥13,000 per hour. The design fee, needles and ink are included, and within 30 minutes the price stays the same however many spots or colors you choose. If a tattoo done at BETTY fades or loses color, the studio touches it up for free for as long as the artist keeps working. (Source: TATTOO STUDIO BETTY prices, in Japanese)
BETTY works by appointment only, and consultations need a booking too (they're free, and limited to an hour per person when it's busy). Depending on that day's bookings and the design, it can sometimes draw the design and tattoo you on the same day. BETTY also mentions dogs at the studio and asks people who don't like dogs not to come. (Sources: booking page; info, in Japanese)
Needles are single-use cartridges, and ink and ink cups are thrown away after each client. Other equipment is cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, sterilized in an autoclave and stored in a UV sterilizer cabinet. (Source: hygiene page, in Japanese)
- Address
- 1F, 1-13-20 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai
- Hours
- 10:00–20:00 (ask about sessions outside these hours)
- Phone
- 022-216-3231
- Booking
- Phone only, appointment only
- Prices
- Business-card size (6 × 9 cm) ¥8,000–30,000; postcard size (10 × 15 cm) ¥30,000–60,000. Work that takes more than a day is ¥13,000 per hour, paid for the hours worked each day
- Deposit
- ¥10,000, taken off the bill on the day (not returned if you cancel)
- Website
- tattoo-betty-non.com
- @tattoobettynon
Note: an earlier version of this article listed the artist Miyuu (@tattoobettymiyuu) under BETTY Sendai. According to the studio's website, Miyuu works at its women-only sister studio in Ueno, Tokyo.
Irezumiya
Irezumiya (刺青や) is on the fourth floor of a building in Chuo 4-chome, Aoba Ward, a five-minute walk from JR Sendai Station. It opened in front of Sendai Station in 2003. According to the studio's site, the owner-artist, SHOWA (Hori Showa), ran a company before turning to tattooing, self-taught. A second artist, SWUN, also works there. (Sources: studio information; artists, in Japanese)
The studio puts the consultation first, and it's free. It will help even if you have almost no design in mind, and for people who live too far away to visit, it sometimes holds the consultation by phone. It says it is committed to making everything 100% by hand, preparing each original design by hand for the client. (Source: guide for first-timers, in Japanese)
Besides new tattoos, it re-saturates faded work, fixes old tattoos, does cover-ups (some can't be done) and writes brush calligraphy for you to frame. Its gallery shows black and grey Japanese motifs such as a full-back lotus and koi and a koi chest piece, plus tribal work, lettering and a Sanskrit-and-flames cover-up. (Sources: services; gallery, in Japanese)
Irezumiya doesn't charge by the hour. At the consultation, it tells you what the design will cost to finish. Down payments start at ¥10,000, and you can pay in cash, by credit card or with e-money. It does not tattoo anyone under 18 (or high school students). (Source: Irezumiya FAQ, in Japanese)
Needles and other consumables are always new, and other equipment is sterilized in an autoclave. (Source: Irezumiya treatment page, in Japanese)
- Address
- Abe Bldg. 4F, 4-9-7 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai
- Access
- 5-minute walk from JR Sendai Station
- Hours
- 11:00–23:00, appointment only, closed Thursdays
- Phone
- 022-716-0852 / 090-5595-0123
- Booking
- Official LINE account (consultations can also be booked online or by phone)
- Prices
- Cigarette-pack size from ¥15,000; CD size from ¥30,000; postcard size from ¥40,000 (varies by design)
- Down payment
- From ¥10,000; the rest is paid on the day of your session
- Website
- irezumiya.com / irezumiya.net
- @irezumiya.horishowa
(Sources: studio overview; services, in Japanese)
Sendai Studios for Walk-Ins, Small Tattoos and Female Artists
Here is what each studio's own website says about same-day tattoos and women-friendly options:
| Studio | Walk-ins / same day | For women |
|---|---|---|
| TATTOO STUDIO BETTY | Same day possible by phone | Not mentioned (Sendai) |
| Irezumiya | Consultation first | Not mentioned |
Neither studio says you can just walk in and get tattooed. If you want a tattoo today, call BETTY and ask whether it has an opening. Irezumiya's FAQ says it won't tattoo you on the day of your first visit, because it won't skip the consultation.
For a small, budget-friendly piece, BETTY has the lower starting price, ¥8,000 for 30 minutes with the design fee included. Irezumiya's small pieces start at ¥15,000.
If you'd prefer a female artist, neither studio's website says one works at its Sendai studio. BETTY's women-only studio is in Ueno, Tokyo. Ask about the artist and the room during the free consultation.
Tattoo Japan also lists JOKER, a studio in Nakae, Aoba Ward. Its Instagram says it takes inquiries by direct message or LINE.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo Studios in Sendai
Can tourists get a tattoo in Sendai?
Yes. Tattooing is legal in Japan: in 2020, Japan's Supreme Court ruled that tattooing by an artist who is not a doctor does not count as medical practice under the Medical Practitioners' Act. (Source: Supreme Court of Japan, 2020, in Japanese) Both studios' websites are in Japanese, and BETTY books by phone only, so plan ahead if you don't speak Japanese.
Can I walk in without an appointment?
Neither studio says it takes walk-ins. BETTY can sometimes design and tattoo on the same day if you call and it has an opening. Irezumiya always starts with a consultation and won't tattoo you on your first visit.
How much does a small tattoo cost in Sendai?
At BETTY, ¥8,000 for 30 minutes, or ¥8,000–30,000 for a design up to business-card size. At Irezumiya, from ¥15,000 for a cigarette-pack-sized design. Prices depend on the design, so ask for a quote at the consultation.
Do I need ID, and is there an age limit?
Irezumiya asks for ID when you sign the contract and does not tattoo anyone under 18 or high school students. BETTY's website doesn't mention ID or age rules, so bring your passport and ask when you book.
Can I go to an onsen in Sendai with a tattoo?
Rules differ from bath to bath in Japan: some accept tattoos, some ask you to cover them, and some don't allow them at all. On Tattoo Japan you can check how baths in Miyagi handle tattoos. With a fresh tattoo, follow your artist's aftercare instructions before soaking. Irezumiya's FAQ says healing usually takes about three weeks.
Summary: Choosing a Tattoo Studio in Sendai
Check how the studio takes bookings and how it prices the work, then look through its portfolio for the style you want before you book.
For an affordable small piece or a detailed original design, try TATTOO STUDIO BETTY. For a long consultation and black and grey Japanese motifs or a cover-up, try Irezumiya. If you're still working out your budget, these guides can help:
*Based on each studio's official website and Instagram as of October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check with the studio before you book.
